A Canada Worth Building puts Nature up Front report is now out!
Nature is at the heart of life in Canada—it shapes our culture, supports our well-being, and powers our economy.
September 9, 2026
Earlier this year, 20 organizations representing the nature community in Canada, got together in Ottawa to discuss how we can all act together to implement the funding announced earlier this year while also addressing the proposed legislative changes that would undermine many environmental protections. A report of these discussions is now available!
As Prime Minister Mark Carney put it: “When we fail to protect nature, we are not making a sound economic choice. We are making a choice that works against us.” We want to help build a nature-positive future together. This report offers practical solutions to ensure economic and infrastructure development puts nature up front through five key priorities:
- Strong Federal Leadership: Strengthen environmental oversight, re-establish senior leadership in the PMO, and foster provincial-territorial collaboration.
- Mitigation Hierarchy: Embed an avoidance-first approach across government decisions and major project reviews.
- Indigenous Leadership: Secure permanent funding for Indigenous Guardians and support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
- Science & Spatial Planning: Improve environmental data integration and map key biodiversity areas to guide smart development.
- Valuing Nature: Incorporate natural assets into central economic planning and standardize nature valuation methodologies.
