Environment Canada 272329 218900994 2008-06-12T17:59:49Z Ramisses 6108855 /* External links */ Adding: [[pt:Environmental Canada]] {{Infobox Canadian government departments |department=Environment |french=Environnement |logo=FIP Environment Canada.PNG |current_minister=John Baird (Canadian politician)| |secretary=Mark Warawa |established=1971 |responsibilities=Meteorological Service of Canada Parks Canada Canadian Ice Service Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Water Survey of Canada National Water Research Institute National Pollutant Release Inventory |employees= ~6,000 [http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=ECBC00D9-1] |website=http://www.ec.gc.ca }} '''Environment Canada (EC)''', legally incorporated as the '''Department of the Environment''' under the ''Department of the Environment Act'' ( R.S., 1985, c. E-10 ), is the [[Ministry (government department)|department]] of the [[Government of Canada]] with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and programs as well as preserving and enhancing the natural environment and conservation of wildlife. Environment Canada is the lead department within the federal government when it comes to cleaning up hazardous waste and [[oil spill]]s. The department is also responsible for [[meteorology]] as well as research and education on [[climate change]], as well as international environmental issues (e.g., Canada-USA air issues). Responsibility for environmental management in [[Canada]] is a shared responsibility between the federal government and provincial/territorial governments. For example, provincial governments have primary authority for permitting industrial waste discharges (e.g., to the air) while the federal government is responsible for the management of toxic substances in the country (e.g., [[benzene]]). Environment Canada provides stewardship of the [[Environmental Choice Program]], which provides consumers with an eco-labelling for products manufactured within Canada or services that meet international label standards of (GEN) [[Global Ecolabelling Network]]. Environment Canada is currently (2005-present) undergoing a structural transformation to centralize authority and decision-making, and to standardize policy implementation. [[John Baird (Canadian politician)|John Baird]] is the current [[Minister of the Environment (Canada)|Minister of the Environment]] (2007-). ==Division== Environment Canada is divided into several geographic regions: * [[Atlantic_Canada|Atlantic]] ([[Maritimes]] and [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]) * [[Quebec]] * [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital]] * [[Ontario]] * Prairie-Northern ([[Nunavut]], [[Northwest_Territories|NWT]] and [[Canadian_prairies|Prairies]]) * Pacific-[[Yukon]] ([[British_Columbia|BC]] and [[Yukon]]) The department has several organizations which carry out specific tasks: * [[Meteorological Service of Canada]] (for [[weather forecasting]]) ** [[Weatheradio Canada]], a national system of emergency weather broadcast transmitters * [[Canadian Wildlife Service]] * [[Parks Canada]] which manages the [[National Parks of Canada|Canadian National Parks]] system. * Canadian Ice Service * Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency * [[Water Survey of Canada]] * National Water Research Institute * [[National Pollutant Release Inventory]] (NPRI) ==Enforcement== [[Image:ECBadge.gif|right]] Environment Canada Enforcement Branch is responsible for ensuring compliance with the ''Canadian Environmental Protection Act'' and pollution provisions of the ''Fisheries Act'' and corresponding regulations. The [[Governor-in-Council]] appoints Enforcement Officers and pursuant to section 217(3) of the ''Canadian Environmental Protection Act'', enforcement officers of Environment Canada have all the powers of [[peace officer]]s. More information: [http://www.ec.gc.ca/ele-ale/default.asp?lang=En EC Enforcement Branch] ==Related legislation== *[[Canada National Parks Act]] *Canada Water Act *Canada Wildlife Act *[[Canadian Environmental Protection Act]] (1999) *[[Department of the Environment Act (Canada)|Department of the Environment Act]] *Environment Week Act, Canadian *International River Improvements Act *Lac Seul Conservation Act *Lake of the Woods Control Board Act *Manganese-Based Fuel Additives Act *[[Migratory Birds Convention Act ]] *National Wildlife Week Act *Species at Risk Act (2002) *Weather Modification Information Act *Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Inter-provincial Trade Act ==External links== *[http://www.ec.gc.ca Environment Canada] *[http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca Meteorological Service of Canada] *[http://www.pc.gc.ca Parks Canada] *[http://www.ec.gc.ca/introec/orgs_e.htm Select programs and services of Environment Canada] *[http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs/ENG/Default.cfm Related acts and regulations] *[http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/npri/npri_home_e.cfm National Pollutant Release Inventory] *[http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/press.cfm?Year=All&Lang=e Press releases issued by Environment Canada for Ontario - entire archive] {{Government Departments of Canada}} [[Category:Canadian federal departments and agencies]] [[Category:Environment Canada]] [[Category:Environment ministries]] [[Category:Regulators of biotechnology products]] [[Category:Environmental protection agencies]] [[es:Environment Canada]] [[fr:Environnement Canada]] [[pt:Environment Canada]]