Carney government ‘not working’ to enshrine nature targets into law, junior nature minister says

Despite a parliamentary majority, the Carney government has no plans to enshrine recent commitments to protect the country’s waters and lands into federal legislation, said Canada’s junior nature minister.

“Right now, we are not working on that,” said Nathalie Provost, the state secretary for nature, in French at the House of Commons environment committee. 

In 2024, the Trudeau government introduced the Nature Accountability Act, meant to hold the government accountable for achieving the so-called 30×30 nature targets, along with international commitments through the United Nations. 

But the legislation died on the order paper when Canadians went to the polls in 2025.

In a follow-up statement, a spokesperson for Provost backed up her testimony affirming the government’s focus on “results.”

“At this stage, our new government believes this results-based approach is just as effective in delivering measurable outcomes to protect more nature with more partners across the country,” said Marie-France Proulx, director of communications for Provost’s office.

The nature secretary’s response was prompted by a question from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Speaking afterwards with CBC News, May said the Carney government’s recent $3.8-billion nature strategy was lacking, but better than nothing.

“Half a loaf is better than nothing,” May said. “On the other hand, without the legislation to hold them to account on the half a loaf, I worry.”

Previous commitments

Prime Minister Mark Carney has committed publicly to achieving the 30×30 target of conserving 30 per cent of Canada’s land and water by 2030.

The 2024 nature bill would have compelled the environment minister to establish and table in Parliament a national biodiversity strategy and action plan, and to report on actions taken to achieve those targets and to establish an advisory committee offering independent advice. 

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According to some, these are necessary to track progress, course-correct and hold accountable governments that would otherwise not consider the issue top of mind.

In a statement, environmental organization Nature Canada said it suspected the government was unlikely to introduce the bill. 

“Nathalie Provost’s statement was our first official confirmation of its position,” said policy director Akaash Maharaj said in a statement. 

Maharaj said the bill would have required major work to give the legislation more teeth, like levying “consequences for failure.” 

“A reintroduction of the original, unamended Bill C-73 would have served no practical purpose, and would have created the appearance of accountability without its substance.”