As Canadians, we have the good fortune to live in one of the best countries on earth. And one of the best things about our country is its environment. Canada's environment is central to our quality of life. Our vast forests, fields and tundra, our seas and our thousands of lakes and rivers sustain health and prosperity.
On June 11, 1971, Canada became the second country in the world (after France) to establish a formal ministry of environment. Environment Canada continues to actively conserve and protect our air, water, land, wildlife, and people.
The federal government shares jurisdiction over the environment with the provincial and territorial governments. Collaboration between the various levels of government, therefore, is vital.
In 1995, 1996 and 1997, in terms of human development, the United Nations rated Canada highest in the world. Canadians scored high on the key factors of life expectancy, which is significantly affected by environmental quality, and average income, which for one-third of our population comes from environment-related activities
In 1995, a World Bank report ranked Canada as the second-richest nation per capita. The World Bank looked at nations' resources--natural, material, and human--and ranked Canada high for its wealth of land, water, forests and minerals.
Recently, Toronto was named the best international city in which to work and raise a family. Fortune magazine ranks Toronto number one on its 1996 international list of best cities, basing its assessment largely on "quality of life." Intimately connected with Toronto's quality of life is the quality of its environment--the clean streets, accessible waterfront, and green spaces from which much of the city's easygoing vitality is derived
Canada extends over almost 10 million km2 , occupying two-fifths of North America and seven per cent of the world's land mass.
Bathed by warm, moist Pacific air currents, the British Columbia coast, indented by deep fiords and shielded from Pacific storms by Vancouver Island, has the most moderate climate of Canada's regions.
Forests and other wooded areas cover almost 50 per cent of Canada's land area. In fact, Canada has 10 per cent of the world's forests and significant reserves of oil, gas, coal and other minerals.
Vast natural areas, especially in the tundra region and the mountains, cover 70 per cent of Canada and represent 20 per cent of the world's remaining wilderness areas (Antarctica excepted).
The number, size and variety of protected areas in Canada have been growing since the beginning of the century. In 1950, protected areas totalled 2 per cent of the territory; by 1993 there were some 3,000 national sites with an environmental conservation purpose, or some 8.9 per cent (892,749km2). In terms of area protected, Canada ranks second among OECD countries.
Among OECD countries, Canada has the second lowest percentage of threatened mammal species and the lowest percentage of threatened bird species.
Canada has the largest navigable coastline in the world. Within Canada, the Great Lakes form the largest freshwater system in the world and Canada has 9 per cent of the world's renewable freshwater supply. Some 7.6 per cent of Canada's total surface area is inland water. Canada shares four of the Great Lakes with the United States. In addition to Lakes Superior and Huron, Canada's Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes are among the world's largest. Canada's Hudson's Bay lowland is the largest wetland in the world.
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements between Canada and Ontario, and with the United States, are steadily improving the environment. Continuing declines in industry discharges of pollutants and toxic substances, improved treatment of municipal wastewater, and declines in the levels of contaminants in fish and wildlife have been measured. Areas of concern such as the Toronto waterfront, Hamilton harbour and Sarnia have shown improvement.
Canada has played a leading role in the international effort to prevent ozone-depleting substances from entering the atmosphere. In June 1986, Canada became the first nation to ratify the Vienna Convention for protection of the ozone layer. Canada has been ahead of schedule in phasing out substances that harm the ozone layer. In recognition of Canada's leadership role, a special international secretariat has been located in Montreal. It will administer a multi-layer fund to developing countries, helping them to phase out their use of ozone-depleting substances.
