All statistical data in this report that is not footnoted comes from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Environmental Data Compendium 1999”, (Paris: OECD, 1999). The majority of the background information about environmental problems is from Environment Canada’s, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996” (Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services, 1996).

1. This trend is based on data deemed unreliable by the OECD (“Environmental Data Compendium 1999”, p.284) and is contradicted by Statistics Canada, “Human Activity and the Environment, 2000”, Ottawa: Ministry of Industry, 2000, pp. 99, 202-03. See also the section of this report on pesticides, p.23).

2. It should be noted that Canada’s relatively high ranking on the number of species at risk is partially due to inconsistent and incomplete data both in Canada and other nations. See also the section of this report on species at risk, p.26).

3. Ministry of the Environment, “A Framework for Discussion on the Environment”, Ottawa: Ministry of Supply and Services, 1990, quoted in George Hoberg, “Comparing Canadian Performance in Environmental Policy”, in Robert Boardman, ed., “Canadian Environmental Policy: Ecosystems, Politics and Process” (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1992, pp. 246-262).

4. David Suzuki and Anita Gordon, “It’s A Matter of Survival”, Toronto: Stoddart, 1990, p.1.

5. Laura Jones, Fraser Institute, ”Let’s Not Ignore the Good News”, Calgary Herald, April 22, 2000, p. A7.

6. Mark MacKinnon, Globe and Mail, Dec. 9, 2000.

7. For example, the Fraser Institute’s report Environmental Indicators (2000) claims that environmental quality in Canada improved 18% since 1980 but excludes key issues like climate change, loss of biodiversity and ozone depletion. In contrast, a report from the U.S. National Center for Economic Alternatives claims that environmental quality in Canada declined by 5.4% since 1980 and declined a total of 38.1% since 1970 (”Index of Environmental Trends: An Assessment of Twenty-one Key Environmental Indicators in Nine Industrialized Countries over the Past Two Decades”).

8. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 6.

9. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 7.

10. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, (Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services, 1996) p. 10-9.

11. Andrew Weaver, “Global warming debate is a puzzle”, Victoria Times-Colonist, Feb. 8, 2001, p. A17. See also United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis” available on-line at (www.ipcc.ch). In November 1995, 2500 leading climate scientists endorsed the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “Summary for Policymakers: Scientific Technical Analysis of Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigation of Climate Change”.

12. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Economic Survey of Canada, 2000” (available online at www.oecd.org), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Canada: Environmental Performance Review” Paris: OECD, 1995.

13. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 10-40.

14. Nova Scotia Department of Environment, “The State of the Nova Scotia Environment, 1998”, p. 36. As well, more than half the population of the Atlantic provinces is connected to sewer systems that release raw, untreated sewage directly into estuaries and coastal waters.

15. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 173.

16. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Canada: Environmental Performance Review” 1995, pp. 85-89.

17. Martin Mittelstaedt, “Group to apply for review of Ontario toxic waste laws”, Globe and Mail, Dec. 20, 1999, p. A9. The Globe and Mail reported that landfill disposal of hazardous soil costs roughly $250 per tonne while incineration costs about $1000 per tonne.

18. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-83, 84.

19. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-83.

20. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-71.

21. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 179.

22. Data from OECD’s “Towards Sustainable Development: Environmental Indicators”, 1998, p. 22.

23.. Statistics Canada, “Human Activity and the Environment 2000”, p. 12.

24. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 284.

25. Statistics Canada, “Human Activity and the Environment 2000”, pp. 99, 202-203. According to Statistics Canada, the amount of pesticide applied rose 411.3% between 1970 and 1995. During that same period, the area treated with herbicides grew 18 times while the area treated with insecticides grew 3.5 times.

26. Brian Emmett, “Report of the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons, 1999”, (Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Public Services, p. 4-30).

27. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 13-17.

28. OECD Environmental Data Compendium 1999, p. 276.

29. BC Ministry of Environment, “Environmental Trends, 1998”.

30. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 10-59

31. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 10-
31.

32. Parks Canada Panel on Ecological Integrity Panel, (available on-line at www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca).

33. Environment Canada’s, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996” indicated (at p. 14-22) that as of 1983, approximately 55,000,000 hectares (550,000 square kilometres) was protected in Canada (including federal, provincial and territorial parks). The OECD’s “Environmental Data Compendium 1999” reports that as of 1997, Canada had protected 953,103 square kilometres (p. 115).

34. Without further analysis, it is difficult to assess whether these increases are environmentally positive or negative. For example, New Zealand increased the volume logged by 75% but also virtually ended logging in native forests by switching to a plantation system with its own ecological pros and cons.

35. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-94.

36. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-90.

37. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-90 and B.C. Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, “Environment Trends in British Columbia 2000”, Victoria, 2000.

38. Environment Canada, “The State of Canada’s Environment 1996”, p. 11-88.

39. Centre for Sustainability Studies and Redefining Progress, “Ecological Footprints of Nations” (available on-line at www.ecouncil.ac.cr). Canadians have an ecological footprint of 7.7 hectares, while there are 1.7 hectares available per person in the world.