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Banff National Park established by Order In Council
Canada's first National Park and the world's third, Banff National Park was created as a wilderness recreation park and vacation spa, but its guidelines did not contain any explicit conservation function. -
Boundary Waters Treaty
The treaty relating to the boundary waters and to questions arising along the boundary between Canada and the United States made between His Majesty, King Edward VII, and the United States, signed at Washington on January 11, 1909, and the protocol of May 5, 1910, in Schedule 1, are hereby confirmed and sanctioned. -
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
Amended in 1978 and 1987, this agreement between Canada and the United States originally dealt with attempts to reduce eutrophication (specifically, phosphorus loading) of the Great Lakes. Since then, it has expanded to include toxic substances as well. -
Wildlife Policy for Canada
This policy describes Environment Canada’s approach to determining whether an activity may be permitted or authorized within a protected area. For the purpose of this policy, “protected area” means a terrestrial or marine National Wildlife Area or Migratory Bird Sanctuary. For the purposes of this document, “permitted” can mean the issuance of a permit, lease, licence, agreement, or the publishing or posting of notices authorizing otherwise-prohibited activities. -
Statement of Commitment to Complete Canada's Network of Protected Areas
This document was signed by federal and provincial governments, confirming Canada's commitment to establish a network of national protected areas representing each of Canada's 39 ecological regions. -
The National Forest Strategy
A plan for completion of an ecological classification of forest lands, completion of a network of protected areas representative of Canada's forests, establishing forest inventories; and development of a system of national indicators of sustainable forest management. -
Convention on Biological Diversity
This convention, signed by many countries at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 see above), is a legally binding international agreement which commits its signatory countries to developing an action plan to preserve biodiversity and allows for international co-operation to achieve this goal. -
Canada Oceans Act
This act recognized an Exclusive Economic Zone which extends for 200 nautical miles off Canadian coasts, encompassing almost five million square kilometers of ocean. -
Species at Risk Act
This act was killed when the election call was made in October 2000. The Species at Risk Act would have not only directly protected species at risk, but also their habitat. -
Report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada's Parks
The panel's findings were grim; Canada's parks are under attack from threats within and outside their boundaries, and their ecological integrity is severely compromised.