Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Wildlife

The Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) was formed in  1998 by Wildlife Ministers from the Government of Canada, provinces and  territories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.  The council is made up of federal, provincial and territorial ministers with  responsibilities for wildlife species. This includes the federal minister of  Fisheries and Oceans and the minister responsible for Parks Canada. The  Council's mandate includes specific responsibilities for the listing and  recovery of species at risk, as well as a role in resolving disputes under the  Accord. The Wildlife Ministers Council of Canada will continue to operate, and  will provide a forum for the discussion of wildlife management issues across a  broader spectrum.

With the establishment of the CESCC, a new process of assessing and listing  species at risk will be instituted starting next year. Assessments will still be  undertaken by the Council on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada  (COSEWIC).

The COSEWIC list of species at risk will be forwarded to CESCC along with a  rationale for each designation on the list. The CESCC will serve as a forum for  coordination, and will determine the most effective response action.

The CESCC will be responsible for monitoring and reporting every five years  on the status of all species, and for communicating the progress on programs to  the public. It will also be responsible for ensuring that good stewardship of  natural habitats is both recognized and promoted in efforts to protect species  at risk.

The first meeting of the CESCC is taking place in Quebec City in September  1999.

Contact:

David Brackett
Canadian Wildlife Service