Finalizing recovery strategies for four species at risk and initiating pre-consultation on government response statements

The Ontario government has finalized recovery strategies for:

• Hudsonian Godwit (a bird)
• Lake Whitefish – Opeongo Lake large- and small-bodied populations (two distinct populations of a fish found in southeastern Ontario)
• Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee (a bee historically found across Ontario)

These documents form the foundation of scientific advice to government on the protection and recovery of these species at risk.

As a next step, we are inviting you to review this advice and share your input via the survey links provided in the ‘Pre-consultation on government response statements’ section of this notice.

Species at risk in Ontario

Ontario provides protections for species at risk and their habitats under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. The government is working with stakeholders, Indigenous peoples and the public to improve the effectiveness of the species at risk program so that we can continue to help preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.

When a species is listed as endangered or threatened in Ontario, there is a process for gathering information and developing policy to support the protection and recovery of each species.

First, we engage individuals and organizations outside of government with expertise related to the species to write recovery strategies. Recovery strategies form the foundation of scientific advice to government and can include knowledge from:

• the public
• stakeholders
• Indigenous communities
• organizations

Once recovery strategies are finalized, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks develops a government response statement for each species’ recovery strategy. Each government response statement is a species-specific policy that includes:

• the provincial goal for the recovery of the species
• a summary of the prioritized actions we intend to lead and support in response to the associated recovery strategy

Pre-consultation on government response statements

We invite you to review the advice in the final recovery strategies and provide early input to inform draft government response statements. Between January 16, 2024, and February 15, 2024, you can complete these online surveys or email us at recovery.planning@ontario.ca with your input:

• survey for Hudsonian Godwit
• survey for Lake Whitefish (Opeongo Lake large- and small-bodied populations)
• survey for Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee

We will use your feedback, along with the recovery strategies, to develop draft government response statements. We anticipate posting the draft government response statements on the Environmental Registry for consultation in summer 2024.