Unceded Algonquin Territory — Ottawa, ON (September 16, 2024) —  As the Canadian House of Commons returns from the summer break, Nature Canada is celebrating a significant victory. In June, the federal government heeded our call to release its long-awaited 2030 Nature Strategy and corresponding accountability legislation. This achievement followed our “Nature on the Hill” event in the spring, where nature groups from across the country convened in Ottawa to meet with decision-makers, urging them to commit to meaningful action on biodiversity.

“We are thrilled that our efforts have helped usher in Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy,” says Emily McMillan, Executive Director of Nature Canada. “However, our work is far from over. This fall, we are focused on ensuring that the government backs up its promises with strong accountability measures by strengthening its proposed Nature Accountability Act.”

Nature Canada will continue to lead the charge, advocating for improvements to the government’s accountability legislation. The proposed amendments are crucial to guarantee that the new biodiversity strategy is more than just words on paper but a robust plan with enforceable commitments to halt and reverse nature loss.

Building on the momentum from the spring, Nature Canada will be pushing for:

• Stronger accountability measures in the proposed legislation to hold the government to its biodiversity strategy.
• Clear timelines and transparent reporting to ensure progress towards Canada’s ambitious biodiversity targets.
• Equitable solutions that engage all expert stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, conservationists, and local groups.

A Look Back at “Nature on the Hill”: Highlights Now Available

To commemorate the success of “Nature on the Hill” and reflect on the progress made, Nature Canada has released a highlight video capturing the event’s key moments, featuring interviews with participants, discussions with MPs, and calls to action from nature groups across Canada.

Watch the video here.