Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Wildlife

All governments responsible for wildlife in Canada commissioned the Canadian  Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) to conduct an independent  review of gap analyses prepared by the federal government, the provinces and  territories regarding the compliance of their actions with the Accord for the  Protection of Species at Risk.

The CIELAP report identifies gaps in actions to implement the Accord,  determines whether the gaps are acknowledged by the jurisdictions in question,  and addresses the adequacy of the remedies proposed. The report is an assessment  of gap analyses already prepared by the provinces and territories and by the  federal government (Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Parks  Canada), and was prepared with their cooperation during the period of June 1998  to June 1999. This report is not a performance evaluation of each government's  actions to protect species at risk.

The report provides a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis of the results.  Varying levels of compliance with the Accord were found, and numerous  interpretation questions were raised. The report also discusses the  verifiability and credibility of responses, and found that gaps in meeting the  Accord were largely acknowledged by the jurisdictions.

Although the report identifies many gaps in implementing the Accord and is  somewhat critical of efforts to fill those gaps, it does acknowledge that  progress has been made:

"The Accord appears to be promoting enhanced measures for protecting  species at risk. This is demonstrated through the newer legislation, policy and  programs which have benefited from having the Accord in place. These initiatives  are clearer, more comprehensive and specific, include more accountability and  mandatory measures, and foster further stewardship actions."

The  report makes the following recommendations:

   
1. Clarify interpretations and establish clearer performance measures for each  element under the Accord;  
   
2. Conduct a scientific audit of the extent to which the habitat of designated  species is protected, as actually provided for by each government;  
   
3. Carry out an audit of actual implementation of the Accord within three to  five years;  
   
4. Further examine and develop the stewardship aspect of the Accord, including  elaboration of a national stewardship strategy and action plan;  
   
5. Elaborate procedures and responses for environmental assessment and similar  approvals relating to species at risk;  
   
6. Incorporate the Accord into land claims negotiations, and review existing  agreements and the Accord for consistency with one another; and  
   
7. Examine the scope of the Accord against Canada's diverse international  biodiversity commitments.

The report will be used as a tool to report  back to stakeholders who participated in consultations on the development of the  Accord. The gap analysis report is a useful document because it identifies  specific areas where more work is needed: habitat protection, stewardship, and  recovery planning. The report is also helpful because it can be used to to work  out details for implementing the Accord.

Contact:

Steve Curtis
Associate Director General
Canadian Wildlife  Service
Environment Canada
(819) 997-1245