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Natural
Capital:
A Critical Foundation of Our Economy
Helping
rural and Aboriginal communities protect natural capital
Summary
This set of recommendations focuses on
the provision of incentives and information to help rural
and Aboriginal communities to steward the natural capital
that forms both an important basis of their livelihood and
an irreplaceable part of Canada’s national heritage.
The recommendations stem from two reports issued
over the past two years by the NRTEE: Securing Canada’s
Natural Capital: A Vision for Nature Conservation in the 21st
Century (released in June 2003) and Aboriginal Communities
and Non-Renewable Resource Development (released in June
2001). This year’s budget submission focuses on measures
that both reports argued are necessary to maintain natural
capital in rural areas:
- creating incentives for stewardship of natural
capital by all members of society, including agricultural,
rural and Aboriginal communities and resource industries;
- strategically investing in enhancing the
capacity of Aboriginal communities to share the economic
benefits from resource development and manage their natural
capital sustainably; and
- accelerating conservation planning in areas
where unique opportunities exist to plan in advance of major
industrial development, most particularly the Mackenzie
Valley in the Northwest Territories.
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Recommendation 4:
That the Ecogifts Program be enhanced to further encourage private
landowners to conserve ecologically sensitive lands.
This would entail:
- removing the remaining capital gains tax from
gifts of ecologically sensitive lands and easements; and
- extending provisions of the Ecogifts Program to
include donations of ecologically significant lands held by corporations
or individuals as inventory of their business.
Recommendation 5: That Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada and Finance Canada, in partnership with provincial
governments as appropriate, introduce a suite of specific incentives
for landowners through Environmental Farm Plans or their equivalents,
including:
- accelerated capital cost allowance claims on conservation
equipment, such as flushing bars, fencing, and watering and manure
management facilities; and
- cost sharing for capital improvements and equipment
related to conservation objectives.
Recommendation 6: That $5
million be provided to Canadian Heritage and partners such as the
Tourism Industry Association of Canada and community representatives
to develop a national sustainable tourism strategy to enhance the
economic benefits associated with protected areas for local communities.
Recommendation 7: That a $15-million
Large Projects Consultation Fund be created to facilitate participation
by Aboriginal governments and organizations in consultations for
large non-renewable resource development projects in the three northern
territories. This funding should be made available before intervenor
funding is provided under any relevant environmental assessment
or regulatory process.
Recommendation 8: That $25.8
million be allocated over six years to continue implementing the
Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Framework under development
by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Environment Canada. After
five years, funding requirements should be reassessed.
Recommendation 9: That the
Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board be provided with
a five-year funding commitment of at least $2.2 million per year.
(Details
and Table of Recommended Measures)
Next
Protecting
Natural Capital in Urban Communities
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Investing in Canada's Natural Capital