Our Reports
Yours To Recover: A Progress Report on Ontario’s Climate Change Actions
Ontario's Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks recently outlined his government’s progress on its Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, and claimed to be lowering greenhouse gas emissions ... Read More
Plastic Pollution in Canada
The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis and Canada is a significant contributor to the problem. Read the report ... Read More
2020 Annual Report
Together, we're making a healthier environment and a better world. This past year, because of your generous support, we accomplished so much. Read our 2020 ... Read More
Big Oil Reality Check: Assessing oil and gas company climate plans
Increasingly, oil and gas companies claim to be part of the solution to the climate crisis—but the reality is very different. This analysis of the ... Read More
Building Highway 413 the Best Option for Moving People & Goods in the GTA West Region?
Highway 413 should be cancelled. It will cause significant environmental impacts, do little to ease congestion and consume billions of dollars that can be better ... Read More
Briefing: Export Development Canada’s role in bailing out the oil and gas sector
Canada’s export bank, Export Development Canada (EDC), already provides on average nearly fourteen billion dollars in support to oil and gas companies each year. Now ... Read More
The Logging Loophole: How The Logging Industry’s Unregulated Carbon Emissions Undermine Canada’s Climate Goals
Canada's boreal forest stores twice as much carbon as the world’s oil reserves. Despite this climate value, more than 400,000 hectares of the forest is ... Read More
Not Just A Canadian Phenomenon
In Canada, various protests against pipelines and other oil and gas infrastructure projects is well documented. Some Canadians may feel like the country’s oil and ... Read More
Green Strings: Principles and conditions for a green recovery from COVID-19 in Canada
To ensure a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, clear guidelines are needed. The following seven “green strings” should be attached to COVID-19 recovery measures ... Read More
Clearing The Air
Find out how electric vehicles and cleaner trucks can reduce pollution, improve health and save lives in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area ... Read More
Policy Brief: A New Canadian Climate Accountability Act
This policy brief proposes a framework for a new Canadian Climate Accountability Act that would enshrine Canada's ambitious commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 – ... Read More
Still Digging: G20 Governments Continue to Finance the Climate Crisis
Since the Paris Agreement was made, G20 countries have acted directly counter to it by providing at least USD 77 billion a year in finance ... Read More
Who Benefits?
Most (70%) oil sands production is owned by foreign companies and shareholders, who enjoy the majority of record profits, especially when oil prices are low ... Read More
No Time To Waste
The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis. Plastic pollution has been found practically everywhere scientists look— in the high arctic and the deep sea, ... Read More
Canada’s Federal Fossil Fuel Subsidies in 2020
Despite a long-standing commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, in 2019, federal subsides to the oil and gas sector reached at least $600 million, ... Read More
Oil, Gas and the Climate
Over the next five years, oil and gas companies plan to invest at levels that would lock in more than 2°C of warming. Eighty-five per ... Read More
Two Steps Back: How BC’s fossil fuel subsidies lock in carbon emissions
British Columbians may be surprised to learn that in 2018, their government handed out $830 million to the fossil fuel industry – and that’s just ... Read More
Strong Towns and Cities
As our population grows, where and how we build housing will affect our economy, jobs, traffic and municipal debt. For too long, urban sprawl and ... Read More
Failure To Launch
The Ontario government says it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions without putting a price on carbon pollution. This report examines if this promise holds up ... Read More
The Biggest Barrier to Climate Action in Canada: The Oil and Gas Lobby
This report documents the ways in which Canada's oil and gas lobby has undermined federal efforts to address climate change. Emissions from the oil and ... Read More
2019 Annual Report
From helping Canadians send over 190,000 letters to government and industry to securing 11 key environmental protection wins, 2018/2019 was a big year for Environmental ... Read More
Doubling Down With Taxpayer Dollars
In the last three fiscal years, the government of Alberta has provided $4.8 billion in subsidies to the oil, gas and coal industries through a ... Read More
The Hidden Cost of Receipts
Every day, Canadians are exposed to BPA, a toxic chemical linked to prostate and breast cancer, simply by touching receipts. Even when steps are taken ... Read More
Carbon Pricing in Alberta
Alberta’s economy-wide carbon levy, introduced in 2017, aims to reduce carbon pollution which causes climate change, while minimizing any adverse impacts to the province’s economy ... Read More
Canada’s Oil and Gas Challenge
Canadian governments must take seriously the IPCC Special Report on 1.5 degrees, and implement policies that will get Canada to a zero carbon goal by ... Read More
Ontario Climate Change Plan Report Card
The Ontario government’s new plan to address climate change has finally arrived. Does the plan have what it takes to do Ontario’s fair share to ... Read More
Risking It All: How Export Development Canada’s For Fossil Fuels Drives Climate Change
Canada’s official export credit agency, Export Development Canada (EDC), provides billions of dollars in support for oil and gas companies every year. Unlike independent commercial ... Read More
Pollution Solutions
Taking action on climate change means cleaner air, faster commute times, more comfortable homes, smarter communities, better buildings, and healthier people. Ontarians need a strong ... Read More
Media Backgrounder: Monsanto Papers
Did Health Canada rely on manipulated science by Monsanto when assessing the safety of glyphosate? This backgrounder explains the "Monsanto Papers." Download the backgrounder (English) ... Read More
Talking Trash
Plastic pollution is literally piling up around us. Canada only recycles 11 per cent of its plastic waste, letting the rest accumulate in landfills or ... Read More
Public Cash for Oil and Gas: Mapping Federal Fiscal Support for Fossil Fuels
Despite a longstanding promise, Canada is still the largest provider of subsidies to oil and gas production in the G7 per unit of GDP. This ... Read More
Incineration is not recycling
Backgrounder on why incineration is not the answer to Canada’s plastic pollution problem. Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf ... Read More
What’s in your lunch?
