Environmental groups caution about funding at risk in federal election

With a federal election on the horizon environmental groups are calling on all political parties to commit to protecting and restoring nature.

Environmental groups caution that deep budget cuts could put Canada’s conservation goals at risk.

Canada has pledged to protect 30 per cent of its land, water, and oceans by 2030 – a commitment known as the ‘30 by 30’ target.

Officials with Ontario Nature worry about reports that Parks Canada is facing $450 million in cuts and lapsed funding over the next two years as first reported by Canada’s National Observer.

“We can’t allow economic uncertainty and kind of global instability to get in the way of addressing both the biodiversity and climate crises,” insisted Ontario Nature’s Tony Morris. “Really to build a strong and resilient Canada requires we invest in nature protection and restoration.”

They argued that economic and global uncertainty shouldn’t be an excuse to scale back investments in conservation, saying that protecting and restoring nature is critical for Canada’s long-term prosperity and resilience.

They urged the next federal government to fully fund nature protection efforts to ensure Canada meets its 30 by 30 target.