The federal government is or will be responsible for the implementation of a number of key pieces of environmental legislation, including the Canadian Environment Assessment Act (CEAA), the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA), and the proposed Species-At-Risk Act (SARA). In general, the objectives of these laws are to conserve Canada's environmental resources and minimize public health risks caused by environmental degradation and pollution.

Environmental assessment (EA) is an important tool to ensure that environmental concerns are addressed in project proposals, by reviewing their environmental implications, and by making informed decisions on how to proceed with the projects.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was first implemented on January 19, 1995, replacing the Federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process Guidelines Order that had been in place since 1984. It requires federal authorities, such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), to subject certain projects to environmental assessments where they are the proponent, administrator of the land involved, contributing funds, or have a regulatory responsibility that has been identified in CEAA's Regulations.

To implement the Act, AAFC has guideline materials tailored to its operations. The coordination of implementation issues are addressed through an interbranch committee of EA coordinators that is chaired by the Environment Bureau. The Environment Bureau plays the lead role in providing departmental input to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and other departments concerning CEAA issues.

All of Agriculture and Agri - Food Canada's environmental assesments are listed on the Federal Environmental Assessment Index found at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency website.

Bill C-32 to renew the CEPA, sponsored jointly by the federal Ministers of the Environment and Health, was tabled on March 12 and proclaimed into law on March 31, 2000. This law amends the previous CEPA to enable a greater emphasis on pollution prevention and sustainable development.

The CEPA ensures that the federal government fills any gaps for environmental protection when there is no coverage under other federal Acts. The Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for the protection of the environment and human health through legislation administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), such as the Fertilizers Act, Seeds Act, and Health of Animals Act. These laws require the assessment of commercial agriculture products for safety to humans and the environment.

AAFC may take a supportive role in CEPA assessment processes and toxic substance management plans by providing scientific and other expertise.

To obtain further information on the CEPA, please click here.

The purposes of SARA are to prevent indigenous species, subspecies and distinct populations of Canadian wildlife from becoming extirpated or extinct, to provide for the recovery of endangered or threatened species, and to encourage the wise management of other species to prevent them from becoming at risk. The proposed law establishes the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as an independent body of experts responsible for assessing and identifying species at risk. It provides that COSEWIC's assessments are to be reported to the Minister of the Environment and to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council and it authorizes the Governor in Council to establish by regulation the official list of species at risk based on that process.

The proposed SARA protects listed threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat, and recognizes that compensation may be needed to ensure fairness to landowners. It also creates a public registry to assist in making documents under the Act more accessible to the public.

As the Act is still subject to amendments in Parliament, the role of AAFC in implementing it has not yet been finalized.

To obtain further information on species-at-risk and the proposed legislation, please consult the Canadian Wildlife Service / Environment Canada Species-At-Risk website.

Hardcopy publications are available by contacting:
e-mail: Ulysse Comeau
telephone: (613) 759-6610/6626
fax: (613) 759-6726
mail: