Abby Shin

Similar to my previous post, this one will discuss possible election implications for biodiversity conservation in Canada. While climate change often monopolizes environmental conversations (and with good reason), the world is simultaneously experiencing a massive biodiversity crisis – oftentimes referred to as the sixth mass extinction. The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) most recent Living Planet Report, titled “A System in Peril”, explains this crisis in depth. Canada has some of the broadest ecosystem diversity on Earth and is no stranger to extreme biodiversity loss. Unfortunately, our biodiversity monitoring, protection, and restoration is significantly lacking. A current, provincial-level example of this is Doug Ford’s Bill 5, proposing the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025”. This Act would repeal the Endangered Species Act, destroy protections for Ontario’s endangered species and their habitats, allow harmful development to proceed without review or regulation, and implement much more policy that would cause irreversible harm to Ontario’s species and ecosystems. Bill 5 demonstrates how economic and housing insecurity could be used to excuse entirely unnecessary, environmentally harmful laws. Click here to sign a quick form through Ecojustice that will leave a public comment against the Bill!

As Carney’s new government grapples with the US and implements their “Build, Baby Build” plan for Canada, we must ensure that biodiversity is not forgotten. This, like all issues I write about, is not just an ecological concern. Biodiversity is absolutely central to national and international health, economics, culture, and climate change mitigation/adaptation. Neglecting it can result in horrible, irreversible repercussions for us and wildlife. Below is what we know about the nature-related platforms of federal Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc parties during the election based on party interviews with Nature Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, as well as their manifestos.

Liberals

The Liberals support Canada’s commitment to conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. They committed to expanding Indigenous-led conservation projects, including Arctic programs and Indigenous rights to water. They also specified that they would create at least 10 new national parks and marine conservation areas, as well as 15 new urban parks. They would invest $100 million in water security technology to protect freshwater. The Liberals further committed to halting illegal wildlife trade across Canada’s borders and to mapping our significant ecological landscapes to better inform biodiversity policies and initiatives. Their manifesto outlines plans to proactively rehabilitate and mitigate species at risk impacts in areas of future significant infrastructure development (airports, highways, critical mineral sites, energy infrastructure, etc.). This would be done in collaboration with project proponents (developers, etc.), provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners. The manifesto further promises a nature protection fund that would be federally matched up until $250 million and would help restore old-growth forests, protect peatlands, and revive coastal waters. No comprehensive biodiversity or nature legislation was mentioned.

Conservatives

The Conservative party refused to answer any questions from eNGOs about their stance on biodiversity protection during the campaign. This is unsurprising as they have consistently framed nature and climate protections as unnecessary economic barriers. The Conservative manifesto simply promises to create an outdoor heritage fund that would support hunting, fishing, and conservation efforts. With regard to forests, it outlines a plan to renegotiate a softwood lumber agreement with the US to increase forestry exports. Obviously, no comprehensive biodiversity or nature legislation was mentioned.

Bloc Québécois

The Bloc is in support of the 30% conservation targets under the Kunming-Montreal Framework. Specifically, they highlighted British Columbia and Quebec as priorities for conservation objectives, emphasizing that Quebec environments be protected by Quebec laws. The Bloc also underscored the importance of federal responsibility for marine biodiversity and the elimination of exploratory oil drilling near protected areas. They argued that conservation objectives should be achieved by complementing Quebec’s 2030 Nature Plan and maintaining the Canada-Quebec Nature Agreement, to which Quebec would triple its financial contribution. They would also provide federal funding for Indigenous Land Guardians. No comprehensive biodiversity or nature legislation was mentioned.

My thoughts

It is worrisome but not surprising that none of the three most-seated parties have called for a comprehensive, federal biodiversity protection Act. Aside from some promising concepts, biodiversity remains to be approached disjointedly rather than as a national issue deserving of its own legislation. A Liberal versus Conservative government puts us at significantly better odds for achieving improved biodiversity protections. However it remains an uphill battle made steeper by the minority government and the volatile US.

The unmatched importance of biodiversity to Canadian economics, communities, and identity is yet to be properly acknowledged by most leaders nor integrated into policies. This is also because of the complicated nature of biodiversity governance, which falls onto federal and provincial jurisdiction across countless different sectors. To this date, there is not a single piece of federal-level legislation focused solely on the protection and/or preservation of biodiversity. This legislative gap is shocking considering the richness of Canada’s ecosystems, and is the current target of multiple eNGOs. With the help of Ecojustice Canada, Bill C-73: Nature Accountability Act proposed an Act that will ensure transparency and government accountability in meeting biodiversity targets. However, it died in January when the election was called. Greenpeace Canada is pushing for a strong Biodiversity Act that protects nature and Indigenous rights, while integrating the ecological crisis, Indigenous Knowledge, and a societal connection with nature into all levels of decision making. Unfortunately, these efforts are yet to make significant progress.

All in all, climate change and biodiversity loss are two major crises that are inexplicably intertwined and pose enormous threats to Canada. The new government must address them robustly and simultaneously, and what we know about the parties’ pre-election biodiversity stances is not overly promising. Individuals and organizations must hold the government accountable for our biodiversity, or else it will continue to suffer at the hands of inconsistent legislation.

Works Cited

David Suzuki Foundation. (2025). 2025 Federal Election – Parties’ environment pledges. https://davidsuzuki.org/take-action/act-locally/parties-environment-pledges/

Ecojustice Canada. (2025). Tell Doug Ford: Ontario is not for sale. https://ecojustice.ca/take-action/tell-doug-ford-ontarios-wildlife-isnt-for-sale/

Ecojustice Canada. (April 17, 2025). Ford government guts Endangered Species Act, slashes wildlife protections in Ontario. https://ecojustice.ca/news/ford-government-guts-endangered-species-act-slashes-wildlife-protections-in-ontario/

Fleming, E. (December 6, 2022). Auditor General: “Biodiversity Loss has Reached Crisis Proportions” – National and International Responses Needed. Nature Canada. https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/auditor-general-biodiversity-loss-has-reached-crisis-proportions-national-and-international-responses-needed/

Greenpeace Canada. (2025). Call on Canada to pass a strong nature protection law. Greenpeace. https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/act/protect-biodiversity/

Keating, C., Lempriere, M. (April 23, 2025). Canada election 2025: What the manifestos say on nature, energy, and climate. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/canada-election-2025-what-the-manifestos-say-on-nature-energy-and-climate/

Millar, J., Williamson, S. (August 30, 2024). The biodiversity crisis – 101. Ecojustice Canada. https://ecojustice.ca/news/the-biodiversity-crisis-101/

Nature Canada. (April 16, 2025). Where Canada’s Federal Parties Stand on Nature and Climate in 2025. https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/where-canadas-federal-parties-stand-on-nature-and-climate-in-2025/

Steward, K. (March 19, 2025). Pierre Poilievre’s positions on climate change, biodiversity and social justice. Greenpeace Canada. https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/story/68985/pierre-poilievres-positions-on-climate-change-biodiversity-and-social-justice/

Syed, F., Waters, S. (April 28, 2025). What Carney’s win means for environment and climate issues in Canada. The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/federal-election-results-2025/

World Wildlife Fund. (2024). Living Planet Report 2024: Download & Key Findings. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-US/living-planet-report-2024-key-messages/

World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). What is the sixth mass extinction and what can we do about it? https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-is-the-sixth-mass-extinction-and-what-can-we-do-about-it#:~:text=What’s%20causing%20the%20sixth%20mass,energy%20use%2C%20and%20climate%20change