The Minister of the Environment is one of Canada’s top 5 most lobbied cabinet ministers, according to an analysis published this week by the Hill Times. And among environmental organizations, Minister Jim Prentice met most often with… Nature Canada. We firmly believe that one of the most effective ways to advance the protection of nature is to engage constructively with those who make decisions affecting the environment.

But we have our work cut out for us. Major industrial corporations account for 77% of the reported meetings with Mr. Prentice. With so many other players making their presence felt on the Hill, it is crucial that we be there on behalf of our members and supporters making the case for conservation. Nature must have her lobbyists too! It is an honour for us to serve in that role, and we seem to be making some progress. Just yesterday a member of parliament described our strategy regarding a current parliamentary issue as “wise”.

A key to our approach is that our “inside game” on the Hill is closely linked with our “outside game” of media relations and carefully timed action alerts. Your letters and petition signatures play a crucial role in this integrated approach – and they are a key ingredient that many other lobbying forces on the Hill don’t have. So please keep signing and sending – together we are a persistent voice for nature, in Ottawa and across the country!