Environmental groups sue Ottawa over decade-long failure to map B.C. caribou habitat

Three environmental groups filed for judicial review in Vancouver Federal Court, alleging the federal government has not published required critical habitat maps for southern mountain caribou; the environment ministry says mapping to refine critical habitat identification is underway.

Three environmental groups—Wildsight, Stand.earth and the Wilderness Committee—filed a request for judicial review in Vancouver Federal Court on Feb. 9, 2026. They allege the federal government has not produced the critical habitat maps required under the Species at Risk Act for southern mountain caribou, a step that was due more than a decade ago. The groups say the delay has allowed logging approvals to proceed without federally defined habitat safeguards. Key facts: - Who filed: Wildsight, Stand.earth and the Wilderness Committee filed a judicial review application in Vancouver Federal Court on Feb. 9, 2026, challenging the federal government’s failure to publish critical habitat maps for southern mountain caribou. - Nature of the claim: The application alleges Ottawa missed statutory deadlines to identify and publish full, accurate maps of critical habitat under the Species at Risk Act, including deadlines tied to recovery strategy stages dating back to 2007 and following earlier litigation in 2014. - Current status: Environment and Climate Change Canada stated that mapping to refine identification of southern mountain caribou critical habitat is underway; none of the legal claims have been tested in court. Summary: The environmental groups contend the federal delay in producing critical habitat maps has contributed to additional harm to southern mountain caribou by allowing habitat-disturbing activities to continue without federal mapping safeguards. The federal government reports mapping work is underway. The judicial review has been filed and will be considered by the Federal Court; any next procedural dates were not reported. Undetermined at this time.