Backgrounder: Protecting Canada's Natural Beauty

Canadians understand that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand in hand, and that their quality of life today—and economic success tomorrow—rest on the commitments to protect our natural legacy and preserve a clean environment for future generations.

The Government has made significant investments to protect Canada's air, water and natural areas for our children and grandchildren, and to create a world-leading clean economy.

To combat climate change, the Government has already allocated $5.7 billion over 12 years in support of the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The Government also launched a $1.5 billion national Oceans Protection Plan to improve marine safety and responsible shipping, protect Canada's marine environment, and offer new possibilities for Indigenous and coastal communities.

The Government is also investing roughly $1 billion over five years to establish better rules for the review of major projects that will protect our environment, fish and waterways, rebuild public trust, and help create new jobs and economic opportunities.

In Budget 2018, the Government is proposing to make further investments to help grow a healthy and sustainable clean economy. These new investments will:

• Ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to hike in our majestic forests and swim in our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams, by protecting Canada's ecosystems, landscapes and biodiversity, including species at risk, with a historic investment of more than $1.3 billion over five years, one of the most significant investments in nature conservation in Canadian history.
• Advance efforts to better protect, preserve and recover endangered marine life in Canada with $167.4 million over five years. Whales are vital to healthy marine ecosystems, and an important part of ecotourism in Canada's Pacific and Atlantic coastal regions and in the St. Lawrence Estuary.
• Support the federal carbon pollution pricing system with $109 million over five years. To ensure that a price on carbon pollution is in place across Canada, the Government is developing a federal system that would apply in provinces and territories upon request, and in those that do not have a pricing system in place that meets the federal standard by the end of 2018.
• Improve Canada's weather and water services with $120 million over five years to help protect people and communities from the devastating impact of extreme weather events. The networks that collect data and monitor changes in weather, climate, water, ice and air enable the weather, water and environmental predictions that help keep people safe.