COSEWIC assessments acknowledged for eight species

Summary#

The federal government published the Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Under Subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act (Certain Wildlife Species of Red Knot and Four Other Wildlife Species) to record that the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has handed in its assessments under the Species at Risk Act. The Order was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 18, 2024 and starts the formal clock for the next steps.

What it does#

• Acknowledges receipt of COSEWIC’s assessments for eight species listed in the Order’s schedule. The assessments recommend a range of statuses (for example, some populations of Red Knot are recommended as Endangered, others as Special Concern or Threatened).
• Begins the 9‑month decision period under the Species at Risk Act for the Governor in Council (GIC) to either:
  • add the species to the federal list of wildlife at risk, or
  • decide not to add them, or
  • send the assessments back to COSEWIC for more information.
• Signals that the Minister of the Environment will publish a proposed Listing Order in Canada Gazette, Part I and invite public input for 30 days before a final recommendation is made.
• Notes that if the GIC does not decide within 9 months, the Minister must amend the List in line with COSEWIC’s recommendations.

Who's affected#

• The eight wildlife species named in the COSEWIC assessments and the places they live (the Order itself lists those species and the recommended statuses).
• Federal decision-makers who manage species protection and listing under the Species at Risk Act.
• Conservation groups, researchers, and anyone with an interest in protecting or using habitats where these species live.
• Local communities and land users near the species’ habitats who may be involved in later consultations or affected by future protection measures.

Why it matters#

• This Order does not itself change a species’ legal status. It is an administrative step that starts the formal process that can lead to legal protection.
• If some or all of these species are later added to the federal List of Wildlife Species at Risk, that can trigger recovery planning, habitat protections, changes to how land and resources are used, and new funding or regulatory measures.
• There will be a public comment opportunity (a 30‑day period) once the proposed Listing Order appears in the Canada Gazette, Part I.