Environment Canada

Departments of the Government of Canada
Environment
Environnement
Minister	John Baird
Parliamentary Secretary	Mark Warawa
Established	1971
Responsibilities	Meteorological Service of Canada Parks Canada Canadian Ice Service Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Water Survey of Canada National Water Research Institute
Employees	N/A
Department Website

Environment Canada (EC), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-10 ), is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and programs as well as preserving and enhancing the natural environment and conservation of wildlife.

Environment Canada is the lead department within the federal government when it comes to cleaning up hazardous waste and oil spills. The department is also responsible for meteorology as well as research and education on climate change, as well as international environmental issues (e.g., Canada-USA air issues).

Responsibility for environmental management in Canada is a shared responsibility between the federal government and provincial/territorial governments. For example, provincial governments have primary authority for permitting industrial waste discharges (e.g., to the air) while the federal government is responsible for the management of toxic substances in the country (e.g. benzene). Environment Canada provides stewardship of the Environmental Choice Program, which provides consumers with an eco-labelling for products manufactured within Canada or services that meet international label standards of (GEN) Global Ecolabelling Network.

Environment Canada is currently (2005-present) undergoing a structural transformation to centralize authority and decision-making, and to standardize policy implementation.

John Baird is the current Minister of the Environment (2007-).

Division

Environment Canada is divided into several geographic regions:

• Atlantic (Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Quebec
• National Capital
• Ontario
• Prairie-Northern (Nunavut, NWT and Prairies)
• Pacific-Yukon (BC and Yukon)

The department has several organizations which carry out specific tasks:

• Meteorological Service of Canada (for weather forecasting)
  • Weatheradio Canada, a national system of emergency weather broadcast transmitters
• Canadian Wildlife Service
• Parks Canada which manages the Canadian National Parks system.
• Canadian Ice Service
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• Water Survey of Canada
• National Water Research Institute

Related legislation

• Canada National Parks Act
• Canada Water Act
• Canada Wildlife Act
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999)
• Department of the Environment Act
• Environment Week Act, Canadian
• International River Improvements Act
• Lac Seul Conservation Act
• Lake of the Woods Control Board Act
• Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act
• Migratory Birds Convention Act
• National Wildlife Week Act
• Species at Risk Act (2002)
• Weather Modification Information Act
• Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Inter-provincial Trade Act

External links

• Environment Canada
• Meteorological Service of Canada
• Parks Canada
• Select programs and services of Environment Canada
• Related acts and regulations

Departments of the Government of Canada
Principal Departments:	Agriculture and Agri-Food · Canadian Heritage  · Citizenship and Immigration  · Environment · Fisheries and Oceans  · Foreign Affairs and International Trade  · Health  · Human Resources and Social Development  · Indian and Northern Affairs  · Industry · Justice · National Defence  · Natural Resources  · Privy Council Office  · Public Safety  · Public Works and Government Services  · Transport · Veterans Affairs
Major Agencies:	Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency · Canada Border Services Agency · Canadian Coast Guard · Canada Revenue Agency · Canadian Food Inspection Agency · Canadian International Development Agency · Canadian Space Agency · Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec · Parks Canada · Passport Canada · Public Health Agency · Royal Canadian Mounted Police · Service Canada · Western Economic Diversification Canada
Other Departments:	Infrastructure · Library and Archives

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