Environment & Natural Resources

1. Government of Canada Announces Nearly $15 Million in Federal Investments for New EV Chargers Across the GTA

   Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough–Agincourt, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by MP Shafqat Ali and MP Julie Dzerowicz to announce federal investments totalling nearly $15 million for the installation of more than 2,350 EV chargers, 2,100 of which will be installed across the Greater Toronto Area.

2. Electric Vehicle-Related Investments

   Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, Shafqat Ali, Member of Parliament for Brampton Centre, and Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport, announced a total investment of $14,863,599 to 32 organizations to install more than 2,350 EV chargers, 2,100 of which will be installed across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

3. Statement by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault on World Wetlands Day

   Today is World Wetlands Day, a day to raise awareness of how vital wetlands are, and how important it is to protect these areas.

4. Minister Mendicino to Make an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Announcement for the Greater Toronto Area

   The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport, Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, and Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor of Toronto, will make an announcement to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure. A media availability will follow.

5. Climate action project in the District of Kitimat gets investment from Canada and British Columbia

   Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy for the Province of British Columbia, announced an investment of up to $910,000 to help the District of Kitimat develop a new compost facility to process food, yard and wood waste.

6. Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Applauds Canada’s Approach to Energy Security and the Energy Transition

   Dr. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) praised Canada’s strong climate actions and efforts to support global energy security during a fireside chat with the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, at the University of Ottawa.

7. The Barclay Construction Group Inc. agreed to pay $175K to the Environmental Damages Fund as part of an alternative measures agreement related to excavation work near Lake Ontario

   An alternative measures agreement has been concluded between the Government of Canada and The Barclay Construction Group Inc. As a result of the agreement, the company has agreed to pay $175,000 to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. The agreement, as recommended by the court, was entered into as an alternative to prosecution of charges that had been laid by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers under the Fisheries Act. The charges, which have since been stayed, were related to an incident where sediment-contaminated water was deposited into Lake Ontario.

8. Minister Wilkinson and International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol to Speak in Ottawa

   OTTAWA — The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, will partake in a fireside chat at the University of Ottawa. The discussion will be moderated by Marie-Pierre Ippersiel, and a media availability will follow.

9. Minister Guilbeault welcomes the 2022 Annual Report from the Net-Zero Advisory Body

   Today, I welcome the 2022 Annual Report from the Net-Zero Advisory Body, which outlines advice and contains important information on the development of policies and practices on the path to net-zero emissions.

10. Government of Canada Helps Protect Canadians with Earthquake Early Warning System

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, along with Bowinn Ma, British Columbia Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, announced that British Columbia is installing up to 50 earthquake early warning sensors in high seismic risk areas. These sensors will connect to the national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system that will be operational in 2024, supplementing and complementing several hundred sensors already installed by Natural Resources Canada.

11. Government of Canada Launches New Intake Model for Zero-Emission Vehicles Infrastructure Funding

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that the Government of Canada is now accepting applications from not-for-profit organizations, public institutions and governments to locally deliver federal funding from the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). Applications will be accepted throughout 2023 and 2024. This is yet another step the government is taking to make electric vehicle (EV) charging more accessible for Canadians and to help install over 84,500 chargers where Canadians live, work and play.

12. Canada Opens Intake for Expressions of Interest on Carbon Storage and Transportation

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, opened the intake for expressions of interest for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects and related science activities focused on carbon storage and transportation. CCUS technologies help prevent gasses from heavy emitting industries from polluting the air. This results in lower emissions and more good, sustainable jobs.

13. MP Terry Duguid Launches Program to Plant Over 71,000 Trees in Winnipeg with Mayor Gillingham

    Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, joined Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham to launch the Home Grown tree planting grant program. Supported by a federal investment of more than $7 million over five years, this program will plant over 71,000 trees across Winnipeg and contribute to Canada’s collective effort to plant two billion trees.

14. Tree Planting in Quebec to Help in Fight Against Climate Change

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, is pleased to announce $300,000 for the Association Forestière des Deux Rives for its regional capacity-building project. The contribution comes from the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program.

