Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
Alberta expanded its decontamination rules to cover industrial and construction operations working in or near water. The goal? Stop whirling disease and other aquatic invasive species from spreading between watersheds. Companies would need to follow...
Why This Matters: If you fish Alberta's rivers, this matters. Whirling disease kills trout and has already spread to multiple watersheds. These rules aim to stop construction equipment from carrying the parasite to new waters. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts have a stake in keeping Alberta's fisheries healthy.
Regulations & Permits
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
This consultation gathered input on how to balance water use in the Wapiti River basin. Communities worried that winter water withdrawals were hurting fish and aquatic life. The final plan now guides water licensing decisions in the region.
Why This Matters: If you live in the Grande Prairie area or rely on the Wapiti River, this plan affects your water supply. Farmers, industries, and municipalities all draw from this river. The plan sets limits to protect fish during low-flow winter months.
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
Alberta asked for public input on how to protect the western grebe, a threatened waterbird. The consultation ran from December 2018 to January 2019 and received 24 responses. The recovery plan focuses on protecting shoreline habitat on Alberta's...
Why This Matters: Western grebes are an indicator of lake health. If you live near or use Alberta's central and north-central lakes, protecting these birds means protecting the ecosystem you enjoy. Healthy shorelines benefit fishing, recreation, and water quality.
Policy & Studies
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
Alberta asked for public input on how to save two endangered pine species. Whitebark and limber pines are dying from a fungal disease called white pine blister rust and from mountain pine beetle infestations. The province developed a combined...
Why This Matters: These pines grow in Alberta's harshest mountain landscapes where few other trees survive. They provide food for grizzly bears and Clark's nutcrackers. If you hike or camp in Alberta's Rockies, you've likely seen them clinging to windswept ridges.
Policy & Studies
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Government of Alberta (AB)
Alberta gathered feedback on draft flood maps and reports for the Stettler area. The study helps identify flood-prone areas so governments can keep people safe and protect properties. Public input has now been used to finalize the study.
Why This Matters: Live in or near Stettler? These flood maps could affect your property value, insurance rates, and what you can build on your land. If your property is newly mapped in a flood zone, you might face new building restrictions or higher insurance costs.
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Housing & Communities
Closed
Government of Alberta (AB)
Alberta gathered feedback on draft flood maps and reports for the Town of Hinton. The study helps identify flood hazard areas to keep residents safe and protect properties. Public input has now been used to finalize the flood study.
Why This Matters: Live in or near Hinton? This flood study determines which properties are in flood hazard zones. That affects your insurance rates, building permits, and what you can do with your land. The maps are now final.
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Housing & Communities
Closed
Pest Management Regulatory Agency (Federal)
Health Canada wants to tighten rules on dicamba, a weed killer that drifts to nearby fields and damages crops it wasn't meant to touch. The proposed changes would ban some uses on soybeans, expand buffer zones, and add temperature restrictions. Why...
Why This Matters: Live near a farm? This herbicide can drift onto your garden or nearby crops. Farmers growing non-resistant crops have seen their plants damaged by dicamba floating over from neighbouring fields. If you grow vegetables, fruit trees, or ornamental plants near agricultural land, these rules could...
Regulations & Permits
Agriculture & Food
Environment & Climate
Health & Safety
Closed
Pest Management Regulatory Agency (Federal)
Health Canada is considering whether to approve a new herbicide called Beloukha, made from pelargonic acid—a fatty acid found naturally in plants. It would be used to kill weeds in greenhouses growing vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, and...
Why This Matters: Buy greenhouse tomatoes or lettuce? This herbicide could end up on plants that produce your food. It's marketed as plant-based, but that doesn't automatically mean safe. Gardeners and nursery workers would also be exposed.
Regulations & Permits
Agriculture & Food
Environment & Climate
Closed
National Capital Commission (Federal)
The National Capital Commission wants to fix a 2.7-km stretch of the Gatineau Parkway that's in rough shape. The road surface is deteriorating, drainage isn't working properly, and culverts need replacing. Construction is set to start in June 2025.
Why This Matters: Use the Gatineau Parkway to access hiking trails or scenic viewpoints? This section stays open year-round, unlike the rest of the parkway network. The repairs will keep the road safe and accessible, but expect construction disruptions starting June 2025.
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Transportation
Closed
Ministry of Natural Resources (ON)
Ontario wants to overhaul how it sets black bear population targets and hunting limits. The province is also proposing to ban hunting cubs and mother bears in fall (already banned in spring) and to crack down on bear bile possession. These changes...
Why This Matters: Hunt black bears or run a hunting outfitter? This directly affects your season. Live in bear country? Population management decisions shape how often you might encounter bears near your property. Even if you just care about wildlife conservation, this sets the rules for years to come.
Regulations & Permits
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (ON)
A homeowner in North Grenville, Ontario wants to install an open-loop geothermal heating system at their house. The system would draw groundwater from a well, use it for heating, and return it to the same aquifer. They're seeking an Environmental...
Why This Matters: Live near 2530 Bedell Road? This permit could affect local groundwater. The system would move up to 43 cubic metres of water daily through the aquifer. If you rely on a private well nearby, you might want to weigh in.
Regulations & Permits
Environment & Climate
Housing & Communities
Closed
Halifax, NS
Halifax wants your input on improving Albro Lake Park's shoreline. The beach often has bacteria levels too high for swimming, and there's not enough shade or biodiversity. The municipality plans to plant native species along the shore in 2026 to...
Why This Matters: Use this beach? Swimming advisories have been frequent due to bacteria levels. This project could make the water cleaner and the park more enjoyable. Live nearby? You'll see changes to the shoreline—more plants, hopefully fewer geese. Want to get involved? Volunteers can help with the planting in...
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Housing & Communities
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
This consultation asked Albertans whether a proposed wildlife corridor for a mountain village development near Canmore was adequate. Three Sisters Mountain Village Properties wanted to build on their Smith Creek property, but first needed government...
Why This Matters: Live near Canmore or the Bow Valley? This decision shaped how wildlife like bears and elk move through the area as development expands. It set a precedent for balancing mountain town growth with protecting animal migration routes.
Environmental Assessment
Environment & Climate
Housing & Communities
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
This completed consultation gathered feedback on a draft plan for managing industrial development near Fort McKay First Nation reserves. The plan aimed to balance resource extraction with protecting Treaty rights and traditional land use. Albertans...
Why This Matters: This plan affects how industrial activity happens near Indigenous communities in the oil sands region. For Fort McKay First Nation members, it's about protecting their ability to hunt, fish, and practice cultural traditions. For industry workers and companies, it sets the rules for future...
Community Planning
Environment & Climate
Indigenous & Northern
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of Forestry and Parks (AB)
Alberta asked landowners and conservation groups how to improve programs that protect natural landscapes on private property. The engagement ran in late 2024 and has now concluded. Feedback helped expand conservation tools available to private...
Why This Matters: Own rural land in Alberta? This affects what programs you can use to protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, or natural areas on your property. Conservation easements and grants help landowners who want to keep their land natural while still owning it.
Policy & Studies
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Parks Canada (Federal)
Parks Canada wants to expand a gravel pit in Jasper National Park by about 6 hectares. Why? The 2024 Jasper Wildfire created urgent demand for gravel and asphalt to rebuild roads and prepare temporary housing sites. The expansion would involve...
Why This Matters: Live in or visit Jasper? This pit expansion is part of rebuilding after the devastating 2024 wildfire. The gravel will help repair roads and build temporary housing for displaced residents. But it also means clearing 6 hectares of land inside a national park.
Environmental Assessment
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources