Clock is Ticking: A Mid-Term Report Card on the Federal Government and its Work on the Environment

A report released May 9th, 2018 by the leaders of Canada’s top environmental organizations reviews the progress of the federal government in meeting its platform and mandate commitments on environmental issues across the country.


The Report, The Clock is Ticking, assesses on-the-ground accomplishments against commitments on seven key issue areas, including climate change, biodiversity and habitat conservation, environmental assessments, water, Canadian Environmental Protect Act (CEPA) reform, charitable regulatory frameworks, and participation by civil society in public policy.


The report notes good progress on a few issues, namely financial investments in climate and conservation, reform of the Fisheries Act, renewed leadership and funding for terrestrial protection, support for Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, meeting the 2017 marine protection target, and for suspending the politically-motivated audits on charities.


While the groups applaud the positive progress, they note the following gaps:


• Canada’s Paris Agreement targets for carbon emission reductions are quickly becoming out of reach and Canada is unlikely to meet its already insufficiently ambitious climate targets largely due to lack of regulation of oil and gas emissions;
• Species at risk are not being protected, especially umbrella species like the Woodland Caribou and the Orca;
• The environmental/impact assessment legislation needs further work; and that
• The legal reform for charities is stalled.

Please find English and French versions of the full report below:

Clock is Ticking - Report

Le Temps Presse - Rapport