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Mr. Terry Duguid (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lib.)

Feb/2/23 6:43:51 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his passion and commitment to conservation. The world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis. Canadians have a deep connection with nature and understand that protecting the environment is all about protecting our shared future. The Government of Canada is committed to continue leading efforts and strengthening partnerships to halt biodiversity loss and build a better, more prosperous and greener future for everyone. That is why Canada committed to conserve 25% of our lands and waters by 2025 and 30% of each by 2030, working to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050 and championing this goal internationally. This is an ambitious goal. Currently, Canada has conserved just over 13% of our lands and inland waters. Important investments are setting the stage to meet the 25% by 2025 domestic target and support efforts to achieve 30% protection by 2030. In Canada, working with partners is essential as land available for conservation and protection are under diverse jurisdictions. As the national government in a federation, we have always said that we would do things in a collaborative manner. Through a number of governance bodies, we have jointly developed pan-Canadian guidance that is supported by all jurisdictions. We are working with a number of jurisdictions to advance bilateral nature agreements. These are another way to work with our provincial and territorial partners on shared objectives and outcomes. While our progress on the 30% target may not be as fast as we would like, we are proud of the deliberate and collaborative approach that has brought us to this stage. Canada also took a strong international leadership role on the development of an ambitious new global biodiversity framework that was finalized at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity's 15th Conference of the Parties in Montreal in December. It was a proud moment for our country. The global biodiversity framework will provide a collective road map toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss and the degradation of nature and ecosystems around the world. To the hon. member's point, we understand that some non-governmental organizations have proposed a national biodiversity act to create an accountability law similar to the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. We will work with our conservation partners and others to implement this new global biodiversity framework and explore all potential tools that will help us to meet our nature objectives, including potential new legislative tools. Protecting biodiversity must also be done hand in hand with indigenous peoples. Recognizing the importance of reconciliation and the role played by indigenous leaders and partners in conservation, we have an opportunity to work collaboratively to further support indigenous-led conservation efforts.

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Mr. Richard Cannings

Feb/2/23 6:47:36 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have outlined what we need to do to meet the challenge of biodiversity loss in Canada. We do need legislation that has a process to set meaningful targets, a real plan on how we are going to meet those targets and public, transparent accountability measures to make sure we succeed. The plans for biodiversity protection must include a variety of habitat management models that include measures to protect wide-ranging species, such as caribou, as well as specific sites for other vulnerable species. This will all involve partnerships with indigenous peoples, non-government organizations and, of course, the provinces that control most of the public lands in Canada, but we must succeed. The health of the environment we live in, the environments that provide us with clean air, clean water and rich soils to grow our crops rely ultimately on a rich array of species. Canada said the right things in Montreal when the world was watching and now we must turn those words into bold action to maintain a livable world for future generations.

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Mr. Terry Duguid

Feb/2/23 6:48:51 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we do have a plan. We are working with that plan. Since 2015, we have been getting results. Canada has increased its conserved terrestrial areas by more than 2%, an area roughly the size of Italy. Canada has conserved or protected just over 13% of our lands and inland waters. On the marine side, Canada has conserved 14% of our marine and coastal areas, up from less than 1% in 2015. The 2022 update to the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database will be available in March 2023. We need to do this, as the hon. member said, in partnership with indigenous peoples and communities. Achieving our biodiversity goals will require a whole-of-government approach and a whole society approach.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Feb/2/23 6:49:49 p.m.
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The motion that the House do now adjourn is deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1). (The House adjourned at 6:50 p.m.)

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