Help Shape Canada's First Census of the Environment
Official title: Census of the Environment Program
Statistics Canada is building a new Census of Environment to track the health of Canada's ecosystems—forests, wetlands, lakes, and coastlines. Think of it as a national checkup for nature. The census will measure what these ecosystems provide: clean air, food, recreation, and more. They're looking for input on what matters most to Canadians.
Why This Matters
Ever wonder how healthy your local forest or lake really is? This census will track that. The data will shape decisions about protecting parks, managing floods, and planning where we build. If you care about clean air, outdoor recreation, or climate resilience, this affects you.
What Could Change
Canada could get its first comprehensive inventory of ecosystems and their economic value. This data would inform environmental regulations, conservation funding, and land-use planning. Governments would have hard numbers on what nature provides—making it harder to ignore environmental costs in policy decisions.
Key Issues
- What ecosystem information matters most to Canadians?
- How should ecosystem services like clean air and recreation be measured?
- What ecosystems should be prioritized for tracking?
How to Participate
- Email consultativeengagement-mobilisationconsultative@statcan.gc.ca to get information about upcoming engagement sessions in 2025-2026.
- Learn more about the Census of Environment program to understand what's being developed.