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Species at Risk Act

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Introduction

1.1 Purpose of Annual Report

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) received Royal Assent on December 12, 2002, and came fully into force on June 1, 2004.

This report provides a summary of SARA-related activities carried out in the 2006 and 2007 calendar years and in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 fiscal years where information is compiled on a fiscal year basis.

The report fulfil the Minister of the Environment's obligation, under section 126 of the Act, to prepare an annual report on the administration of SARA for each calendar year. The Act requires that the report include a summary addressing the following matters:

1. the assessments of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the Minister's response to each of them;
2. the preparation and implementation of recovery strategies, action plans and management plans;
3. all agreements made under sections 10 to 13;
4. all agreements made and permits issued under section 73, and all agreements and permits amended under section 75 or exempted under section 76;
5. enforcement and compliance actions taken, including the response to any requests for investigation;
6. regulations and emergency orders made under SARA; and
7. any other matters that the Minister considers relevant.

This introductory section outlines the purposes of SARA and the responsibilities of federal departments and agencies under the Act. Subsequent sections describe the following activities under SARA:

• the List of Wildlife Species at Risk;
• measures to protect and recover listed species;
• consultation and cooperation;
• stewardship and public engagement;
• compliance and enforcement; and
• the Species at Risk Public Registry.

1.2 Purposes of SARA

SARA is an important tool for conserving and protecting Canada's biological diversity. The purposes of the Act are to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened as a result of human activity, and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened.

The Act establishes a process for conducting scientific assessments of the population status of individual species, and a mechanism for listing extirpated, endangered, threatened and special concern species. SARA also includes provisions for the protection of individuals of listed wildlife species, and for their critical habitats and residences.

SARA complements existing legislation administered by Environment Canada and other federal departments and agencies, including:

• The following Conventions and Acts administered by Environment Canada:
  • the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,
  • the Convention on Biological Diversity,
  • the Canadian Environment Assessment Act,
  • the Canada Wildlife Act,
  • the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and
  • the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act;
• The following Acts administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
  • the Fisheries Act,
  • the Oceans Act;
• And the following Acts administered by the Parks Canada Agency:
  • the Canada National Parks Act,
  • the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, and
  • the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Act.

1.3 Responsibilities under SARA

Three government organizations share responsibility for the implementation of SARA:

• The Parks Canada Agency oversees matters concerning individuals of species found in or on federal lands it administers;
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada oversees matters concerning aquatic species when individuals of these species are found outside Parks Canada Agency waters; and
• Environment Canada oversees matters concerning all other species, including migratory birds, and is responsible for the administration of the Act.
  

The Ministers responsible for these government organizations are referred to as "competent ministers" under SARA (note that the Minister of the Environment is presently the Minister responsible for both Environment Canada and the Parks Canada Agency).

Competent ministers have the authority to make decisions in their respective areas of responsibility and are required to consult with each other as necessary on matters related to SARA. Orders in Council required under SARA, such as orders to list species under the Act, are made by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the competent Minister.