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Fisheries Act
The Fisheries Act, applicable to all waters in the fishing zones, internal waters, and territorial seas of Canada, is Canada's main federal level legislation made to manage and protect Canada's resources. The provisions in the Fisheries Act state that no one, even with special permits, can deposit/dump harmful substances into water that fish are frequently found in - which protects fish and their habitats. -
Banff National Park
Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, was preserved under law primarily to promote tourism (specifically with the sulphur hot springs) and the Canadian National Railroad. -
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park was the first provincial park in Ontario. The area was made a provincial park to protect the heads of the five major rivers that flow through the park. -
Boundary Waters Treaty Signed
The Boundary Waters Treaty, signed between Canada and the United States, was made to prevent and/or resolve disputes over the use of the water shared between the two countries. The two countries needed a management plan to balance the growing demand for hydroelectric power while also preserving the natural beauty and resources in different areas (like the Niagara Falls area) -
National Parks Service
National Parks Service, established in 1911 (originally called the Dominion Parks Branch), was made to manage different national parks and reserves. The service was established to protect and manage Canada's growing network of national parks. -
Migratory Birds Convention Signed
The Migratory Birds Convention is an international agreement between Canada and the United States for the purpose of protecting migratory birds. When the convention was signed/drafted, it only protected migratory birds that were considered useful or harmless to humans (undesirable birds were excluded). The convention was signed to make sure that migratory birds, their habitats, and their eggs were protected, as species like the Passenger Pigeon were in large decline or about to go extinct. -
Canada National Parks Act
The Canada National Parks Act removed national parks administration from the authority of the Parks Act and provided them with their own legislation. This act confirmed/stated that these places were for the people, and were "Canadian" in scope. This act was significant because it provided parks with their own legislation. It also excluded industrial activities from the parks, and made their boundaries clear and permanent. -
Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. This organization was made to promote an understanding of Canadian wildlife resources and to ensure that all species would be preserved. The organization has programs that study long-term environmental implications of development projects, they recommend legislative change to protect wildlife, habitats, and resources, and conducts public educational campaigns and sponsors research. -
Greenpeace
Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver, specifically focused on nuclear weapons testing. Eventually, it developed into a global environmental movement - drawing attention issues such as whaling, deforesting, climate change, and advocating for systemic change through direct action and media campaigns. They are recognized as one of the most influential environmental organizations around the world. -
Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act
The Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act was made with the aim to prevent pollution in Canadian Artic Waters. The act states that no person or ship can deposit/dump waste of any type in the Arctic waters. The act describes offences and lays out the punishments that can be given out by Pollution Prevention Offers. -
Canada-US Air Quality Agreement
The Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement is and agreement signed by Canada and the United-States to address the air pollution leading to acid rain in the air space between Canada and the United States. Both countries agreed to reduce their sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as work together on scientific and technical research. Between now and when the agreement was signed, sulphur dioxide emissions in both Canada and the United States have decreased an average of 80%. -
Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights
The Ontario Environmental Bill or Rights is an act made to give Ontarians the right to participate in and hold the government accountable for its decisions and legislation that can significantly impact the environment. -
Clayoquot Sound Blockade
The Clayoquot Sound Blockade was a protest in B.C. to prevent one of the largest logging company's worker's from entering an area with some of the last unlogged temperate rainforest on earth. Even with a court injunction ordering the protesters to move, they didn't until the RCMP were called and more than 300 people - including children - were arrested. The protests resulted in stricter logging regulations and the Indigenous population gaining more control over their traditional territory. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto protocol makes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change operational. It commits industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases emissions. -
Canadian Environmental Protection Act
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is an act declares that the protection of the environment is essential to the well-being of Canadians. The primary purpose of the act is to contribute to sustainable development both environmentally and human health wise through the prevention of pollution. -
Species At Risk Act
The Species At Risk Act is an act aimed at preventing wildlife species from disappearing/going extinct, and providing for the recovery of endangered, threatened, or extirpated species of concern. This is another moment where Canada is following through on an environmental commitment under the United Nations. -
Ontario Clean Water Act
The Clean Water act of 2006 is part of the governments commitment to provide safe drinking water for all Ontarians. This acts ensures the protection of future and existing municipal drinking water sources by providing technical and scientific research and resources, and propose and prepare updates for protection plans. -
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act is an Act that sets out the legal framework for how federal environmental assessments in Canada work/should be. The Act highlights the responsibilities and procedure for doing environmental assessments and ensuring that potential impacts are considered before project approval so that no adverse effects take place. -
Paris Climate Change Agreement
The Paris Climate Change Agreement is an international legally binding treaty regarding climate change. It was adopted by 195 states with the goal of holding the increase in temperature worldwide at about 2%. To hold the temperature increase in place and accelerate it, countries need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement is the first to bring all nations together to combat the changing of the climate and adapt. -
Great Bear Rainforest Agreement
The Great Bear Rainforest Agreement developed a framework for how co management between the government and the First Nations of the Great Bear Rainforest.