Question Period Note: Boreal Caribou Conservation in Canada

Environment and Climate Change Canada is working with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders to recover boreal caribou. Environment and Climate Change Canada is pursuing stewardship approaches and potential regulatory options under the Species at Risk Act.

• Nature is a core part of Canada’s identity. Our iconic species, like the Boreal Caribou, are key indicators of the health of our environment.

• Improved outcomes for boreal caribou, and all species at risk, require increased and sustained collaboration between all governments and with Indigenous peoples.

• We have agreements to protect boreal caribou with all provinces where they are found, except Quebec. We remain in discussions with Quebec. Our preference is a partnership approach, building on our recent Canada-Quebec Nature Agreement, that would eliminate the need for an emergency order.

The protection of species at risk and their habitat is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial/territorial governments. The Species at Risk Act (SARA) encourages cooperation among governments to protect wildlife and their habitat and recognizes the lead role of provincial/territorial governments for terrestrial species on non-federal lands.
Since 2019, nine conservation agreements under section 11 of SARA have been signed with provinces/territories and Indigenous communities to support the protection and recovery of boreal caribou, five of which are still active today. Discussions for extending or renewing agreements with provinces/territories are underway. Renewed agreements will continue to shift from planning to implementation of on-the-ground conservation actions.
In January and February 2023, the previous Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Minister Guilbeault) formed the opinion under section 61 of SARA that portions of boreal caribou critical habitat on non-federal lands are not effectively protected under Quebec and Ontario laws respectively. Redacted
In April 2022, Canada and Ontario reached an agreement under section 11 of SARA to support the conservation and recovery of boreal caribou in the province. Progress has been made on all 13 measures under the agreement, with the publication of annual reports on agreement implementation in March 2023 and December 2024.
On April 17, 2025, Ontario announced proposed changes to its endangered species legislation, which is currently open for a 30-day comment period until May 17. It is unknown at this stage how these changes will impact caribou conservation in the province; an assessment is ongoing. Ontario has committed to continuing implementation of the Canada-Ontario conservation agreement for boreal caribou.
In May 2024, Minister Guilbeault formed the opinion that boreal caribou is facing imminent threats to its recovery. This opinion was supported by an Imminent Threat Assessment for boreal caribou in Quebec, in response to five requests from First Nations for a Species at Risk Act section 80 order. In June 2024, the Government of Canada decided to take action in Quebec by initiating the process of making an emergency order pursuant to section 80(2) of SARA. Public consultations on a draft order concluded on September 15, 2024, and refinement of an order area based on the input received is ongoing.
Quebec was expected to release its Caribou Strategy by the end of 2023 but has yet to do so or to provide a new targeted release date. Upon release, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will evaluate the Strategy to determine the extent to which it supports the protection and recovery of the species. This evaluation will inform discussions with the province on a long-term collaboration agreement for the management, protection, and recovery of boreal and Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou. In February 2025, ECCC assessed the current and planned caribou conservation actions in Quebec and concluded that they are insufficient to address the imminent threats to the species.
In March 2025, Canada and Quebec finalized a Nature Agreement ($100M over 3 years) to advance the protection and conservation of nature in Quebec. Redacted

Non-applicable