Species at Risk Act: Report to Parliament, 2005.

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Consultation and Cooperation

• Inter-jurisdictional Mechanisms for Cooperation on Species at Risk
• Mechanisms for Cooperation with Stakeholders and Aboriginal Groups on Species at Risk

Inter-jurisdictional Mechanisms for Cooperation on Species at Risk

The responsibility for the conservation of wildlife in Canada is shared by federal and provincial/territorial governments. In 1996, all jurisdictions committed to a national approach to the protection of species at risk, under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, and agreed to coordinate their activities through CESCC.

In October 2005, CESCC met to discuss issues such as strategic challenges for national species at risk programming, the Council's instructions to COSEWIC, and activities under the Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife Program. CESCC Deputy Ministers also met in 2005 to consider strategic directions for national species at risk programming and a proposed framework for implementing and reporting on the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy.

The federal government is committed to developing bilateral agreements with provinces and territories for the conservation of species at risk. These agreements will ensure coordinated action between federal and provincial governments and will be one of the key measures to ensure that all species listed under the Act are legally protected and that recovery actions are identified and taken. The first bilateral agreement was signed in 2005 with the province of British Columbia, and work to develop and finalize agreements with other provinces and territories is under way.

The Canadian Wildlife Directors' Committee (CWDC) also plays an important role in inter-jurisdictional cooperation on species at risk. The CWDC is an advisory body made up of federal and provincial/territorial wildlife directors, including representatives from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency. The CWDC provides leadership in the development and coordination of policies, strategies, programs and activities that address wildlife issues of national concern and help conserve biodiversity. The CWDC also advises and supports Deputies' and Ministers' councils on these matters.

The CWDC met twice in 2005 and held several conference calls to address issues including:

• coordination and governance of species at risk programming;
• planning of the Minister's Round Table on species at risk;
• development of the species at risk bilateral agreements;
• development of a permitting policy under SARA;
• development of policies and criteria for listing species on Schedule 1 of SARA;
• providing guidance to COSEWIC on species assessment;
• the COSEWIC Annual Report;
• development of a National Recovery Program;
• development of a national template for SARA-compliant recovery strategies.

Committees composed of senior officials from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency are also in place to address policy and strategic issues and to monitor the implementation of SARA. These committees met regularly in 2005, and include:

• the Species at Risk Associate Deputy Ministers Steering Committee;
• the Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee for Species at Risk; and
• the Director General Operations Committee for Species at Risk.

In recognition of the need for further inter-jurisdictional discussion of issues specific to aquatic species at risk, an Aquatic Species at Risk Task Group was established by the Ministers responsible for fisheries and aquaculture. The task group is co-chaired by the province of Nova Scotia and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and includes members representing all provinces and territories. The Aquatic Species at Risk Task Group met twice in 2005 to review draft discussion papers that were being developed in order to provide a basis for the national strategy for the protection and recovery of aquatic species. The task group will develop a national strategy for protection and recovery of aquatic species at risk, for approval by the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers.

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Mechanisms for Cooperation with Stakeholders and Aboriginal Groups on Species at Risk

The Species at Risk Advisory Committee (SARAC), made up of members of various stakeholder groups including industry, agriculture, and environmental non-government organizations, is an important vehicle for these groups to provide advice to the Minister of the Environment on the administration of SARA. In 2005/2006, SARAC included 11 representatives from industry groups, nine representatives from environmental non-government organizations and two members serving in their individual areas of expertise. Representatives from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency attend meetings of the committee, but are not official members.

SARAC met three times in 2005 to discuss matters related to implementing SARA, including:

• development of policies under SARA;
• planning of the Minister's Round Table on species at risk;
• development of processes related to SARA listing and recovery;
• review of compliance guidelines;
• development of bilateral agreements; and
• review of the National Strategy for public engagement.

Aboriginal peoples and wildlife management boards established under land claims agreements also play an important role in wildlife conservation in Canada. The federal government works closely with these groups in order to ensure their participation in the implementation of various aspects of SARA, including species assessment, listing decisions and recovery efforts. In November 2005, a workshop was held in Ottawa for the purpose of establishing the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge subcommittee under COSEWIC.

NACOSAR was also established in 2005. At its inaugural meeting with the Minister of the Environment in September 2005, NACOSAR presented its work plan and budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The Council also met in November 2005 to discuss the possibility of a workshop to introduce NACOSAR to Aboriginal communities across Canada.

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