Every day, Canadians are exposed to many chemicals that are linked to adverse health conditions such as cancer, asthma, diabetes and behavioural problems like ADHD ... Read More
Less is More: The benefits to Canadians mount as emissions of oil and gas methane decline
Canada is poised to realize benefits of almost $9 billion from implementing its regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. But ... Read More
Smart Growth Toolkit
This report suggests opportunities and tools for public engagement in the planning process. It is the outcome of a workshop session with ratepayers groups, NGOs, ... Read More
#StopFundingFossils: New poll shows Canadians want to end public subsidies for oil and gas companies
New polling shows that Canadians are strongly opposed to federal and provincial governments using public dollars to subsidize oil and gas companies. Despite this significant ... Read More
Canada’s Climate Change Commitments: Deep Enough?
Canada has pledged to significantly reduce greenhouse gases under the Paris Agreement on climate change. However, our current national action plan won’t get us to ... Read More
Report: Media Backgrounder: Grow The Greenbelt
Backgrounder on why the province needs to expand protection of vulnerable water supplies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader ... Read More
Report: Alberta’s Tailings Ponds
Oil sands mining operations produce a toxic brew of water, sand, silt and petrochemical waste products. For over fifty years, the tar sands industry in ... Read More
Report: Application Incomplete
An analysis of TransCanada’s application to the National Energy Board (NEB) panel reviewing Energy East reveals that the application is missing critical details on how ... Read More
Protecting and Restoring the Ecological Health of Our Waters
In 2015, Ontario passed the Great Lakes Protection Act, but to fully realize the purposes of the Act, much more needs to be accomplished. In ... Read More
Canada’s Methane Gas Problem
Canada has a serious methane problem. Newly published research shows that methane emissions from Canada’s oil and gas sector – due to both venting of ... Read More
Building an Ontario Green Jobs Strategy
Buildings account for nearly one third of Ontario’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The province’s Climate Change Action Plan earmarks funding to reduce GHG emissions from ... Read More
The Climate Test: ALIGNING ENERGY PROJECT ASSESSMENT WITH CLIMATE POLICY
The federal government is overhauling the National Energy Board (NEB), Canada’s pipeline regulator. As part of the NEB Modernization process, Environmental Defence commissioned a special ... Read More
Ontario’s Electricity System
This backgrounder clears up some misconceptions about Ontario's electricity prices and shows that renewable energy – wind, solar and bioenergy - accounts for a relatively ... Read More
Full Disclosure
Every day, cleaning and personal care products that lack ingredient lists and warning labels expose Canadians to toxic chemicals that are linked to allergies, endocrine ... Read More
Expectations for Domestic Action Plans under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
Under the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States have committed to releasing action plans that outline how they will reduce ... Read More
The Elephant in the Room: Canada’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Every year, the federal government and some provinces pay billions in hand-outs to Canada’s coal, oil and gas companies, undermining climate action in Canada. Fossil ... Read More
Getting FIT
With the passage of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in 2009, Ontario took a bold step into the future and launched an ambitious ... Read More
Turning the Plastic Tide
Plastic pollution has reached every corner of the globe. The Pacific Garbage Patch is well known. What’s less known is that 80 per cent of ... Read More
Buyers Beware
The chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) is toxic to human health. So toxic, it’s been banned from baby bottles in Canada. But it’s still widespread in food ... Read More
Energy East – A Threat to Our Drinking Water
TransCanada’s proposed Energy East oil pipeline project threatens the drinking water of over 5 million Canadians. This alarming finding is the result of a detailed ... Read More
The $2 Billion Question
Ontario has announced it will be putting a price on carbon pollution by implementing a cap-and-trade system. The system will be an important part of ... Read More
The Dirty Truth
Did you know that popular cleaning products are adding to indoor air pollution in Canadian homes? In a first-of-its-kind study, Environmental Defence tested the impact ... Read More
Removing the Stain
Did you know that the most common dry cleaning methods add to air pollution while putting dry clean workers and nearby residents at risk? Environmental ... Read More
Report: Canada’s Role at COP21
From November 30th to December 11th, Paris is hosting the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21). At COP21, the goal is for a global climate ... Read More
Report: What to Look for in the Canadian Energy Strategy
Canadian premiers are developing a Canadian energy strategy together that should be finalized at this week’s Council of the Federation meeting (July 15-17, 2015) in ... Read More
Report: From Dumb Growth to Smart Growth
In the 1950s, when the car was king, far-flung auto-dependent communities sprang up across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. We’ve learned a lot since then ... Read More
Report: Digging a Big Hole: How tar sands expansion undermines a Canadian energy strategy that shows climate leadership
