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Section 2 |
Departmental Overview |
Departamental Profile
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Mandate
The powers, duties and functions of the Minister of the Environment extend to and include matters relating to the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment (including water, air and soil quality); renewable resources, including migratory birds and other non-domestic flora and fauna; water; meteorology; enforcement of any rules or regulations made by the International Joint Commission relating to boundary waters; and coordination of the policies and programs of the Government of Canada respecting the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment (Department of Environment Act).
- The legislation and regulations that provide Environment Canada with its mandate and allow it to carry out its programs can be found at:http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs
Mission
Our Vision
At Environment Canada, we want to see a Canada where people make reponsible decisions about the environment for the benefit of presnt and future generations.
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Environment Canada's mission is to make sustainable development a reality in Canada. To this end, the Department's strategic approach involves:
- Providing leadership nationally and internationally on matters pertaining to the sustainability of the environment;
- Acting on behalf of all Canadians to address environmental issues of national concern and to administer and enforce federal environmental laws and regulations;
- Delivering services to Canadians that enable them to adapt to their environment in ways which safeguard their health and safety and optimize economic efficiency; and
- Building capacity throughout society to take decisions that lead to environmental sustainability and cooperating with others having similar objectives.
A Focus on Science
Environment Canada's science is fundamental to the delivery of its vision and mission. Departmental efforts include research, monitoring and assessment, technology and indicators development, and reporting activities. Environment Canada uses science to:
- Understand naturally-occurring aquatic, biotic, terrestrial and atmospheric processes and their interactions;
- Evaluate and assess the effects of known and emerging stressors on the environment;
- Design and evaluate policy options for pollution prevention, control, management and adaptation; and
- Communicate scientific knowledge and provide Canadians with tools to develop and evaluate actions to address environmental issues.
- Refer to Section 3.4 for further details of Environment Canada's science-related initiatives
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