We recognize the government’s priorities and why it has decided to move so quickly in the face of the national threats we face. But we are disappointed that nature is absent from the initial list of Projects of National Interest: no new parks to protect our lands and waters, no restoration projects to protect our communities in the face of climate disasters, and no Indigenous-led conservation to advance reconciliation. Without even a nod to nature, we are concerned about the direction this process may take.

Protecting and restoring nature must be part of the nation we are building together. Investing in nature is investing in Canada’s identity, and it is essential to achieving Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy and Canada’s promise to protect 30 percent of land and waters by 2030. Canadians expect that nature-positive projects, from restoration to conservation, will stand alongside infrastructure, clean energy, and resource developments as priorities of national interest.

If the Prime Minister is prioritizing Canada’s position as a clean energy superpower, its strategic geographic position, and its ties to the world’s biggest economies, then we must also recognize that we are a nature superpower. With the world’s longest coastline, vast boreal forests, and unparalleled natural wonders, nature must be part of the solution as we re-imagine the country’s future. Canada has a historic opportunity to show the world that investing in nature is nation-building, and we expect nothing less.

For more information:
Scott Mullenix
Director of Communications
media@naturecanada.ca | 613-366-4776 (call or text)