Canadian provinces are developing an energy strategy together that will be finalized and unveiled this year. Carbon pollution, because it is so intimately linked to ... Read More
Report: Ontario’s Climate Challenge: Getting Back On Track
Ontario recently re-committed to addressing climate change, and to meeting the province’s commitments to reduce carbon pollution in the years ahead. Ontario’s Climate Challenge: Getting ... Read More
Report: CLEAN, NOT GREEN: Tackling Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes
Clean, not green: tackling algal blooms in the Great Lakes outlines recommendations for stopping the algal blooms that are plaguing the Great Lakes. The report ... Read More
Report: FAR FROM INEVITABLE: The Risks of and Barriers to Tar Sands Expansion
Alberta’s tar sands region holds the third largest known oil reserve in the world. Over the last 20 years, oil production in the region has ... Read More
Report: Powering up efficiency to get the conservation framework right
Powering up efficiency to get the conservation framework right highlights how natural gas conservation can help cut carbon pollution while creating jobs and growing Ontario’s ... Read More
Ontario’s Greenbelt Under Threat
YOUR NATURE, FARMLAND AND DRINKING WATER AT RISK Ontario’s world renowned Greenbelt prevents urban sprawl and protects Ontarians’ access to local food, clean drinking water ... Read More
Report: TransCanada vastly exaggerating Energy East’s ability to reduce overseas oil imports
TransCanada has been misleading Canadians and investors by repeating false information in a desperate attempt to justify its Energy East pipeline and tanker proposal. TransCanada’s ... Read More
Report: Media Backgrounder – Regulatory Cooperation Council
The Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) is a relatively new collaborative effort between Canada and the United States to achieve greater regulatory alignment. While increased sharing ... Read More
Report: Media Backgrounder: Information on Rouge Park
Rouge Park may be the last chance to create a federal park in southern Ontario – an area with 34 per cent of Canada's population, ... Read More
Report: Your Home Electricity Bill
Your Home Electricity Bill: A Study on the Costs in Ontario shows that renewable energy accounts for a relatively small part of residential electricity bills ... Read More
Report: Canadians dramatically overestimate the contribution of tar sands to Canadian economy
Recent polling by Environics, commissioned by Environmental Defence, shows that the majority of Canadians believe the tar sands economic importance is significantly higher than it ... Read More
Report: Alternative Fuel Use in Cement Manufacturing
Cement manufacturing is a very emissions-intensive process. If Ontario is to get on track to meet the province’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, it will be ... Read More
Report: Reality Check: Climate Change and the Tar Sands
Big Oil is spending millions of dollars trying to greenwash the tar sands, Canada’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas pollution. A new report, Reality ... Read More
Report: Transcanada’s Energy East: An Export Pipeline, Not For Domestic Gain
TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline is not a made-in-Canada energy solution. As this analysis shows, almost all of Energy East’s crude oil would be exported ... Read More
Report: Power Advisory Report: Components of an Ontario Residential Electricity Bill
This report was prepared by Power Advisory LLC for Environmental Defence. It breaks down the costs of residential electricity bills from today to 2030. Check ... Read More
Report: Taking Stock
When it comes to toxic chemicals and the cosmetics industry, which companies are making progress and which ones are falling behind? Environmental Defence ranked the ... Read More
Report: Reality Check: Air Pollution and the Tar Sands
Big Oil is spending millions of dollars on ads, desperately trying to convince Canadians that the tar sands are not harming our air. But don’t ... Read More
Report: Reality Check: Water and the Tar Sands
Big Oil is spending millions of dollars to try to greenwash the tar sands, Canada’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas pollution. A new report, ... Read More
Report: More Jobs, Less Pollution
Energy conservation is common sense for Ontario. This report shows that cutting electricity and natural gas use by 25 per cent by 2025 would create ... Read More
Report: Barriers to mitigating the climate impacts of the tar sands
President Obama has made it clear that the central factor in his decision to approve or reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline will be ... Read More
Report: The High Costs of Sprawl
In the Greater Golden Horseshoe, urban sprawl is hurting our wallets, our environment, our economy and our health. Sprawl developments rely on government policies that ... Read More
Report: Tipping the Scales: A report about how Canada and Ontario can prevent an Asian carp invasion of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes is on the verge of being invaded by the most destructive exotic species it has faced yet: the ravenous and aggressive Asian ... Read More
Report: Pre-Polluted: A report on toxic substances in the umbilical cord blood of Canadian newborns
Canadian children are being born pre-polluted. Environmental Defence tested the umbilical cord blood of three anonymous newborns in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton for ... Read More
Report: Good Things Are Growing in Ontario
In honour of the Greenbelt’s eighth birthday, the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance released a report entitled, Good Things Are Growing in Ontario: Expanding Ontario’s Greenbelt Through ... Read More
Report: Canada’s Climate Credibility Gap
