Evidence-based briefings on Canada's environment and resources
Peer-reviewed policy briefings, data indicators, and strategic frameworks produced by our research fellows across all provinces and territories.
How Canada Sets and Enforces Air Quality Standards
Canada manages outdoor air pollution through national standards that are not legally binding on their own, backed by provincial permits and a handful of federal regulations. Here is how the pieces fit together and where the gaps show.
How Canada Protects Its Oceans: The Rules Behind Marine Protected Areas
Canada has pledged to conserve 30 percent of its ocean by 2030, but the pledge rests on four different legal designations with four different rulebooks. Here is what each one actually prohibits, how a site gets designated, and where the gaps remain.
How Extended Producer Responsibility Reshapes Recycling in Canada
Canadian provinces are shifting the cost of household packaging recycling from municipalities to the companies that supply the packaging. Here is how extended producer responsibility works, how the provinces compare, and what it changes at the curb.
Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations: How the Credit System Works
The Clean Fuel Regulations push suppliers to lower the carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel over time, using a credit market rather than a simple fuel tax. Here is how the system is built and what it means for drivers and producers.
How Ellerslie Roofing Is Adapting Edmonton Roof Jobs to Alberta’s New Energy Code
Alberta's tightened energy code changed what a compliant roof looks like. We asked an Edmonton roofing contractor how that plays out on an actual job site.
How Canada Regulates Methane From Oil and Gas
Methane leaks and venting from oil and gas sites are a major source of Canadian emissions. Here is how federal and provincial rules aim to cut them.
The Impact Assessment Act After the Supreme Court Reference
In 2023 the Supreme Court of Canada found central parts of the federal Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional, and Parliament rewrote them in 2024. Here is what changed, what triggers a federal review now, and why the division of powers still shapes every major project decision.
Canada’s EV Sales Mandate: How the Zero-Emission Rules Work
Canada's Electric Vehicle Availability Standard sets escalating targets for zero-emission new car sales. Here is how the rule is built, who it affects, and what still stands in the way.
How Canada Manages Wildfire Risk on Its Forests and Public Lands
Wildfire management in Canada is a shared responsibility split across provinces, territories, and federal agencies. Here is how decisions get made, who fights the fires, and why prevention increasingly matters.