Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a $3.8 billion funding initiative on Tuesday to safeguard nature, as part of the government’s efforts to meet conservation objectives. Alongside public funds, the government is looking to partner with the private sector to support the conservation plan, which includes establishing new national parks and marine reserves.
During a news briefing in Wakefield, Quebec, Carney emphasized the need for substantial funding to realize the ambitious goal of creating protected spaces, stating that public resources alone would not suffice. The government’s target is to preserve 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030, with the current protected land area standing at around 14%.
These conservation objectives were set by the Trudeau administration following the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal in 2022. Concerns have been raised by environmental organizations regarding the government’s ability to match its conservation aspirations with sustained financial commitments.
Carney outlined that the new funding would be allocated across three key areas: nature protection, infrastructure development, and capital mobilization. The government plans to establish two immediate conservation sites: the Wiinipaawk Indigenous Protected Area and National Marine Conservation Area in eastern James Bay, Quebec, and the Seal River Watershed National Park in Manitoba.
Additionally, the government aims to implement “other effective area-based conservation measures,” allowing for the preservation of land and water while permitting certain activities. Plans include the creation of up to 14 new marine-protected and conserved areas, with a focus on safeguarding Arctic marine regions like Sarvarjuaq and Qikiqtait to protect polar bear, walrus, and beluga whale populations.
If realized, these new marine protected areas would cover 12% of Canada’s waters, bringing the total protected water area to 28%. Carney expressed determination to bridge the remaining gap in conservation efforts.
Critics from the federal Conservatives dismissed Carney’s announcement as mere illusions, accusing the government of persistent target misses and wasteful spending. The Official Opposition’s spokesperson, Sam Lilly, criticized the move as a diversion tactic to hide past failures and set unattainable goals for the future.