Canada has a failed to act meaningfully on climate change at home and abroad. There are no federal regulations on the greenhouse gas pollution from ... Read More
Report: More Bang For Our Buck
Canada’s increasing reliance on the oil sands is not the best strategy for the economy or our environment. This report shows if the $1.3 billion ... Read More
Report: The Manscape
Canadian men are using more personal care products than ever before. But what’s actually in them? Some of the chemicals in these products are linked ... Read More
Report: Kalamazoo Pipeline Spill: A Primer
Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure you have the latest version.) ... Read More
Report: Enbridge’s Tar Sands Pipeline Plan: All Pain and No Gain for Ontario
Ontarians are being told that Enbridge Inc.’s plan to reverse the flow of oil through one of its pipelines that crosses the province will benefit ... Read More
Report: The Trouble with Triclosan
As the number of antibacterial products grows, so does the presence of antibacterial chemical triclosan--along with fears from many scientists that this spread is contributing ... Read More
Report: Building Ontario’s Green Economy: A Road Map
Ontario is a North American green economy leader, yet there is still much more to be done if we are to truly pursue a resource ... Read More
Report: Going in Reverse
Canadian pipeline company Enbridge Inc. appears to be reviving a previous plan, called Trailbreaker, which would transport tar sands oil through some of the most ... Read More
Report: Our Nation Their Interest
Canada’s New Year started with a bang in 2012. The federal government and oil lobby went on an aggressive offensive to try to convince Canadians ... Read More
Report: The Impact of Canada’s Petrodollar
The Canadian dollar is increasingly linked to the price of oil. With the oil industry poised to triple tar sands production, it’s essential to understand ... Read More
Report: Media Backgrounder: New Environmental Review for Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
On November 10, 2011, the State Department announced that it will undertake a new environmental review of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. This ... Read More
Report: The Global Clean Energy Jobs Race: Ontario’s Opportunity
In 2009, Ontario became a serious player in the global race to transition to clean energy by adopting the Green Energy & Economy Act. Now ... Read More
Report: Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan
In December 2006, the Government of Canada embarked on a plan to protect Canadians and their environment from dangerous chemicals in industrial and consumer products ... Read More
Report: Shale Gas Fracking and In Situ Oil Sands Chemicals and the National Pollutant Release Inventory: Public Disclosure Needed
The decline of conventional sources of oil and gas is spurring a shift to sources that are more difficult to extract such as shale gas ... Read More
Report: Blowing Smoke: Correcting Anti-Wind Myths in Ontario
Ontario's communities must be more involved in the benefits and management of wind power projects. A $2.3 trillion dollar race is unfolding around the world ... Read More
Report: Refillable Wine Bottles In Ontario: Cases For Reuse
Ontario’s wineries, one of our greenest industries, could be even greener if they adopted a reuse program for wine bottles. In this report, Refillable Wine ... Read More
Report: The Just Beautiful Heavy Metals in Cosmetics Factsheet
Environmental Defence tested the makeup bags of six Canadian women for heavy metal contaminants. 49 face makeup items were chosen, including five foundations, four concealers, ... Read More
Report: Heavy Metal Hazard: The Health Risks of Hidden Heavy Metals in Face Makeup
Environmental Defence tested the makeup bags of six Canadian women. 49 face makeup items were chosen, including five foundations, four concealers, four powders, five blushes ... Read More
Report: King Carbon: How Enbridge Damages Our Climate as the World’s Largest Tar Sands Shipper
Enbridge is more than just the company that delivers natural gas to homes across Ontario. It's also the largest shipper of tar sands oil, and ... Read More
Report: Faces of Transformation: Jobs, economic renewal and cleaner air from Year One of Ontario’s Green Energy Act
Only a year old, the Green Energy & Green Economy Act has tapped into Ontarians' long history of energy resourcefulness. In a province whose prosperity ... Read More
Report: Environmental Defence Submission to Environment Canada on Naphthenic Acids in the Tar Sands
Environmental Defence has asked Environment Canada to add naphtenic acids, a toxic chemical found in tar sands tailings, to the list the National Pollutant Release ... Read More
Under the Influence
Get to know how your councillors were funded. Under the Influence: Election Funding in Ontario’s Greenbelt looks at the 2006 election campaign contributions of 209 ... Read More
Report: Annual Report 2009-2010
VISION. Creating a world Canadians are proud to pass onto their children. MISSION. We are Canada’s most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire ... Read More
Report: Not so Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance, Canadian Edition
This report found that the fragrances Canadians are using every day contain a dozen or more secret chemicals not listed on labels, multiple chemicals that ... Read More
Report: No Silver Lining: An Investigation Into BPA Canned Foods
A public health debate is raging around the world about the safety of bisphenol A (BPA). Chemical manufacturing and packaging companies claim BPA is safe ... Read More
Report: Tar Sands: Submission to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
