Environmental groups say a five-year caribou protection deal between the federal government and Ontario falls short.
The Wildlands League, the David Suzuki Foundation and Ontario Nature say the recently-reached agreement encourages clearing tracts of forest that are part of the boreal caribou's habitat.
They say the deal threatens the very existence of the estimated 5,000 caribou in the province.
The federal government and the province say they struck the deal last week.
They both say they are taking actions that support the recovery of the species at risk.
Both governments say they are planning and implementing habitat restoration activities.