Pursuing Sustainability: Global Commodity Trends and Canada

Canada’s abundant natural resources have always been an important source of the nation’s prosperity. As global demand grows for our oil and gas, forest products, and even our water, Canada will enjoy new economic opportunities, but also face new challenges. For example, Canada’s international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may limit growth in the oil and gas sector; and the forest sector faces real economic problems. How can we enhance national prosperity by satisfying the hunger of booming export markets without harming our environment or exacerbating regional tensions?

This Executive Action, based on Performance and Potential 2005–06, discusses the challenges facing our natural resource sectors. It also identifies a number of measures to ensure that management of these resources continues to contribute to the well-being of Canadians, such as clear government policies on greenhouse gas regulation, renewal of the forest sector, and better management of our water resources.