This submission requests that the Commission on Environmental Cooperation prepare a factual record of the allegation that the Government of Canada is in breach of ... Read More
Money and Politics in Simcoe County
Developers play a disproportionate role in financing municipal politics. Download the guide/report (English) (Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure you ... Read More
Report: 11 Million Litres a Day: The Tar Sands’ Leaking Legacy
For the first time, this report uses industry information to arrive at a conservative estimate of what the overall leakage from the tar sands tailings ... Read More
Report: Canada’s Toxic Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth
Because of their sheer scale, all Canadians are affected by the Tar Sands, no matter where they live. If you live downstream, your water is ... Read More
Report: Toxic Baby Bottles in Canada
Bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, has been found to leach out of six major brands of popular baby bottles. Toxic Baby ... Read More
Report: Pollution in People: Toxic Chemical Profiles of 11 Adults and 5 Families Across Canada
A cocktail of harmful toxic chemicals has been detected in every person tested in a cross Canada study of pollution in people. Download the report ... Read More
Report: Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadians
The groundbreaking report, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadians , reveals that toxic chemicals, such as DDT, PCBs, stain repellants, flame retardants, mercury ... Read More
Report: Polluted Children, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families
Polluted Children, Toxic Nation is the first Canadian study to test for harmful chemicals in children's bodies, and the results show that Canadians young and ... Read More
Our Guides
Reject Teck’s Frontier Mine
The federal government is facing an important test of its resolve on climate action: whether to approve or reject what would be Canada’s largest open-pit ... Read More
Toxic Ten: Skincare Guide
From washing your face to applying serum for a youthful complexion, our daily skincare routine may involve using as many as 16 personal care products ... Read More
Mid Term Report Card – Proposed amendments to Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans
Environmental Defence evaluated Ontario's proposed amendments to the Greenbelt and Growth Plans and issued the report card below. Check out the report card that highlights ... Read More
Action Checklist – Recommendations to fix Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans
Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans need some major fixes if the provincial government is serious about protecting the Greenbelt and enabling smarter growth in the ... Read More
10 ways You Can Help Keep Our Waters Clean
Simply by going about your daily routines, you might be unknowingly contributing to the pollution of our waterways. Here’s a tip sheet that you can ... Read More
The Problem With Bottled Water
Bottled water is a big business in Canada. But its cost on the environment and your wallet is even bigger. Here's the real price of ... Read More
The BPA Pocket Guide
BPA can be found not just in food cans, but also in many other consumer goods. Learn how you and your loved ones can lower ... Read More
Toxic Ten: Chemicals in the Home
Canadians are exposed to toxic chemicals every day, but you can reduce your exposure if you know where they lurk. Cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting, and allergy-inducing substances ... Read More
The Environmental Defence Guide to Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning
The most common dry cleaning methods in Canada add to air pollution while putting dry clean workers and nearby residents at risk. But Canadians don’t ... Read More
The Environmental Defence Guide to Cleaning & Indoor Air
Cleaning should be about fighting grime, not fighting for your health. The problem: a lot of popular cleaning products can impact your indoor air quality ... Read More
Guide: Blue Flag Criteria for Beaches
In order for a beach to be awarded a Blue Flag, it must meet strict criteria in the areas of Water Quality, Environmental Management, Environmental ... Read More
The Environmental Defence Guide to Insect Repellent
If there’s anything that will take away from the joy of a glorious summer, it’s those buzzing, biting, and sometimes disease-spreading insects. This two-page guide ... Read More
The Environmental Defence Guide to Sunscreen
You slather on sunscreen to prevent getting burned by the sun. But, are you getting burned by toxic sunscreen and misleading labels? Just when you ... Read More
Guide: Blue Flag Criteria for Marinas
In order for a marina to be awarded a Blue Flag, it must meet strict criteria in the areas of Water Quality, Environmental Management, Environmental ... Read More
Workplace Safety Guide for Salons
During their work day, salon professionals use a number of products – from shampoo and hair dye to nail polish and makeup – which may ... Read More
Guide: Environmental Defence Guide to Triclosan
Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial/antibacterial agent whose use has become widespread in toothpastes and mouthwashes, deodorants, cosmetics, fabrics, plastics and other products. Increasing levels of ... Read More
Guide: Young Reporters for the Environment Videographers Handbook
Young Reporters for the Environment Videographers Handbook is a guide to filming like an environmental journalist. Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader is required to ... Read More
Guide: Young Reporters for the Environment Writers Handbook
The Young Reporters for the Environment Photographers Handbook is a 16 page guide to writing environmental stories. Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader is required ... Read More
