IS CANADA DOING ENOUGH FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
Canadian involvement in protecting the global environment over the years.
While flipping through my history textbook in preparation for my impending exam (ahhh!!), I came across a section which briefly talked about environmental action taken by Canada in the second half of the 20th century. I read about various plans Canada implemented for environmental protection after Canadians began to realize how the industrial revolution and the huge technological developments of the early 20th century had harmed the environment. But has Canada really taken serious measures to preserve the environment for future generations? Is the government doing enough? Or are future generations doomed to live in an irreparably damaged and polluted atmosphere?
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ACTION IN CANADA
During the 1960s, it finally began to dawn on Canadians that the air and water was polluted, numerous acres of forests and farmland had been destroyed and Canada’s wildlife was suffering greatly. While fashionable automobiles and efficient factories spewed out toxic gases, pulp mills and other sources contaminated waterways, including the Great Lakes. Fish and other animals died, Aboriginals and their lands were negatively impacted, and many people found it difficult to make a living (especially fishers and tourist operators). Unusually large doses of mercury and other pollutants were also found in Arctic animals (including whales, seals, and polar bears), thus endangering the lives of the animals and the Inuit who hunted them. Furthermore, acid rain became a common disaster in Canada leading up to the 1990s, negatively affecting large areas of the Canadian environment.
In order to address all of these emerging environmental problems, environmental activist groups (e.g. Greenpeace, the Society for Pollution and Environmental Control, and Pollution Probe) emerged. As a result of this increased attention to environmental issues, the Canadian government took action during the 1970s to ameliorate the problems. The federal government established the Department of the Environment in 1971 in order to set emission standards for clean air and water. Many provincial governments followed suit and implemented similar measures. The disposal of harmful chemicals was also monitored, and clean up efforts were applied to polluted ecosystems and landfill sites. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and leaded gasoline were banned while recycling programs were started in many neighbourhoods. Provincial and national parks were created to protect important ecosystems and people attributed an increased importance in appreciating and preserving the environment.
In addition, awareness grew that international agreements were needed to protect the world’s environment and foreign affairs took a new turn as nations cooperated in various environmental conferences. One such conference was the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden which established a declaration of environmental rights. Canada also participated in the 1992 Rio Summit in Brazil in which further international agreements to protect the global environment were developed. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which required participants to attempt to reduce world air pollution by 5% by 2012, was also a significant environmental investment for Canada. But has Canada actually been keeping up with all of these eco-friendly objectives? Are we doing our part to protect the global environment?
IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT NOWADAYS?
I personally do not believe that the Canadian government is doing enough to protect the environment. I’m especially disappointed by the fact that Canada was unable to meet the target of the Kyoto Protocol, and so withdrew before the 2012 deadline. The Conservative government pulled Canada out of the agreement when it became clear that Canada would not be able to meet the goal of reducing annual CO2 emissions to below 1990 levels. Peter Kent, the Environment Minister at the time, said that Canada would have had to pay $14 billion in penalties for not meeting the requirements, and thus withdrawing from the agreement was more beneficial to Canadian taxpayers and to the economy. However, New Democrat environment critic Megan Leslie argued that there were no penalties under Kyoto and that the Conservatives pulled out of the agreement simply to prevent them having to report that Canada did not meet the Kyoto targets. In any case, I find it disheartening that Canada was unable to meet the targets and I feel that it demonstrates how much more of an emphasis Canada needs to put on cutting back pollution.
“WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS ABDICATING ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. IT’S LIKE WE’RE THE KID WHO’S FAILING THE CLASS SO WE HAVE TO DROP OUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.” — Megan Leslie, NDP Environment Critic
Another reason why I think that the Canadian government isn’t doing enough to protect the environment nowadays is the Alberta oil sands. Each day, over 1 million barrels of crude oil are extracted and the state of the environment is absolutely disastrous. The beautiful boreal forest that once covered oil sands has been cut down, pollutants from the bitumen processing have contaminated the Athabasca River, the farmland is now wasteland, and the air is polluted. Furthermore, First Nations communities situated adjacent to the tar sands have been experiencing increasing rates of rare cancers and other diseases. All of these things serve to prove that that Canada is not yet set on preserving the environment for future generations. The depletion of fossil fuels, the lack of environmental sustainability and the lack of effort in implementing alternative energy sources shows just how little most Canadian government officials care about the environment. However, non-renewable resources will run out eventually and I think that all of this spells disaster for Canada in the future.
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED GOVERNMENT POLICIES?
The environment is extremely important to Canada for various reasons. It offers abundant natural resources which can continue to bring long-term economic prosperity to Canada if the resources are consumed sustainably. It also brings trade and beneficial foreign relations to support Canada economically and politically. Furthermore, Canada’s natural environment is a beautiful place to go outside and enjoy the outdoors while getting fresh air and rest. The expansive and wild Canadian environment is also significant to Canada’s identity as it has played a huge role in establishing distinctive Canadian art (e.g. the Group of Seven) and culture. Without its ruggedly stunning wilderness, Canada just wouldn’t be Canada. As well, this is the only Earth we have, and whatever harm we do to the environment will eventually result in negative consequences coming back to bite us in the butt. For all of these reasons, I think that the federal and provincial governments of Canada should put protecting the environment higher up on their list of priorities. However, I believe it’s also our duty as global citizens to each do our part to reduce our ecological footprint. If not, generations to come may have to live in a polluted, desolate wasteland because we were incapable of living sustainably.
“THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT MUST REALIZE OUR HOME, THE PLANET EARTH, IS FINITE. WHEN WE COMPROMISE THE AIR, WATER, SOIL AND THE VARIETY OF LIFE, WE STEAL FROM THE ENDLESS FUTURE TO SERVE THE FLEETING PRESENT. THE TIME FOR GOVERNMENT ACTIONS IS NOW. IF WE WANT TO ENSURE A HEALTHY PLANET FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT.” –MP Kirsty Duncan
Works Cited:
“Alberta’s Oil-sands — Ecological Damage: Canadian Geographic Magazine.” Alberta’s Oil-sands — Ecological Damage: Canadian Geographic Magazine. N.p., June 2008. Web. <http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/jun08/feature_tar_sands.asp>.
“Alberta Oilsands Facing Aboriginal Legal Onslaught in 2014.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 02 Jan. 2014. Web. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/alberta-oilsands-facing-aboriginal-legal-onslaught-in-2014-1.2481825>.
“Tar Sands | Greenpeace Canada.” Greenpeace Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/Energy/tarsands/>.
“Canada Pulls out of Kyoto Protocol.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 12 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-pulls-out-of-kyoto-protocol-1.999072>.
AUSTEN, IAN. “Canada Announces Exit From Kyoto Climate Treaty.” Environment. N.p., 12 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/science/earth/canada-leaving-kyoto-protocol-on-climate-change.html?_r=0>.
Written: Saturday, January 11th, 2014