15. Parliamentary Secretary Duguid and Mayor Gillingham to Make a 2 Billion Trees Program Announcement

    WINNIPEG — Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and His Worship Scott Gillingham, Mayor of Winnipeg, will make a 2 Billion Trees and Home Grown Tree Planting Grant program announcement at Winnipeg City Hall.

16. Announcing Support for Innovative Forest Product Technologies At the 20th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum  

    Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, participated at the 20th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum and announced a total contribution of over $10 million to HTEC and West Fraser Mills Ltd. The contribution comes from the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, which facilitates the adoption of innovative technologies by bridging the gap between product development and commercialization.

17. Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin to Make an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Announcement

    OTTAWA — Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, will make an announcement to support electric vehicle infrastructure in Canada.

18. Canada invests in Lake Winnipeg Basin restoration and protection

    Today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced $1.59 million to support 25 projects under the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program.

19. Parliamentary Secretary Terry Duguid to announce an investment to protect Lake Winnipeg

    Media representatives are advised that Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will be at the Red River Basin Land & Water International Summit Conference to announce an investment to protect Lake Winnipeg.

20. Minister Khera to Recognize Delmanor Seniors Community Building as the 1st ENERGY STAR® certified Multi-Family High-Rise (New Construction) Building in Canada

    AURORA — The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors, and Leah Taylor Roy, Member of Parliament for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, will join Tom Mrakas, Aurora Mayor, to participate in an unveiling event at Delmanor Aurora.

21. Canada and the Yukon Sign Agreement in Principle to Deepen Collaboration on Planting 2 Billion Trees Nationally

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon’s Minister of Community Services, are pleased to announce that the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon signed an Agreement in Principle (AiP) under the 2 Billion Trees program.

22. Teck Metals Ltd. ordered to pay a $2.2 million fine for unlawful deposit of effluent into the Columbia River

    On January 10, 2023, in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Teck Metals Ltd. was ordered to pay a total of $2.2 million after earlier pleading guilty to two charges laid under the federal Fisheries Act and one charge laid under the provincial Environmental Management Act. The charges stem from a 2019 release of effluent into the Columbia River. The federal fine of $2 million will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. In relation to the provincial charges, Teck Metal Ltd. was ordered to pay a total fine of $200,000.

23. Ontario-based company contributes $30,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund for importing protected European eel meat

    On December 23, 2022, Ocean Seafood Company met the conditions of an alternative measures agreement, which was reached after the company was charged with an offence under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).

24. Minister Guilbeault submits climate action progress report to the United Nations

    In accordance with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requirements, Environment and Climate Change Canada submitted Canada’s Eighth National Communication and Fifth Biennial Report on December 31, 2022. This report was postponed for an extra year by the UNFCCC.

25. Extreme events in a changing climate: Canada’s Top 10 Weather Stories of 2022  

    Today, Environment and Climate Change Canada presented the 27th annual edition of the Top 10 Weather Stories in Canada.

26. Proposed regulated sales targets for zero-emission vehicles

    The government announced the proposed regulations on December 21, 2022, and will officially launch a formal 75-day consultation period upon their publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 31, 2022.

27. Let it roll: The Government of Canada moves to increase the supply of electric vehicles for Canadians

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that the Government of Canada has published proposed regulations that set ZEV sales targets for manufacturers and importers of new passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

28. Parliamentary Secretary, Julie Dabrusin, to make an announcement on new zero-emission vehicles regulations

    Media representatives are advised that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin, joined by Cara Clairman, President and CEO at Plug’n Drive, and Daniel Breton, CEO of Electric Mobility Canada, will make an announcement relating to new regulations for zero-emission vehicles.

29. Canada helps lead the world to agreement on the monumental Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework

    Canada along with the other 195 member nations have wrapped up negotiations at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal. After 13 days of negotiations at the largest ever conference for biodiversity conservation, Parties at COP15 in Montréal agreed on a historic global framework to safeguard nature and halt and reverse biodiversity loss, putting nature on a path to recovery by 2050.

