Closed
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (ON)
A private school in Innisfil needs approval for a new sewage disposal system. The system would handle about 151,000 litres of wastewater daily through septic tanks and a leaching bed. This is a routine environmental permit for a specific property.
Why This Matters: Live near 4th Line in Innisfil? This sewage system could affect local groundwater. If you rely on a private well nearby, you might want to weigh in. The leaching bed will release treated wastewater into the ground.
Regulations & Permits
Environment & Climate
Closed
Canadian Wildlife Service (Federal)
Environment Canada is reviewing whether to keep an emergency order that protects Western Chorus Frog habitat in three Quebec municipalities south of Montreal. The review was triggered by zoning changes made by Saint-Philippe. This small frog is at...
Why This Matters: Live in La Prairie, Candiac, or Saint-Philippe? This order affects what can be built in your area. Developers and landowners face restrictions. Residents who value local wetlands and wildlife have a stake too.
Regulations & Permits
Environment & Climate
Closed
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (AB)
In 2016, Alberta asked for feedback on proposed changes to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act. The government wanted to know if industries, municipalities, and Indigenous communities supported updates to fire prevention regulations. An online...
Why This Matters: Live in rural Alberta? Work in forestry, oil and gas, or utilities? These rules affect how fires are prevented and managed on your land. Indigenous communities and municipalities also had a stake in how fire protection responsibilities are shared.
Legislation
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
Closed
Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (AB)
Alberta developed an updated recovery plan for the ferruginous hawk, a species at risk. The plan focuses on protecting nest sites, maintaining grasslands, and reducing human-caused deaths. A public survey gathered feedback in early 2019, and the...
Why This Matters: Live in southern Alberta's grasslands? This hawk is part of your local ecosystem. Ranchers and farmers play a key role in the recovery—the plan asks them to maintain pastures and avoid disturbing nests. If you care about prairie wildlife, this affects your backyard.
Policy & Studies
Environment & Climate
Natural Resources
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