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The Green Budget Coalition (GBC) had a huge win this past February when the 2018 federal budget included $1.3 billion over five years for protected areas establishment and species at risk conservation. Congratulations to Finance Minister Morneau and Prime Minister Trudeau, who made this major investment in nature possible. GBC is back again this year with recommendations for the 2019 federal budget. The GBC team of advocates representing environment and nature groups as diverse as Greenpeace and Ducks Unlimited fanned out across Ottawa in late September to meet with Cabinet Ministers including Minister Morneau and Environment and Climate Change Minister McKenna, parliamentarians including opposition members of Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office, and senior civil servants from… read more →
This blog was written by Anne-Marie Macloughlin for the September 2018 calendar image of Spirit Island in Jasper National Park, which was shot by photographer Bill Settle. For many of us born outside of Canada, the Rocky Mountain vista as seen from the vantage point of postcard-perfect Maligne Lake is the archetypal Canadian landscape. Part of Jasper National Park, Canada’s largest at over 11,000 square kilometres and a UNESCO heritage site, the aqua lake with it’s other-worldly hue (a result of rock-flour from the glaciers) is what comes to mind when imagining the Rocky Mountains. The park is home to a staggering amount of wildlife, close to 70 different species whose survival depends on the park remaining protected. Three large… read more →
Canada is famous for its incredible natural landscapes and the multitude of wild species that call it home. From coast to coast to coast, our country boasts millions of plant and animal species that are admired by Canadians in all provinces and territories, and attracts nature lovers from around the world. Unfortunately, nature in Canada is under threat. Over 50 percent of wildlife species are in decline, and the health of our iconic landscapes is no better. To help protect our natural environments and wildlife species, we need to foster our passion, and unite our voices for what we all have in common, nature in Canada. At Nature Canada, we are excited to launch our newest program, the Nature Network.… read more →
This blog post was written by Andrea Lesperance, a Student-at-Law for Nature Canada. On August 30, 2018 the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) quashed the federal government’s approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, saying the National Energy Board (NEB) review of the project failed to consider the impact of an increase in oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea on the Southern Resident Killer Whales and that the government did not engage in sufficient consultation with Indigenous peoples impacted by the project. Nature Canada previously intervened in the NEB’s assessment of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion. In 2015, before NEB hearings on the Project began, Nature Canada filed a motion with the NEB to compel full and adequate… read more →
Ted Cheskey, Naturalist Director of Nature Canada attended the 27th International Ornithological Congress in late August, in Vancouver with about 2000 other delegates from around the world. The congress was organized by the International Ornithological Union and co-hosted by Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Nature Canada’s co-partner in BirdLife International. Here is a first person account of the week-long event. Canadian Migration Monitoring Network – Friday Many other national and international bird partnerships organized meetings around the IOC to take advantage of their supporters travelling there and being the same place at the same time. The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, the network of bird observatories across Canada, did just this, and organized their biannual meeting on Vancouver Island just prior to… read more →
This blog was written by Julie Lopez, the Digital Communications Coordinator at Nature Canada. Richelle Martin is the 2018 recipient of the Charles Labatiuk Scholarship Award, and this fall, will be pursuing a Law Degree at the University of Ottawa. With this degree, Richelle hopes to use law as a tool to have a more meaningful impact in the field, and to strengthen her ability as an environmental advocate. While pursuing this degree is her first foray into the world of environmental law, Richelle’s journey as an environmental advocate is well underway. Having worked with the Nature Trust of New-Brunswick for the past six years, Richelle has been actively using her voice to protect nature in Canada for some time.… read more →
Literally decades after being first proposed, the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area (mNWA) adjacent to the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island was established on June 27, 2018, protecting vital habitat for millions of seabirds. Congratulations to Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and her officials for persevering to achieve protection of the 11,546 square kilometers of marine environment surrounding the five Scott Islands (which are already protected under British Columbia law). These islands, and their surrounding marine waters, are one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on Canada’s Pacific coast. The Scott Islands area, an Important Bird Area (IBA), supports the highest concentration of breeding seabirds on Canada’s Pacific coast and provides key ecological breeding and… read more →
This blog was written by Sue Ratcliffe, Sue is a photographer with a deep passion for shooting wildlife, horses, birds of prey and people throughout her travels around the globe. Sue’s passion is capturing the beauty and grace of nature, and all that lives and thrives within it. Sue was one of the winners of the 2017 Nature Photo Contest, her beautiful photo of the Bald Eagle soaring over the clear water is the feature image of the Nature Canada Calendar this month. Feel free to email Cheyanne, at crichardson@naturecanada.ca if you have any questions about the Nature Photo Contest or would like to make a donation and get a copy of the Nature Canada Calendar. Sable Island is a narrow,… read more →
This blog post was written by Andrea Lesperance, a Student-at-Law for Nature Canada. Health Canada has announced positive but still insufficient action to protect birds, bees and invertebrates from neonicotinoids (neonics) – synthetic nicotine analogues used as insecticides. On August 15, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada announced Proposed Decisions for Consultation on two neonics: Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam. The Special Reviews of these two neonics were initiated based on concerns that they pose risks to aquatic invertebrates. PMRA was “unable to conclude that the risks to aquatic invertebrates was acceptable” from outdoor agricultural uses of Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam. As a result, PMRA proposed cancellation of all outdoor uses of these two neonics on food and feed crops,… read more →
This blog is written by Nature Canada guest blogger Tina-Louise Rossit. World Honey Bee day is not just a day to support our love of honey and bee-pollinated foods…it’s to give awareness of today’s bee crisis and what that means for the rest of us. Read on to find out a little more about these amazing critters and why you should bee grateful for them! From A to BEE Bees are tiny insects with 6 legs and 4 wings, and represent a whole lot of species. In fact, honey bees are only a fraction of bee species. Furthermore, the commercial honey bee, or species used to pollinate human food crops, represent even a smaller fraction. However, all bees are social… read more →