Thank you,
Mr. Chairman. This is an issue of concern, as the Member has indicated. We are working with other jurisdictions to sort out what the implications are. There were some arrangements that had been made between our federal government and the United States government in terms of committees and processes, which we’re sorting out. There are cross-Canada working groups. I know that ITI is going to be working on lobbying efforts to work with the Americans to make our case and see if we can change their point of view.
Our scientists have indicated to us through this COSEWIC process that the species should remain as one of special interest. The Americans decided, through their own process, to move them up, as the Member knows, and it’s going to affect business, which is very difficult for us to control. But we are going to be making efforts through ITI, and I know the Members are going to be involved in this in terms of lobbying the federal American government.