Guide: Young Reporters for the Environment Photographers Handbook
Young Reporters for the Environment Photographers Handbook is 16 pages on how to take great photos of the natural world. Download the report (English) (Adobe ... Read More
Guide: Toxic Nation Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies
Going back to school often means stocking up on a fresh batch of school supplies for the year ahead. What many parents and students don’t ... Read More
Guide: Toxic Nation Guide to Plastics
This one page guide to common dangerous chemicals in your home is subtitled "Helping you avoid toxic chemicals". Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader is ... Read More
Guide: Make Your Home a Healthy Home
Canadians are exposed to harmful chemicals everyday through commonly used products in their homes. Luckily, there are safe alternatives to many toxic products. Download and ... Read More
Guide: Toxic Nation Healthy Artist Guide to a Less Toxic Studio
This five page guide looks at common artists' materials, explains the hazards of their use, and discusses safe alternatives. Download the report (English) (Adobe Reader ... Read More
Guide: The Toxic Nation Guide To Spring Cleaning
Spring has sprung, and the time has come to pop the windows open and clean away winter’s dust and grime. Before you reach into the ... Read More
Our Submissions
Open Letter from 53 Organizations on Updating Export Development Canada’s Climate Target
In a time of climate crisis, Crown corporation Export Development Canada is providing oil and gas companies with an average of over CAD 13 billion ... Read More
Technical and Policy Recommendations to Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change Canada on the Two Billion Trees Program
In this letter, the seven members of the Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit support the government’s commitment to actively address the twin biodiversity and climate crises, ... Read More
Draft Screening Assessment for Triclocarban
This submission outlines the reasons why Ecojustice and Environmental Defence disagree with the government's assessment of the chemical, triclocarban. In this submission, we provided recommendations ... Read More
ENGO submission to federal government re: plastics
The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis and Canada is a significant contributor to the problem. It is estimated that over 4.5 million tonnes ... Read More
NGO Response to Draft Blue Box Regulations
Currently, less than seven per cent of Ontario’s waste is recycled through the Blue Box, and the province sends more than 8 million tonnes (70 ... Read More
Letter to Minister of Natural Resources re: Hydrogen Strategy for Canada
This joint letter, signed by 28 organizations, urges the federal government to focus its hydrogen strategy on renewable hydrogen, instead of fossil fuel-derived hydrogen. The ... Read More
How to strengthen Bill C-12: Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act
Canada has failed to achieve every international climate target it has ever set. In its current form, Bill C-12 provides little assurance we will alter ... Read More
Briefing Note: Modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
This briefing note outlines the recommendations to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), by Environmental Defence, Ecojustice, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Canadian Association ... Read More
Comments on draft terms of reference for conducting a strategic assessment of thermal coal mining
This submission outlines the recommendations for a proposed strategic assessment of thermal coal mining. It is critical that the strategic assessment of thermal coal consider ... Read More
Comments on the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada: Draft Executive Summary
This submission lays out key pieces that should be part of a credible and robust hydrogen strategy for Canada. Canada should focus on supporting and ... Read More
Submission to House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of 2021 Budget
This submission outlines our recommendations for recovery and budget actions in 2020-2021, addressing the Committee’s theme of restarting the Canadian economy as it recovers from ... Read More
Comments on the draft equivalency agreement for the Saskatchewan methane regulations
This submission outlines some concerns that Saskatchewan’s oil and gas methane regulations and directives may not deliver an equivalent environmental outcome to federal methane regulations ... Read More
No federal funding for exploration drilling off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador
In this open letter, the signing organizations express concern about reports that the government is considering major financial incentives to boost offshore exploration in Newfoundland ... Read More
Natural Infrastructure is an Integral Part of Green Recovery
Natural infrastructure projects create good jobs, support local supply chains, and provide a variety of environmental, social, and health benefits. Download the submission (English)(Adobe Reader ... Read More
Support for Ontario’s Conservation Authorities
We, the 112 undersigned organizations, call on the Government of Ontario to retain the current mandate of the province’s 36 Conservation Authorities in protecting, restoring ... Read More
Banning non-essential, single-use plastics and moving toward zero plastic waste and plastic pollution prevention
The undersigned organizations are writing to provide our recommendations on the scope of the regulatory ban on harmful single-use plastics and complementary measures needed to ... Read More
Open Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau on Prioritizing Families over the Fossil Fuel Industry
