As the federal government works to Build Canada Strong, nature must be part of the growth and investment agenda. Budget 2026 makes substantial investments to advance energy infrastructure, accelerate major projects, modernize the forest sector and strengthen economic competitiveness. Recognizing the value of nature will strengthen investment certainty, climate resilience, Indigenous partnership and long-term economic prosperity.
Nature United welcomes the recommitment to A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature, which invests $3.7 billion in protecting nature, strengthening climate resilience and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Nations. These objectives are essential to meeting Canada’s environmental goals, but also for supporting the advancement of an economy that attracts investment and delivers lasting prosperity.
We also welcome additional investments that recognize the importance of marine conservation, forest management and Indigenous-led stewardship:
Reaffirmed $186M over four years for the Great Bear Sea/Northern Shelf Bioregion Reconciliation Framework Agreement, advancing Indigenous-led governance, conservation and stewardship.
$282.7M over 11 years plus $18M ongoing to establish and operate two new National Marine Conservation Areas.
Support for feasibility assessments for up to three additional National Marine Conservation Areas in the North.
$500M over six years to strengthen fibre supply chains and support sustainable forest management, Indigenous stewardship, and innovation.
$4B Forestry Sector Accelerator to support large-scale forest-sector transformation, including biorefineries and biofuel facilities.
Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program support for the Tla'amin Nation acquisition of the Stillwater Forest Operation, advancing Indigenous ownership and economic participation in the forest economy.
While Budget 2026 includes important investments in Canada's future, clarity is needed on the sustained investment, strong partnerships and a clear focus on implementation required to deliver the commitments outlined in A Force of Nature. Nature United recommends four actions that can help accelerate implementation:
Affirming the Government of Canada’s support and capacity to deliver on nature initiatives with provinces, territories and Indigenous rightsholders;
Ensuring that major projects contribute to nature positive outcomes while adhering to the mitigation hierarchy;
Supporting a new vision for mobilizing private and philanthropic capital towards measurable outcomes in Yukon; and
Building the climate and economic resilience and sustainability of Canada’s fisheries as a cornerstone of coastal communities’ well-being.
As the Secretariat of Canada's Nature Advantage, Nature United also supports broader efforts to recognize the value of nature as a source of economic prosperity through better data, markets, finance, and policy. Together, these approaches can support the government’s ambition to Build Canada Strong by attracting investment, creating jobs, strengthening rural and Indigenous economies and improving resilience.
Nature United looks forward to working with federal, provincial and Indigenous governments, industry and communities to help turn Canada's commitments into measurable outcomes and ensure nature continues to support a strong and prosperous future for all Canadians.
Nature United was founded as a Canadian charity in 2014, building on decades of conservation in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, our organization has field staff located across the country. Nature United supports Indigenous leadership, sustainable economic development and science and large-scale conservation, primarily in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba. Our organization is also working to accelerate Natural Climate Solutions at national and regional scales. To learn more, visit natureunited.ca or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
We are the Canadian affiliate of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization with more than a million members and a diverse team that includes more than 1,000 scientists. Our global organization works in 86 countries and territories (41 by direct conservation impact and 45 through partners) to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. To learn more, visit nature.org.