Basically, after the first draft of the report is completed, that draft is sent to all federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions that are responsible for the species; all wildlife management boards established under land claims agreements and responsible for the wildlife species in question; and any other outside experts, such as the polar bear specialist group for the IUCN.
After that process--from the time of the submission of the first draft until COSEWIC gets its final copies and votes--it is about one and a half to two years.