The Antarctic is an environmentally critical region for Canada and the world. It is an important home to birds, seals, plants and serves as a global indicator of climate change.
Canadians are active in the Antarctic. We are conducting research on the Antarctic environment, active in tourism, and our technology is widely applied in the region.
Canada is a signatory to the Protocol on Environmental Protection under the Antarctic Treaty, the Madrid Protocol, designed to protect the fragile Antarctic environment.
Ratification of this Protocol is a priority for this Government.
It is of particular importance to the Minister of the Environment and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Canada and Transport.
Officials from these departments, including legal counsel and policy analysts, are working on the legal and other mechanisms required for ratification.
It is the minister’s goal to achieve ratification within the year. Background In 1991, Canada signed the Protocol on Environmental Protection under the Antarctic Treaty, commonly referred to as the Madrid Protocol. This protocol is designed to protect the fragile Antarctic environment. Under the protocol, countries agree to exercise strict control over the activities of their nationals in Antarctica, and to conform with agreed rules of operation to prevent pollution and environmental degradation.
A federal process leading to the ratification of the Madrid Protocol was launched in the fall of 2002. Environment Canada and DFAIT are leading the process in conjunction with an interdepartmental committee that includes Justice, DFO, CEAA, TC, PCO and NRCan.
- DFAIT: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
DFO: Department of Fisheries and Oceans
CEAA: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
TC: Transport Canada
PCO: Privy Council Office
NRCan: Natural Resources Canada