The Government’s Strategy to Protect Nature

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, in Wakefield, Québec, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature; a plan that outlines how the federal government will protect and restore critical habitats, ensure industrial strategies complement our conservation efforts, and mobilise new capital for nature. 

With this plan, the Government of Canada is pursuing an ambitious nature agenda investing $3.8 billon and Parks Canada will play a vital part in advancing this new vision.

While more details will emerge in the coming weeks, here is an overview of the key elements of this announcement related to Parks Canada’s mandate. The government will: 

• Expand the network of protected and conserved areas in Canada, toward the goal of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters in Canada by 2030, supporting Parks Canada’s work in:

• Effectively managing existing Parks Canada administered places, implementing the Species at Risk Act and supporting recovery of southern mountain caribou;
• Advancing the establishment of Seal River Watershed National Park Reserve in Manitoba;
• Advancing the establishment of Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area and National Marine Conservation Area in Eastern James Bay off Québec;
• Establishing up to 10 new national parks, national marine conservation areas and designating 15 new national urban parks.

• Continue to implement the Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site Action Plan and support the recovery Wood Bison.

• Strengthen Indigenous-led conservation by investing to expand the Indigenous Guardians Program.

This announcement comes as great news for nature and for Parks Canada. It reflects the key role the agency plays in delivering on the government’s mandate and the confidence that the government continues to place in us. I know the Parks Canada team will deliver because nature is in our very nature.

While it will take some time to fully incorporate what was announced today for Parks Canada, we know it represents opportunities to apply the Transformation principles I outlined in my last email. It’s clear, we must rise to the challenge to find ways to deliver our mandate and government priorities in a more sustainable and collaborative way.

You may wonder if the funding announced today negates the reductions which were announced in the 2025 Budget. The answer to this is no. These funds are tied to specific projects and the requirement outlined in the 2025 Budget to reduce our expenditures by $75 million annually remains. 

We will provide more details as information becomes available and thank you for your continued commitment as we work to deliver Parks Canada’s mandate on behalf of Canadians.

Andrew Campbell

Interim President & Chief Executive Officer

Parks Canada

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