How Canada Manages Natural Resources

If you’re asking how Canada manages natural resources, the short answer is: it’s a shared, sometimes complicated system where federal law and national standards intersect with provincial control, Indigenous rights and local implementation. In 2025 the system is shaped by recent policy moves — updated impact-assessment rules, national conservation targets (the 30×30 biodiversity goal), growing recognition of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), and ongoing federal–provincial negotiations on resource projects and royalties. Below is a practical, up-to-date guide to who does what, how projects are assessed and permitted, how conservation and climate policy fit in, and where editors and readers can check the latest data. (Natural Resources Canada)

Who controls what — federal, provincial and Indigenous roles

Canada’s natural-resource governance is layered:

• Provinces and territories exercise primary authority over most natural resources on land within their borders (forestry, mining, oil & gas royalties, provincial parks, and most permitting). They license extraction, set provincial environmental rules and collect resource revenues.
• The federal government has clear jurisdiction in areas of national or international concern (fisheries, navigable waters, Inuit and First Nations lands where federal obligations apply, migratory birds, marine areas, interprovincial and international trade, and criminal environmental offences). The federal role also includes national standards (for example, species protections, federal parks) and tools like the Impact Assessment Act for projects that cross federal jurisdiction. (Justice Laws)
• Indigenous nations exercise rights and title that affect resource decisions. Increasingly, IPCAs, co-management agreements and negotiated self-government arrangements give Indigenous governments a central role in conservation, permitting and benefit sharing. Projects on or affecting Indigenous lands require consultation and — increasingly — partnership or consent processes. (Indigenous Climate Hub)

This division means resource projects frequently require coordination among levels of government plus consultation (and sometimes agreement) with Indigenous nations. For journalists, the key is to check which statutory triggers apply (federal vs provincial) for any given project. (Justice Laws)

Project assessment and permitting — the Impact Assessment Act and “one project, one review”

Since 2019 Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (IAA) has governed federal impact assessment processes for designated projects; the Agency and the Act were amended after court and policy developments (notably in 2023–2024) to clarify federal decision-making, narrow the scope to areas of clear federal jurisdiction, and strengthen co-ordination with provinces and Indigenous partners. The amended approach emphasizes “one project, one review” and regional/strategic assessments to reduce duplication while preserving federal oversight where national interests or cross-boundary effects are present. Always check the Impact Assessment Agency for project listings and current procedural rules. (Canada)

Conservation & biodiversity — the 30×30 target and protected-area data

Canada has committed to ambitious conservation goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: protect 30% of land and marine areas by 2030 (with interim targets such as 25% by 2025). Progress is tracked publicly: Environment and Climate Change Canada and partner agencies maintain the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) and national indicator pages so you can see hectares protected and the share of marine vs terrestrial coverage. As of the most recent national reporting, Canada had materially increased protected area coverage but remained short of the 2030 goal — implementation depends on federal, provincial and Indigenous contributions, including IPCAs. (Canada)

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) — a growing pillar

IPCAs are lands or waters managed by Indigenous governments using Indigenous laws and stewardship practices. They are central to Canada’s conservation strategy because they combine cultural stewardship, biodiversity protection and community control. Federal recognition and support for IPCAs — through funding, law-making and technical assistance — have expanded in recent years, and many Canadian conservation gains are now recorded as IPCAs or co-managed areas. If you’re reporting on conservation wins, check whether a protected area is an IPCA and what governance arrangements it entails. (Indigenous Climate Hub)

Climate policy and resource development — an evolving mix

Natural-resource policy is now closely linked to climate goals. Federal measures (carbon pricing, Clean Electricity rules, industrial emissions policies) and provincial strategies shape how new mines, pipelines, LNG or power projects are evaluated — both for greenhouse-gas impacts and for broader environmental consequences. Budget and regulatory moves in 2024–25 have aimed to balance competitiveness (mineral incentives, streamlined permitting) with climate commitments; expect continued tension and negotiation between economic and environmental priorities. Track Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada for departmental plans and policy updates. (Natural Resources Canada)

Data and transparency — where to check facts

For quick, authoritative data when you write:

• CPCAD — the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (official layer of protected area boundaries and attributes). (Canada)
• Environment and Climate Change Canada departmental pages and indicators (biodiversity, conserved areas, national programs). (Canada)
• Natural Resources Canada departmental plans and open datasets (resources, minerals, maps and permitting statistics). (Natural Resources Canada)
• Impact Assessment Agency of Canada — project registry, amendments and guidance on the IAA. (Canada)

Use these primary sources for footprint numbers (hectares protected), legal texts, and up-to-date lists of designated projects.

Common friction points and how reporters should cover them

When covering how Canada manages natural resources, expect recurring themes:

• Jurisdictional disputes: who has the final say — province, feds, or Indigenous authority — especially for large mines, pipelines or hydro projects. Cite the specific statute or regulation that triggers federal review. (Justice Laws)
• Indigenous consent vs consultation: there’s a difference between consultation, accommodation and consent; reporting should specify what process occurred and which involves Indigenous governments. (Indigenous Climate Hub)
• Conservation accounting: not all “protected” areas are equal. Distinguish strict protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and IPCAs. The CPCAD metadata helps here. (Canada)
• Permitting timelines vs promises: governments may promise faster permitting; verify whether legislation or resourcing changes actually shorten timelines. Use departmental plans and audit reports to corroborate. (Natural Resources Canada)

Practical takeaway — what readers should know right now (2025)

In 2025, how Canada manages natural resources is a hybrid system: provinces still run most resource approvals, the federal government focuses on national interests and species/fisheries/marine protection and now operates an amended Impact Assessment Act that stresses coordination, and Indigenous governments increasingly lead conservation and co-management through IPCAs. Conservation targets (30×30) are driving new protected-area designations. But Canada is still working to convert targets into on-the-ground protections and equitable governance. For accurate reporting, always cite CPCAD / ECCC for conservation figures, the IAA/Impact Assessment Agency for project review status, and NRCan for resource and permitting data. (Canada)

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