Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, ON (October 19, 2026) – Nature is our greatest asset and we’re at risk of losing it. In a bid to build fast, the federal government must not sell off our longstanding environmental protections, otherwise political leaders risk building a country we no longer recognize.

As Bill C-39 makes its way through the legislative process, nature-based groups are speaking together and loudly. We want to ensure that the Carney government is on the right side of history.

More than 50 meetings representing 70 nature groups

Nature groups will gather on Parliament Hill from October 20-21 for the annual Nature on the Hill event. They’ll be asking decision makers to legislate environmental protections into our nation-building projects from the outset.

Nature groups will meet with 50 Parliamentarians representing all regions and parties and are bringing evidence-based solutions to our current challenges. Canadians have until October 26 to voice their opinions on Bill C-39.

The event in Ottawa takes place at the same time as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP17 that is happening in Yerevan, Armenia. There, countries will be jointly assessing progress toward 23 targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022. As the global community transitions to a nature-positive, net-zero, economy, we must act now to ensure Canada remains competitive.

“This is a historic opportunity to build an economy that reflects our needs and our values,” says Akaash Maharaj, Director of Policy at Nature Canada. “We are at a major point in time and Canadians want the government to build our economy with nature up front. Now is not the time to lower the bar.”

“As the voice for nature, we cultivate and strengthen the conditions needed for species and habitats to flourish,” says Nature Canada Executive Director, Emily McMillan. “This gathering is emblematic of that collective approach to protecting our natural assets. Our movement will bring grassroots action and expert insight to Parliament Hill at a crucial time for this country.”

Polling from earlier this year showed that 75 per cent of Canadians agree that safeguarding Canada’s natural heritage should be a key consideration when building the country.

Protecting nature supports jobs, food security and our surroundings. Canada has 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater, a quarter of global wetlands, nearly 25 per cent of the boreal forest and the world’s longest coastline. We can’t take them for granted.

“Canada has extraordinary natural capital – that is the stock of forests, freshwater, healthy soils and clean air which provide vital ecosystem services including carbon storage, water filtration and food provisioning,” says McMillan.

“We can’t be shortsighted about natural assets. If we don’t preserve them, we will have to pay for these assets and services in the future.”

A strong natural environment is also part of our economic competitiveness. A Force of Nature, the government’s own strategy to protect nature, showed that ecosystem services such as clean water and air are worth $3.6 trillion annually, while nature-based sectors of the economy, including forestry, agriculture and fisheries, generate seven per cent of our GDP, or $227 billion.

This is something Prime Minister Mark Carney underscored himself at the launch of Canada’s nature strategy: “When we fail to protect nature, we are not making a sound economic choice. We are making a choice that works against us.”

For media interviews, contact:

Scott Mullenix
Nature Canada
media@naturecanada.ca
613-366-4776

Key Date: The Bill C-39 House Committee is asking for submissions to be sent in by October 26 at 5 p.m. ET. Nature Canada encourages interested individuals and organizations to make their submission as soon as possible.

Why It’s Urgent: Video: We Will Not Survive the Trade War Without Nature.

Learn more: Parliamentarians must finish the work of amending and redeeming C-39, to make it an Act worthy of Canada’s dignity.

About us:
Nature Canada has been connecting Canadians to their natural environment since 1939. Its Nature Nation includes more than 250,000 members and supporters and it works with more than 1,200 nature organizations worldwide.

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