Question Period Note: BOREAL CARIBOU

• The boreal caribou face imminent threats to its recovery.
• Measures currently implemented by Quebec are insufficient to counter the decline of the species.
• This is why Canada has initiated the process of making an emergency order for Quebec’s three most at-risk populations: Val-d'Or, Charlevoix and Pipmuacan.
• Canada is making a concerted effort to minimize socio-economic impacts, and federal Departments are working together to make investments to support local communities.
• We are willing to collaborate towards a negotiated outcome that will result in a win-win situation for the species and the economy.
• I call on the Quebec government to resume negotiations. We are ready to invest in Quebec.

The protection of species at risk and their habitat is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial/territorial (PT) governments. The Species at Risk Act (SARA) encourages cooperation among governments to protect wildlife and their habitat and recognizes the lead role of PT governments for terrestrial species on non-federal lands.
In May 2024, based on an assessment of imminent threats to boreal caribou in Quebec, ECCC Minister formed the opinion that boreal caribou is facing imminent threats to its recovery. As required under SARA, ECCC Minister recommended to Cabinet the making of an emergency order to protect boreal caribou and its habitat in the three most at-risk ranges (Val-d'Or, Charlevoix and Pipmuacan) to address the imminent threats facing the species.
Intensification of the scope of impacts of logging for industrial activities and related road network expansions are the biggest imminent threats to the recovery of these populations.
From June 19 to September 15, 2024, the Government of Canada consulted with Quebec’s Indigenous communities, the public, stakeholders, and other interested parties, including local communities and industries to gather information needed to clarify the scope of the emergency order's prohibitions, identify potential impacts of the emergency order, determine the exact areas of the emergency order, and support discussions on how to mitigate any anticipated impacts. The Government of Quebec declined to participate in the consultations.
On August 19, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) met to discuss a request to undertake a study on the emergency order. ECCC is awaiting a final report from the ENVI committee meetings, which concluded on September 18 with the fourth and final meeting in the series. Information provided in the report will also be considered during the finalization of the order.
ECCC is currently drafting a “What we heard” document based on the consultations and has initiated the drafting of the emergency order. It will require approval by the Governor in Council (GiC) and, if approved, could be effective in early spring 2025.
If Quebec was to implement imminent concrete protection measures that would allow the Minister to conclude that the species is no longer facing imminent threats to its recovery, the Minister could recommend to the GiC that the order be amended or repealed.

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