1885 Banff
National Park established by Order in Council
Canada's first National Park and the world's third, Banff National Park
was created as a wilderness recreation park and vacation spa, but its
guidelines did not contain any explicit conservation function.
1973 Canada
Wildlife Act [link]
This act authorizes the acquisition of land by the federal government
for the purpose of creating National Wildlife Areas; refuges under protection
from habitat disturbance and hunting. This act also allows for marine
areas to be recognized and protected. By 1996, 48 NWA's had been established,
protecting about 489 332 hectares of habitat.
1988 Canadian
Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) [link]
CEPA is an amalgam of several acts concerning environmental standards,
protection, and penalties for violation. It deals primarily with regulation
of pollution.
1988 RENEW
[link]
The REcovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife program is a strategy
which outlines measures for the recovery of endangered species and the
prevention of the worsening of the condition of currently threatened
or non-endangered species. The emphasis is on terrestrial vertebrates,
although a few plants and an ecosystem have also been included. (www.ec.gc.ca/press/sar4_b_e.htm).
1990 Wildlife
Policy for Canada [link]
This piece of legislation was a major step in a new way of looking at
conservation, by emphasizing the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity
and ecological processes, rather than the more common piecemeal conservation
approaches that had been emphasized.
1991 Canadian
Biodiversity Convention Advisory Group [link]
Now known as the Canadian Biodiversity Forum, this group made up of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other representatives provides
advice to the federal government on biodiversity issues. It was originally
established to advise the government on the negotiation of an international
biodiversity conservation convention.
1992 Statement
of Commitment to Complete Canada's Network of Protected Areas [link]
This document was signed by federal and provincial governments, confirming
Canada's commitment to establish a network of national protected areas
representing each of Canada's 39 ecological regions. To achieve this
goal, 14 new parks must be created, and the total land area designated
as Federal Protected Areas must be brought to 3% of the country.
1992 The
National Forest Strategy [link]
laid out a plan for completion of an ecological classification of forest
lands, completion of a network of protected areas representative of
Canada's forests, establishing forest inventories; and development of
a system of national indicators of sustainable forest management.
1994-Canadian
Biodiversity Science Assessment
The Canadian Biodiversity Science Assessment evaluated the state of
biodiversity, the impact of human activity, and the adequacy of protected
areas in Canada. This was to discover what was needed for the Canadian
Biodiversity Strategy, which Canada was to produce as part of its obligation
under the Convention on Biodiversity. The conclusions of the Assessment
shaped the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy.
1994 Migratory
Birds Convention Act (MBCA) [link]
This act prevents the commercialization of migratory birds by hunting
and trafficking, and allows the federal government to establish Migratory
Bird Refuges in areas of importance to birds, protecting them from the
threat of habitat destruction and overhunting.
1995 Canadian
Biodiversity Strategy [link]
As part of Canada's commitments under the Convention on Biodiversity,
the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy was produced by a working group including
federal, provincial, and territorial governments, academics, industry
representatives and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Strategy
is a guide to carrying out Canada's commitments under the Convention
on Biodiversity. It lays out a plan to a) conserve biodiversity and
promote sustainable use of resources, b) improve our understanding and
management of ecosystems c) develop incentives and legislation to support
the conservation of biodiversity, and d) educate about the need to conserve
biodiversity.
1995 Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act [link]
This act was passed to ensure that rigorous environmental assessment
would be performed for projects carried out by the federal government
or Crown corporations and that the assessment would include public consultation.
1996 Wild
Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial
Trade Act [link]
WAPPRIITA, the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act, enforces stricter control over the illegal
trade of wildlife and plants and bans commercial trade of endangered
species. This act defines Canada's commitment to the principles of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES).
1996 Bill
C-65 introduced [link]
This bill, which would have been Canada's first law to protect endangered
and threatened species, did not pass. Concerns over the bill included
a lack of provision for species on private lands, and the fact that
the bill would have given the cabinet the ability to override the recommendations
of COSEWIC, allowing political issues to enter into the species designation
process.
1996 National
Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk [link]
This accord was agreed to in principle by federal and provincial ministers,
and commits the different levels of government to implementing legislation
and programs that act to protect endangered species and their habitats.
1997 Canada
Oceans Act [link]
This act recognized an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends
for 200 nautical miles off Canadian coasts, encompassing almost five
million square kilometers of ocean. Within the EEZ Canada may enforce
its rights and responsibilities over exploration and exploitation of
living and nonliving resources. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
may develop and implement initiatives to support sustainable development,
and manage marine resources. In addition, the Minister may establish
Marine Protected Areas and enforce Marine Environmental Quality guidelines.
2000 Report
of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada's Parks [link]
The panel's findings were grim; Canada's parks are under attack from
threats within and outside their boundaries, and their ecological integrity
is severely compromised.
2000 Minister's
response to the Report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada's
Parks [link]
Partially in response to the report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity
of Canada's Parks, The federal government introduced amendments to the
Canada National Parks Act, reconfirming the importance of the goal of
ecological integrity in parks management.
2000 Species
at Risk Act (SARA) [link]
This act was killed when the election call was made in October 2000.
The Species at Risk Act would have not only directly protected species
at risk, but also their habitat. SARA would have provided for scientific
assessment of the status of species through an organization (COSEWIC)
operating at arm's length from the federal government and would have
applied to all lands in Canada. Responsibility for the Act would have
fallen to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for aquatic species,
the Minister of Heritage for species in National Parks, and Environment
Canada for all other species and habitats.