COVID-19 is presenting real and immediate risks to people's health and livelihoods. It is appropriate and necessary for the federal government to make major interventions ... Read More
Financial Support for Fossil Fuels
Due to a lack of transparency and reporting, quantifying the extent of federal supports to the oil and gas sector is a difficult task. Federal ... Read More
Joint Letter on Achieving Canada’s objectives through implementation of the Impact Assessment Act
This joint letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change urges the government to make the strong implementation of these laws a priority ... Read More
Provincial Policy Statement Review Submission Made by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance
Provincial Policy Statement Review Submission Made by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance Download the submission (English)(Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Draft Strategic Assessment of Climate Change
Environment and Climate Change Canada has undertaken the development of a Strategic Assessment of Climate Change (SACC), which is intended to provide guidance on how ... Read More
Draft 2020 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (ERO Number: 019-0198)
In a time of climate and biodiversity crisis among other serious stresses on the Great Lakes ecosystem, we look to instruments such as the Canada-Ontario ... Read More
Draft Carbon Pollution Pricing: Options for a Federal GHG Offset System
We welcome the federal government’s decision to develop a federal offsets program. A federal program has potential to ensure national consistency and national fungibility. In ... Read More
Comments on Canada’s approach on non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) consulted Canadians to gather feedback on their approach to eliminating non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, as part of Canada's ... Read More
Comments on the proposed equivalency agreement with BC on methane regulations
We appreciate the ongoing effort to engage with stakeholders regarding the regulations and equivalency agreement and ECCC’s modelling efforts. However, there are still critical assumptions ... Read More
Open letter on fulfilling commitments to restore lost environmental protections and credibility to environmental assessment processes
In this open letter to the Prime Minister, eight leading environmental organizations address shortfalls in regulations related to the new federal impact assessment regime. We ... Read More
Comments on proposed re-evaluation decision for chlorpryifos
These are the comments of the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Équiterre and Environmental Defence ... Read More
Notice of Application: Volkswagen legal case
This is an application for judicial review in respect of the failure of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to properly report progress on ... Read More
Comments on Canada’s approach on non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Eccc) consulted Canadians to gather feedback on their approach to eliminating non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, as part of Canada's ... Read More
Letter to retailers on the need to phase out receipts containing bisphenols
This letter was sent to 13 retail giants in Canada asking them to stop using receipts coated with hormone disrupting bisphenols (like BPA and BPS) ... Read More
Comments on the repeal of the Green Energy Act
In repealing the Green Energy Act, 2009, Ontario should make sure to distinguish between perceptions of the Act itself and clean, renewable energy more generally, ... Read More
Submission on a Made-In-Ontario Climate Plan
We are concerned that this new made-in-Ontario climate plan signals a clear weakening of ambition at a critical time for environmental action. In particular, dialing ... Read More
Joint Submission on Granting BC Methane regulations equivalency
The attached document was submitted in response to the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) draft Agreement on the Equivalency of Federal and British Columbia ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Discussion Paper on the proposed Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System
In June 2018, EDC submitted comments on the Government of Canada’s Consultation Paper on Approach to Revising the Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System ... Read More
Open Letter to Environment and Climate Change Canada on Bill C-69
When Bill C-69 was first announced, we, alongside many organizations, supported the bill as an important step in the right direction towards strengthening Canada’s broken ... Read More
Joint Submission on the Ontario Government’s review of Endangered Species Act
Our joint submission with 95 other organizations to the Environmental Registry of Ontario's postings condemning proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. Download the submission ... Read More
Joint Submission on the Conservation Authorities Modernization (Operations and Permitting) sections of Bill 108
Our joint submission with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) to the Environmental Registry of Ontario postings about proposed changes to Conservation Authorities in Ontario ... Read More
Submission to the Senate Committee on Making Bill C-69 Climate Safe
Bill C-69 makes some real improvements over the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) on climate change, namely the requirement that impact assessments consider ... Read More
Comments on Ontario’s review of the Endangered Species Act
Environmental Defence's joint submission to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks noting with deep concern that their review of the Endangered Species ... Read More
