Question Period Note: CESD Audit: Critical Habitat for Species at Risk

• My department is committed to protecting critical habitat for aquatic species at risk.
• My officials are taking actions in response to the audit findings and will place greater emphasis on studies that are essential to identify critical habitats and the recovery of aquatic species at risk, rather than studies focused on refining existing boundaries.
• The Department will also assess the overall effectiveness of offsetting measures aimed at minimizing the impacts on critical habitat to inform its future work.
• My department will continue to work with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada to develop and implement changes to policies, guidelines, and tools to address the audit’s recommendations.

• A performance audit of critical habitat for species at risk was completed by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and was tabled in the House of Commons on June 10, 2025.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Parks Canada Agency are implicated in this audit.
• The audit found that critical habitat was identified to the extent possible, but information gaps prevented the full identification of critical habitat and protection of species at risk. It also concluded that DFO did not monitor the implementation of all conservation actions for critical habitat and was unaware if offsets to minimize negative impacts on critical habitat were effective.
• The Department is taking actions in response to the audit findings. To address the audit’s observation that information gaps have limited the full identification of critical habitat, DFO is working to prioritize studies that directly contribute to completing this work for aquatic species at risk.
• DFO is updating its relevant internal guidelines to place greater emphasis on studies that are essential to completing the identification of critical habitat, rather than those focused on refining existing boundaries. This more targeted approach will help prioritize studies that offer the greatest benefit to critical habitat identification and species recovery. DFO is also committing to improving how it tracks and reports on conservation actions taken by partners.
• DFO requires project proponents to submit plans to avoid, mitigate, and offset impacts to critical habitat before issuing permits. DFO works with project proponents to ensure that their measures to offset impacts are effective, and will continue to review all monitoring reports submitted by project proponents.

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