Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Under Subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act (American Marten, Newfoundland Population and Six Other Wildlife Species): SI/2026-3

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 5

Registration
SI/2026-3 March 11, 2026

SPECIES AT RISK ACT

Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Under Subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act (American Marten, Newfoundland Population and Six Other Wildlife Species)

P.C. 2026-161 February 26, 2026

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, acknowledges receipt, on the making of this Order, of the assessments done under subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Actfootnote a by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) with respect to the wildlife species set out in the schedule to this Order.

SCHEDULE

Threatened Species

Arthropods

Moth, Dusky Dune (Copablepharon longipenne)
Noctuelle sombre des dunes

Reptiles

Special Concern

Arthropods

Clubtail, Skillet (Gomphurus ventricosus)
Gomphe ventru

Mammals

Marten, American (Martes americana atrata) Newfoundland population
Martre d’Amérique population de Terre-Neuve

Plants

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

The Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Under Subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act (American Marten, Newfoundland Population and Six Other Wildlife Species) acknowledges receipt by the Governor in Council (GIC) of the assessments regarding the status of seven wildlife species (listed in Annex 1) done by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) under paragraph 15(1)(a) of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and in accordance with subsection 23(1) of that Act.

Objective

The objective of this Order is to formally acknowledge receipt of the COSEWIC advice by the GIC and to initiate the nine-month timeline set out in subsection 27(1.1) of SARA for the GIC to either add the species identified in COSEWIC’s report to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (the List), decide not to add the species to the List, or to refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration.

Background

COSEWIC was formed as an independent scientific body in 1977 with a mandate to provide a single, official, scientifically sound, national classification of wildlife species at risk in Canada. COSEWIC provides the Minister of the Environment (the Minister) with assessments of the status of Canadian wildlife species.

COSEWIC has completed the assessments for seven species, undertaken pursuant to subsection 23(1) of SARA. See Annex 1 for the COSEWIC assessment recommendations.

Implications

Receipt of the COSEWIC’s assessments triggers a nine-month time frame by which the Governor in Council must take a decision with respect to COSEWIC’s advice.

In response to the assessments, the Minister will recommend that the GIC amend the List in accordance with COSEWIC’s recommended designations for the species. If approved, the Listing Order will be published, along with the Regulatory Impact Assessment Statement (RIAS), in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Under subsection 27(1.1) of SARA, upon receiving the Minister’s recommendation, the GIC may (a) accept the assessment and amend the List accordingly (by removing, reclassifying, or restructuring); (b) decide not to amend the List; or (c) refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration.

Should the GIC not make a decision within nine months after publication of this Receipt Order, the Minister shall, by order, amend the List in accordance with COSEWIC’s recommended designation for the species, in accordance with subsection 27(3) of SARA.

Contact

Paula Brand
Director
SARA Policy
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1‑800‑668‑6767
Email: LEPreglementations-SARAregulations@ec.gc.ca

Annex 1

COSEWIC assessments for seven terrestrial species received by the Governor in Council
Species Name Current SARA Status COSEWIC Assessment
Marten, American (Martes americana atrata) Newfoundland population Threatened Special concern
Rue-anemone, Eastern False (Enemion biternatum) Threatened Special concern
Gentian, Victorin’s (Gentianopsis virgata ssp. victorinii) Threatened Special concern
Clubtail, Skillet (Gomphurus ventricosus) Endangered Special concern
Moth, Dusky Dune (Copablepharon longipenne) Endangered Threatened
Foxsnake, Eastern (Pantherophis vulpinus) Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population Endangered Threatened
Foxsnake, Eastern (Pantherophis vulpinus) Carolinian population Endangered Threatened