Environmental Issues In Canada

All of the following articles emphasize key issues present in Canada with regards to the environment, government, and the aboriginal populations. The trend in these articles is to compare the Canadian government and their policy in relation to their effects on the environment, the relations with the first nations and how we define democracy in Canada. The two chapters referenced from Leadbeater (2014) acknowledge issues within the management of non-renewable, finite resources in Canada and the growing dichotomy between the metropolitan (cities) and the hinterland. The articles raise issues pertinent to how the government manages environmental preservation and as seen in Adkins (2009) articles, their need to recognize the aboriginals constitutional …show more content…
Donna Harrison illustrates these unequal relations in regards to the Ahousaht First Nations located in the Islands off the coast of BC. The Ahousaht were a very traditional economy until the imposition of industrial salmon farming as natural spawning populations decreased (Harrison, 2009, p. 20). This method is debated on its sustainability due to danger to local populations, disease, and the overall quality of the farmed fish relative to natural salmon (Harrison, p. 74). The imposition of these farms furthers the theme of institutionalized racism and injustice on first nations communities. The Ahousaht may have maintained their traditional hunting and fishing methods had the effects of capitalism not created overfishing in natural populations. The imposition of climate change on native populations changed their way of life substantially. This furthers Harrison’s (2009) point that relations with the firsts nations have an inherent unequal dynamic due to the disproportionate burden placed on them by society as a whole (p. 83). This point of unequal relations and destruction of non renewable resources is continued with Mathieu Dufour as he discusses the movement of Canada’s economy toward primary resource extraction and away from one that is currently vibrant and diverse (Dufour, 2014, p. 82). He continues to explain how extraction of non-renewable resources without diversifying other aspects of the economy is not sustainable (Dufour, p. 82). This is partially because of foreign ownership in multi- national companies, and also shifts away from production and manufacturing in Canada. It can be seen that the movement from local to foreign ownership as well as changes in the Canadian economy is depleting our nation of its once abundant resources. The unequal relations