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In 1868, one of Canada’s earliest environmental laws was created. This law was created to take care of Canadas fisheries resources. It said that the federal government and Canadian citizens are both in charge of protecting resources. The law is still very important, for Canada today. Canadas fisheries resources are protected by this law. It is one of Canadas important environmental laws. -
In 1885, Banff became Canada’s first national park, created around the Cave and Basin hot springs to preserve the area’s natural beauty. It marked the beginning of Canada’s national parks system and showed early recognition of conservation and protected land, sparking tourism in the Canadian Rockies. -
In 1893, Ontario created Algonquin as its first provincial park and Canada's oldest. The park was established to conserve forests and wildlife. It set a standard for provincial responsibility in protecting the environment and managing land sustainably. -
In 1909, Canada and the United States signed a treaty to manage and protect their shared waterways. It established rules to prevent water pollution and resolve conflicts, demonstrating early cooperation on environmental issues -
In 1911, Canada established the world’s first national parks service to manage and protect national parks. This improved conservation efforts and secured long-term protection of park lands. -
In 1916, Canada and the United States agreed to protect migratory birds that cross national borders. This agreement acknowledged that protecting wildlife needs cooperation between countries. It resulted in stronger laws for bird protection. -
In 1930, the Canada National Parks Act formally established rules for managing national parks and protecting their ecosystems. It focused on environmental preservation over economic exploitation within national parks. -
In 1961, the Canadian Wildlife Federation was founded with the goal of advancing environmental education and conservation. It pushed governments toward stricter environmental regulations by raising public awareness and advocacy. -
In 1971, Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver as an environmental activist organization. It brought global attention to environmental issues and used protests and media to influence government policy. -
In 1985, this act gave Canada authority to regulate and prevent pollution in Arctic waters. It helped protect Arctic ecosystems and strengthened Canadian sovereignty in the North by controlling shipping and resource development in the region. -
In 1991, the Canada-U.S. agreement aimed to reduce air pollution, including acid rain, across the Canada- U.S. border. It showed successful international cooperation and led to measurable improvements in air quality. -
In 1993, the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights gave Ontario citizens the right to participate in environmental decision-making and to challenge the government in court. It increased government accountability and also raised public participation in environmental protection. -
In 1993, environmental activists protested logging in Clayoquot Sound and many of them were ultimately arrested. The protests forced changes in forestry practices and highlighted Indigenous land rights and the concept of sustainable development. -
In 1997, Canada signed an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It marked Canada’s early commitment to taking climate change seriously at the time, despite the fact that the targets were eventually missed. -
In 1999, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act became Canada’s main federal law controlling toxic substances and pollution. It strengthened federal power to regulate harmful substances and chemicals and protect human health and the environment. -
In 2002, the Species at Risk Act was created to protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats. It recognized biodiversity loss as a serious issue and turned the protection of species into a legal requirement. -
In 2006, the Ontario Clean Water Act was passed after the Walkerton water crisis. Its purpose was to protect drinking water sources. It emphasized prevention and made water safety a top priority in Ontario environmental law. -
In 2012, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act reformed how environmental assessments are conducted for major projects. Critics have said that it has reduced the degree of environmental protection by limiting the authority and decreasing the public involvement in the hearing process. -
In 2015, Canada joined a global agreement to limit global warming and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. It reinforced Canada’s international climate commitments and marked a change of emphasis towards sustainability in the long run. -
In 2016, the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement was established to protect over 85% of the Great Bear Rainforest from industrial logging. Its aim was to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Great Bear Rainforest from industry.