Environment Canada

Environment Canada (EC), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-10 ), is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and programs as well as preserving and enhancing the natural environment and conservation of wildlife.

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Environment Canada is the lead department within the federal government when it comes to cleaning up hazardous waste and oil spills. The department is also responsible for meteorology as well as research and education on climate change, as well as international environmental issues (e.g., Canada-USA air issues).

Responsibility for environmental management in Canada is a shared responsibility between the federal government and provincial/territorial governments. For example, provincial governments have primary authority for permitting industrial waste discharges (e.g., to the air) while the federal government is responsible for the management of toxic substances in the country (e.g. benzene). Environment Canada provides stewardship of the Environmental Choice Program, which provides consumers with an eco-labelling for products manufactured within Canada or services that meet international label standards of (GEN) Global Ecolabelling Network.

Environment Canada is currently (2005-present) undergoing a structural transformation to centralize authority and decision-making, and to standardize policy implementation.

John Baird is the current Minister of the Environment (2007-).

Division

Environment Canada is divided into several geographic regions:

• Atlantic (Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Quebec
• National Capital
• Ontario
• Prairie-Northern (Nunavut, NWT and Prairies)
• Pacific-Yukon (BC and Yukon)

The department has several organizations which carry out specific tasks:

• Meteorological Service of Canada (for weather forecasting)
  • Weatheradio Canada, a national system of emergency weather broadcast transmitters
• Canadian Wildlife Service
• Parks Canada which manages the Canadian National Parks system.
• Canadian Ice Service
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• Water Survey of Canada
• National Water Research Institute
• National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)

Enforcement

Environment Canada Enforcement Branch is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act and corresponding regulations.

The Governor-in-Council appoints Enforcement Officers and pursuant to section 217(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, enforcement officers of Environment Canada have all the powers of peace officers.

More information: EC Enforcement Branch

Related legislation

• Canada National Parks Act
• Canada Water Act
• Canada Wildlife Act
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999)
• Department of the Environment Act
• Environment Week Act, Canadian
• International River Improvements Act
• Lac Seul Conservation Act
• Lake of the Woods Control Board Act
• Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act
• Migratory Birds Convention Act
• National Wildlife Week Act
• Species at Risk Act (2002)
• Weather Modification Information Act
• Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Inter-provincial Trade Act