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  1. List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order - SI/2021-58 (ANNEX : Statement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessment of the Rusty Cord-moss ()
    List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

    [...]

    The Rusty Cord-moss was initially assessed as endangered by COSEWIC. In 2006, the species was added to Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act with that status. In April 2017, the species was reassessed by COSEWIC as special concern. To explain this change in status, the scientific body stated in its assessment that, as a result of field and collection research, the known distribution and abundance of the moss had increased significantly since the species was first assessed by COSEWIC in 2004, resulting in decreased extinction risk. The 2017 assessment further indicated that the species is now known to occur in both British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

    [...]

    The expert shared research reports, which included surveys from 2018 to 2020. The reports describe significant changes since the 2017 COSEWIC status report, including important population declines at two of the species’ largest known occurrences in Canada (by 93–96% near Riske Creek, British Columbia, and by 100% at White Lake, British Columbia). As the main drivers of these changes, the expert identified a landscape-scale fire in 2017, which passed across three of the known sites at Riske Creek, and an invasive exotic grass growth in a number of habitats at White Lake. In addition, although the species was listed as present on many sites in British Columbia in 2017, it was not observed during the surveys that were conducted from 2018 to 2020 and could be, according to the expert, extirpated on these sites.

    Based on this new information, the Minister of the Environment is of the view that a more thorough analysis of this new evidence and all other available information should be undertaken to determine whether the current classification of the Rusty Cord-moss as endangered is appropriate or whether the species should be assessed and reclassified as special concern. Therefore, the matter is referred back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. The Department of the Environment is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.


  2. List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order - SI/2021-33 (ANNEX : Statement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessment of the Striped Bass ()
    List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

    [...]

    The Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River (SLR) population) is listed as endangered in Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The last sighting of an individual of the historical Striped Bass (SLR population) was in 1968. In 2002, Quebec began restocking efforts using fish from a separate population in the Miramichi River. In 2004, COSEWIC assessed the Striped Bass (SLR population) and classified it as extirpated. In 2011, the Striped Bass (SLR population) was added to Schedule 1 to SARA as extirpated. In 2012, COSEWIC reassessed the species and reclassified it as endangered, taking into account stocked fish originating from the Miramichi River. In August 2019, the classification of Striped Bass (SLR population) in Schedule 1 to SARA was changed from extirpated to endangered. At the COSEWIC Wildlife Species Assessment Meeting in November 2019, in an addendum to its 2012 assessment, COSEWIC once again reassessed this population. It came to the conclusion that, based on current COSEWIC guidelines the individuals currently found in the St. Lawrence River are not part of the original SLR population and, therefore, that the 2012 status report erroneously included the individuals from the stocked population. For those reasons, COSEWIC reclassified the Striped Bass (SLR population) as extinct.

    [...]


  3. List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order - SI/2022-7 (ANNEX : Statement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessments of the Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) — Northern Mountain Population, Central Mountain Population and Southern Mountain Population — Back to COSEWIC)
    List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

    [...]

    Two mountain caribou populations in western Canada are currently listed in Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act— the Woodland Caribou (Southern Mountain population), listed as a threatened species in 2003, and the Woodland Caribou (Northern Mountain population), listed as a species of special concern in 2005.

    [...]

    Based on the uncertainties relating to the delineation of the three DUs for mountain caribou in western Canada, insufficient genetic information, the lack of inclusion of Indigenous knowledge with respect to the creation of the DUs, as well as recent changes in population size of some affected herds, the assessments in the 2014 report are referred back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. The Department of the Environment is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.


  4. List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order - SI/2013-28 (ANNEX : Statement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessments of the Humpback Whale (North Pacific Population) and Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River Population) Back to COSEWIC)
    List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

    [...]

    • [...]

      The Humpback Whale (North Pacific population) is currently listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The status of this population of the species was reassessed by COSEWIC as Special Concern in May 2011. The lower risk designation is a result of recent analyses that indicate an increasing trend in abundance. In the course of consultations carried out between November 2011 and January 2012, a number of concerns were raised with regard to the structure of the designatable unit in Canada. Some species experts expressed concerns that key data pertaining to the structure of the designatable unit was not considered by COSEWIC. In the view of these species experts, such data would justify the identification of two designatable units in Canada. While Fisheries and Oceans Canada (“DFO”) has not produced scientific advice on this matter, this species is referred back to COSEWIC for further consideration. DFO is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.

    • [...]

      The Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River population) was assessed by COSEWIC as Threatened in May 2011. This short-lived species reproduces just once in its lifetime, and is extremely rich in fats. It spends over 95% of its life in the marine environment. Recent data from the Nass River and Skeena River indicates that the Eulachon population is declining and the level of abundance in adjacent areas has declined substantially in recent years. COSEWIC has advised that, due to new information that was not available when it assessed the status of the Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River population), this status now needs to be reassessed. In light of the need for consideration of new data, this population of the species is referred back to COSEWIC for further consideration.


  5. List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order - SI/2018-17 (ANNEX : Statement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessment of the Yukon Draba ()
    List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

    [...]

    Yukon Draba is a small herbaceous mustard plant. At the time of COSEWIC’s assessment in 2011, the only occurrence known worldwide was in a single meadow complex in southwestern Yukon. The meadow complex is under threat from industrial activities, nearby human habitation, invasive species, trampling by humans and forest encroachment. Given the rarity of suitable habitat within the range of natural dispersal, the restricted range and extreme population fluctuations as understood at the time of the assessment, COSEWIC proposed that the Yukon Draba be designated as endangered. However, since the publication of the assessment, COSEWIC has advised that a reassessment is warranted based on new information regarding the species range in Canada and its population dynamics.



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