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SNAP Canada

Clearing things up: Why protected areas at sea and on land are a must for Canadians

Let’s Take a Stand For Canada Together

We’re sure you’ll agree that nature defines us in Canada. It is a part of our identity, and it is the backbone of our economy, culture, and way of life. But right now, it is under threat.  

Powerful commercial interests want to carve up Canada’s land and waters for short-term gain, leaving our environment, communities, and future generations to deal with the fallout. And with tariff threats from the U.S. putting even more pressure on our industries, defending our natural resources has never been more urgent.‼️

Now is the Time to Show Up 

We must not let misinformation compromise nature in Canada. For instance, currently in Newfoundland and Manitoba, some industries and organizations are trying to pit Canadians against each other, spreading fear that conservation efforts will hurt local economies and limit access to land or water for fishing and hunting. 🦆🦌🦃  

But history tells us otherwise. When cod stocks collapsed, it wasn’t because of conservation — it was because of overfishing and habitat destruction. If we don’t act now, we risk repeating the same mistakes. ⚠️ 

Peggy’s cove nova scotia by Michael Connor Photo

Protected areas are more effective at providing a healthy economy, greater mental and physical health, clean air, clean water, carbon capture, supporting biodiversity, recreation opportunities, and much more. Our lives depend on thriving and abundant land and ocean – plain and simple.⛅⛰️🌊 

The establishment of protected areas requires extensive consultation with ALL people – industry, communities and you. Standing on the sidelines and refusing to engage only gives corporate interests the upper hand. 😶 

Help protect nature –  donate to CPAWS

Photo: Steve Oehlenschlager

Protecting nature means we all have long-term access to areas for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and other activities. Removing and converting nature into commercial projects like mines, highways, or forested areas permanently destroys those opportunities. There’s no “edit-undo.” 

Rejecting protected areas is exactly what corporations want. Instead of allowing corporations to divide us, let’s unite to defend what makes Canada unique. We’ve seen what happens when we take nature for granted — and we won’t let it happen again.

Conservation isn’t a burden — it’s an investment in our economy, communities, and future. 🤜🤛 

How is CPAWS Fighting Back?  

To ensure the momentum on nature conservation isn’t lost, CPAWS is currently working on multiple strategies to navigate these complex times. Building off work completed in 2024 for our national ocean program, we will undertake market research in key cities and rural communities across Canada. 🏠🚶 

The research will be tailored to address the unique political dynamics of the present era. It will consider factors such as the rise of populism, growing economic insecurity, increasing skepticism toward science, deepening political polarization, the shifting influence of social media over traditional news outlets, generational divides, and any additional insights that emerge during the investigation. We need to be as sophisticated in our approach as those who oppose nature protection.🙎🏽 

Photo: Jacob Lund

Will you Join the Fight for Nature?  

There are many ways you can do so, but a really important step right now is to talk to your political candidates in any upcoming election. Ask your Members of Parliament (MP) and Provincial Parliament (MPP) about how they plan to protect nature. Show up and make your voice heard. 🗳️ 

Help protect nature –  donate to CPAWS

Banner photo: Parilov

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