A study has revealed that numerous species in Canada deemed endangered have faced delays in receiving protection decisions from Ottawa, despite their habitats undergoing changes crucial for their survival. Out of 288 species assessed as at risk since 2017, only 17 have been reviewed by the Governor in Council within the recommended timeline, while 153 species, including caribou, beluga whales, and lake sturgeon, are still awaiting decisions as of Jan. 25, 2025.
This delay in the listing process, which could trigger habitat protections and recovery plans, is attributed to a gap in the Species at Risk Act (SARA). While Ottawa has suggested timelines for advancing assessments, there is no statutory deadline for a key stage of the process. The reasons behind these delays are not specified in the study, with critics highlighting that this gap allows governments to defer difficult choices between conservation and economic concerns.
Peter Thompson, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University, noted that the government consistently fails to meet its self-imposed timelines of one to two years. The case of the Saskatchewan-Nelson River population of lake sturgeon, designated as endangered in 2017, exemplifies the issue, as it missed a federal deadline for assessment progression in 2020 and was still awaiting further steps five years later.
Indigenous Fisheries Science expert Andrea Reid emphasized that the protection of habitats is crucial under SARA, as it safeguards not just individual species but entire systems of tradition, culture, and language. The study highlighted delays affecting various Pacific salmon populations, with reasons ranging from ongoing data collection to analysis.
The study also underscored the prolonged delays impacting aquatic species, with marine mammals and fish facing significant setbacks in the listing process. The lack of transparency in explaining these delays has raised concerns among researchers, with calls for more efficient decision-making to ensure timely protection for vulnerable species.
