Environmental protection

In Canada, the abundance of resources long supported the belief that nature was like a well that would never run dry. Thus the idea of protecting natural resources did not come to the forefront until the late 19th century. This was when the first national parks were created, including Banff in 1885. During the 1960s, when the effects of the second industrial revolution were beginning to be felt, the idea of protecting nature was gradually expanded. The focus was no longer on merely protecting resources in order to exploit them more effectively later on, but rather on preserving the equilibrium of ecosystems. The idea continued to evolve, culminating in the late 1980s in the concept of sustainable development.

On the world scene, the Canadian government is a signatory to many international conventions and agreements designed to remedy global environmental problems. Among these are the Montréal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1998).

Additionally, in recent years the different levels of government have passed a wide range of acts and regulations concerning the environment, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

From 1996 to 1998 Canadian industries spent almost $3 billion each year on environmental protection. Among the activities thus funded were waste management, environmental project assessment and waste reduction. Additionally, in recent years there has been a proliferation of businesses promoting innovative ways to remedy environmental problems. In 2000, this 'environment industry' had revenues of $14.3 billion and provided nearly 160,000 jobs.

Canadians also took part in the collective effort as individuals, with 90% reporting in 1997 that they were concerned about the state of the environment. While there is little general enthusiasm for using public transit, some ecological practices are nevertheless being adopted. Sorting, composting and recycling household wastes are now daily practices in a growing number of households, and environmentally friendly products are gaining favour with many consumers.