“Canada Strong” Means Standing Up for Nature

Photo: Bugling bull elk (Cervus canadensis) by Matt Kaminski

Government and Policy

Sandra Schwartz | August 19, 2025

I can still remember a time when we had defined seasons — when summers brought clear blue skies, winters arrived with deep snow to play in, and nature felt abundant and alive all around us.

I want that Canada to still exist for my children and grandchildren. But right now, it’s clear our natural world has changed.

With the passage of the Building Canada Act (Bill C-5), I fear that the very things that make this country unique — our vast forests, turquoise lakes, vibrant coastlines, and abundant wildlife — are being pushed aside in the name of short-term economic gain.

The bill was rushed through Parliament in response to some very real and unprecedented economic challenges. But in that rush, we’ve ignored a crisis that’s been eroding our environment, our economy, and our quality of life for decades: the crisis facing nature itself.

Because once nature is gone, it’s gone. You can’t un-pave a wetland. You can’t bring back a species after it disappears. There’s no “reset button” when a forest is clearcut or an ocean floor is destroyed.

“We’re being asked to trade away the future of our environment for the illusion of quick economic wins. That’s not nation-building. That’s not the Canada most of us believe in.”

Building a Stronger Canada Means Protecting What Sustains Us

This new government has shown that it can act quickly when it wants to. We’ve seen bold action on economic and security fronts. We’ve seen efforts to unite the country through policies like the Canada Strong Pass and work to reduce internal trade barriers.

But when it comes to protecting nature — the foundation of our communities, our health, and our long-term prosperity — we’ve been concerned by what we have seen so far.

Photo: Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) landing on a beach where they nest by Bouke

I’m a pragmatist by nature. I believe in common sense and in leaving things better than we found them. I believe that our economy and our environment aren’t in opposition — they depend on each other. Nature protects us: it shields us from floods and fires, cleans our air and water, it feeds us, and creates special places in which we find joy and make memories. Nature is the diverse wildlife – from loons and puffins to salmon and trout, to caribou and whales – that define our identity as Canadians. Nature is featured on our coins; it serves as the backdrop to beloved movies and TV shows and is celebrated as our sports mascots.

And yet with the swift passage of the Building Canada Act, we’re on the brink of losing what we hold so dear and what many of us fought so hard to protect.

We Can’t Afford to Lose Momentum

Over the past five years, we’ve made progress — working together to create new protected areas, honouring Indigenous leadership in conservation, and taking meaningful steps to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

But the Building Canada Act threatens to undo that momentum. It opens the door for fast-tracked projects that could devastate the very natural spaces that help us thrive, push species closer to extinction, and put communities at risk — all while favouring corporate interests over the public good.

We’re being asked to trade away the future of our environment for the illusion of quick economic wins. That’s not nation-building. That’s not the Canada most of us believe in.

Child fishing in the Crossest River — Photo: Crossest River with Rocky Mountain backdrop, Southern Alberta by Ramon Cliff

Nature Can’t Wait. And Neither Should We.

We need to demand better. We need to remind our leaders that “Canada Strong” is more than military might or unlimited economic growth — it also means protecting the places and values that hold this country together.

We need investments in new national, provincial and territorial parks, Indigenous-led conservation and Guardian programs, and marine protected areas that will keep nature thriving for our grandchildren. We need the federal government to uphold existing environmental laws — to see them not as barriers to progress, but as essential tools for making smart, thoughtful decisions about how and where to build. And we need real consultation with Indigenous communities who know their traditional territories so well.

The longer we delay prioritizing nature and investing in it, the more we lose. I still have hope. I believe it’s not too late to change course. But we can’t keep waiting for someone else to act.

Photo: The Fortymile caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd migrates between Yukon and Alaska. By Ian

Here’s How You Can Help:

With the passing of the Building Canada Act, call or write the Prime Minister and your local Member of Parliament. Let them know that real prosperity means protecting nature — not sacrificing it. You don’t need to speak at length, just tell them how you feel.

Speak up on social media using #DefendNature and #CanadaStrong and tag your local MP and @CanadianPM. Share what nature means to you, and why it’s worth fighting for.

We’ve seen time and again that when Canadians come together to protect what matters, we do make a difference. Let’s do it again — before it’s too late.

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