30. COP15 statement from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

    COP15 closing statement from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

31. PS Kusmierczyk to Participate in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Event

    Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for Windsor–Tecumseh, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, will participate in a ribbon-cutting event for electric vehicle infrastructure in Amherstburg. A media availability will follow.

32. COP15: Daily highlights – December 18, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 18, 2022

33. COP15: Daily highlights – December 17, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 17, 2022

34. Important first step taken to establish new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area around Great Bear Lake

    Today, at COP15, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Shane Thompson, Northwest Territories Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; and Danny Gaudet, Ɂek’wahtı̨dǝ́ (Chief), Délı̨nę Got'ı̨nę Government, signed a letter of intent to support the establishment of the Sahtú K’aowe Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area around Great Bear Lake (Tsá Tué) in the Northwest Territories.

35. Change is here: Canada’s ban on certain harmful single-use plastics starts to take effect this month

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health; and the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the next important steps in the Government of Canada’s ban on harmful single-use plastics.

36. Canada’s ban on certain harmful single-use plastics

    Canada’s ban on certain harmful single-use plastics

37. COP15: Daily highlights – December 16, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 16, 2022

38. Canada and Northwest Territories Sign Agreement in Principle to Deepen Collaboration on Planting Two Billion Trees Nationally  

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Shane Thompson, the Northwest Territories’ Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, are pleased to announce that the Government of Canada and the Government of Northwest Territories signed an Agreement in Principle (AiP) under the 2 Billion Trees program.

39. Government of Canada Extends Funding for Spruce Budworm Research to Protect Forests in Atlantic Canada

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced the renewal of the Early Intervention Strategy for Spruce Budworm research program. This investment will continue the protection of forests in Atlantic Canada and improve the knowledge and tools needed to manage this destructive insect across Canada.

40. Canada’s top 10 weather stories of 2022

    Media representatives are advised that Senior Climatologist David Phillips and Physical Science Specialist Chantal McCartin will present Canada’s top 10 weather stories of 2022.

41. COP15: Daily highlights – December 15, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 15, 2022

42. At COP15, Canada and Ukraine commit to working together on environmental protection and climate action 

    Today in Montréal on the margins of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Ruslan Strilets, Ukraine’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase bilateral cooperation on climate action, environmental protection and nature conservation.

43. Statement by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault on the opening of the high-level segment of COP15

    Statement by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault on the opening of the high-level segment of COP15

44. COP15: Daily highlights – December 14, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 14, 2022

45. Canada and Yukon chart new path with agreement to help protect and conserve nature

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Nils Clarke, Yukon’s Minister of Environment, announced the Canada–Yukon Nature Agreement—the first agreement of its kind—to advance nature conservation and protection across the territory.

46. Canada and Manitoba Sign Agreement in Principle to Deepen Collaboration on Planting Two Billion Trees Nationally  

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Greg Nesbitt, Manitoba Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development, are pleased to announce that the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba signed an Agreement in Principle (AiP) under the 2 Billion Trees program.

47. COP15: Daily highlights – December 13, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 13, 2022

48. MP Badawey Announces Investment of $4.9 Million for a First-of-its-Kind Woody-Biomass-to-Renewable-Energy Facility in Canada

    Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a federal investment of $4.9 million for CHAR Technologies Thorold Inc. (CHAR) for a woody-biomass-to-renewable-energy facility in Thorold, Ontario. This amount is in addition to $1.5 million provided by FederalDev Ontario, bringing the total current federal investment for this project to $6.4 million.

49. COP15: Daily highlights – December 12, 2022

    COP15: Daily highlights – December 12, 2022

50. Minister Wilkinson Launches Natural Resources Canada’s Youth Council at COP15

    The Minister of Natural Resources Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced at COP15 the launch of Natural Resources Canada’s first Youth Council, reaffirming the Government of Canada’s commitment to protecting nature and biodiversity and recognizing the importance of engaging and hearing from youth on climate and natural resource issues.