Bill 66 Submission to Standing Committee on General Government
Bill 66 Submission to Standing Committee on General Government Read the submission (English)(Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure you have ... Read More
Submission on Canada’s proposal for defining vulnerable populations
Since the launch of the federal Chemicals Management Plan in 2006, Canada has consistently overlooked how vulnerable and marginalized populations such as pregnant women, workers, ... Read More
Comments on the repeal of the Green Energy Act
In repealing the Green Energy Act, 2009, Ontario should make sure to distinguish between perceptions of the Act itself and clean, renewable energy more generally, ... Read More
Remarks to Standing Committee re: Bill 4, The Cap and Trade cancellation Act
The cancellation of Ontario’s cap-and-trade program, alongside the cancellation of most of the programs funded by cap-and-trade and the suspension of Ontario’s climate targets, is ... Read More
Submission on Bill 32: Access to Natural Gas Act
We applaud this government’s efforts to enhance energy affordability for rural and northern communities in Ontario. But we caution against using ratepayer subsidies to expand ... Read More
Joint Comments on Alberta Energy Regulator’s Draft Requirements for Reducing Methane Emissions
Our joint analysis reveals that the Alberta Energy Regulator’s draft oil and gas methane directives 060 and 017 are not credible. Our submission provides more ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Consultation Paper on Approach to Revising the Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System
EDC argues that the Project List must be improved to ensure all high-carbon energy and industrial projects undergo a federal impact assessment to ensure Canada’s ... Read More
Fixing Canada’s Broken Energy Regulator and Making Bill C-69 Climate-Safe
EDC’s submission focuses on the Canadian Energy Regulator Act and sections of the Impact Assessment Act, that can help ensure that the federal government’s environmental ... Read More
CCME Draft Framework for Zero Plastic Waste
Our comments on the Draft Framework for Zero Plastic Waste, created by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Download the submission (English) ... Read More
Comments on Bill C-69
Our comments on Bill C-69 to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. Download the submission (English) (Adobe Reader ... Read More
Protecting our Water for Future Generations
We support the provincial initiative to expand the Greenbelt to include significant and sensitive hydrological areas throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This is essential to ... Read More
Regulatory Proposal under Ontario’s Condominium Act, 1998
A joint submission by The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) and Environmental Defence (ED). TAF and ED were encouraged to see Ontario’s Ministry of Government and Consumer ... Read More
Notice of objection for the re-evaluation of glyphosate
Our joint notice of objection calls on Health Canada to reconsider their decision to grant continued registration of glyphosate. We are calling for the Minister ... Read More
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Submission on the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector)
Environmental Defence is very supportive of the federal government developing and implementing regulations to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. We recommend ... Read More
Submission on the Technical Paper on the Federal Carbon Pricing Backstop
As part of a full suite of climate policies, carbon pricing can make a meaningful contribution to Canada’s efforts to meet and exceed international climate ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Consultation Paper on Approach to Revising the Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System
A federal Clean Fuel Standard is an important component of a national climate policy. This submission proposes key design principles that we believe should guide ... Read More
Comments in Response to the Report of the Expert Panel on the Modernization of the National Energy Board
EDC and CELA commends the Expert Panel on the Modernization of the National Energy Board for its strong attempt to restore public trust in the ... Read More
Overhauling the NEB: Energy Regulation for a Clean Economy
EDC urges the Expert Panel to recognize the need for a substantial overhaul of energy and environmental regulation and build a new regulatory regime that ... Read More
National Energy Board Modernization
We support an overhaul of energy and environmental regulation to protect Canada’s natural capital, meet climate commitments, and fulfill the federal government’s promise to balance ... Read More
Cutting Unnecessary Red Tape Act, 2017
Environmental Defence would like to express support for the Canadian Environmental Law Association recommendation that Sections 2, 4, 7 and 8 be deleted from Bill ... Read More
Developing a Green Commercial Vehicle Program
Environmental Defence’s response to Ontario’s draft Green Commercial Vehicle Program (GCVP) released by the Ministry of Transportation. The GCVP provides a key opportunity to reduce ... Read More
Comments on the Environmental and Regulatory Reviews Discussion Paper
We believe the reform of Canada’s environmental and regulatory laws is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the damage done to energy and industrial project review ... Read More
Discussion Paper on Addressing Food and Organic Waste in Ontario
A joint submission of the Toronto Environmental Alliance, Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Citizens’ Network on Waste Management and Environmental Defence Canada in response to ... Read More