A Federal Court judge said he’s wrestling with why the minister responsible for saving B.C.’s northern spotted owl waited eight months to recommend an emergency protection order to cabinet with only one wild-born bird remaining. Judge Yvan Roy questioned federal government lawyer Aileen Jones on Thursday over Ottawa’s effort to protect the endangered species, asking why Minister Guilbeault made his recommendation to cabinet in late September despite saying he would take that action in January. …Government lawyer Aileen Jones said that using only scientific evidence on a potential emergency order “undermines” the collaboration needed between the federal and provincial governments to protect the owls, and Guilbeault needed to balance other factors such as social-economic considerations that are “equally relevant.” …Roy questioned the lawyer’s characterization of the minister’s responsibilities, saying his decision to recommend an order should not be a rolling process without a definitive, reasonable timeline.