{"id":95931,"date":"2025-05-13T10:24:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=95931"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:36:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:36:58","slug":"canada-sustainable-resource-development","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/canada-sustainable-resource-development\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Elbows Up&#8217; in Canada Means Sustainable Resource Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/istock-perry-sound-lake-1200x900-1.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        &#039;Elbows Up&#039; in Canada Means Sustainable Resource Development\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 1.876-89.126-.054c-78.135-.054-88.782-.161-85.948-.857ZM729.628 312.875c33.229-10.985 69.248-23.523 127.506-44.207 118.705-42.223 164.596-57.709 217.446-73.302 2.62-.75 8.29-2.465 12.67-3.751 56.19-16.772 126.94-33.597 184.17-43.671 5.07-.91 9.66-1.768 10.22-1.875l.94-.161v170.236l-281.28-.054H719.968l9.66-3.215ZM246.864 313.411c-65.041-2.251-143.047-12.11-208.432-26.256-18.375-3.965-41.73-9.538-42.202-10.074-.171-.214-.257-21.38-.214-47.046l.129-46.618 6.654 3.697c57.313 32.043 118.491 56.531 197.699 79.143 40.313 11.521 83.459 18.058 138.669 21.059 15.584.857 65.685.857 81.14 0 33.744-1.876 61.306-4.93 88.396-9.806 6.396-1.126 11.634-1.983 11.722-1.929.255.375-20.48 7.769-30.999 11.038-28.592 8.948-59.288 15.646-91.873 20.147-26.36 3.59-50.015 5.627-78.35 6.698-15.584.59-55.209.59-72.339-.053Z\"><\/path>\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M-3.066 295.067 32.06 304.1v9.033H-3.066v-18.066Z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>This article is <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/elbows-up-in-canada-means-sustainable-resource-development-255669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">republished<\/a> from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. All photos provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a> from various sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/people\/steven-j-cooke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Steven J. Cooke<\/a> is a Canada Research Professor in fish ecology and conservation physiology and director of the Canadian Centre for Evidence-Informed Conservation, <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/people\/christina-davy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Christina M. Davy<\/a> is an associate professor of conservation science, <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/people\/dalal-hanna-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dalal Hanna<\/a> is an assistant professor of conservation science, and <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/people\/joseph-bennett\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Joseph Bennett<\/a> is an associate professor in the Institute of Environmental Science and Department of Biology at Carleton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ad-auris-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none;\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/audio.adauris.ai\/v2\/widget\/RvjICRaqgSFBJozV1NoK\/Z5vfKD8EM7T90OapBD2k?distribution=true\" width=\"100%\" data-project-id=\"RvjICRaqgSFBJozV1NoK\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Elbows up&#8221; means many things <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/ottawa\/elbows-up-rallying-cry-evokes-memories-of-mr-hockey-1.7453276\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">today in Canada<\/a>, including using the country&#8217;s rich natural resources more effectively to support a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/business\/armstrong-election-economy-1.7521865\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">strong, independent economy that benefits people and society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We agree with the need to ensure economic stability and independence in Canada \u2014 but as scientists, we know this is only possible if resource development and exploitation are done responsibly and sustainably. Otherwise, Canada will be burdening itself and future generations with immeasurable costs to the economy, health and quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Politicians and decision-makers from across Canada have called for radical changes to how development proposals are evaluated. The recent federal election saw the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-fast-track-resource-infrastructure-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">leaders of the major parties all signalling that they intend to get resource development projects done faster<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several provinces have already brought forward legislation in recent days, including British Columbia&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-ca\/money\/topstories\/new-bc-legislation-to-speed-up-public-and-private-projects-says-minister\/ar-AA1E0aYc?ocid=BingNewsVerp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Infrastructure Projects Act<\/a>, while an Ontario act aimed ostensibly at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-ca\/money\/topstories\/new-bc-legislation-to-speed-up-public-and-private-projects-says-minister\/ar-AA1E0aYc?ocid=BingNewsVerp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&#8220;unleashing the economy&#8221; is under consideration by the provincial government<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cutting red tape can certainly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesarniajournal.ca\/news\/ontarios-growing-environmental-crisis-how-two-major-projects-are-harming-the-great-lakes-10149021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">speed up new development<\/a>, but environmental regulations are not just red tape. They are designed to ensure the short- and long-term potential consequences of development decisions are fully considered, and are then minimized or avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without strong environmental impact assessments, development can have devastating impacts on human health, resource sustainability and the rich natural resources Canadians rely upon. We are fearful of a future where obsolete infrastructure and exhausted resources are abandoned by the proponents of development, burdening the public with the cleanup or long-term consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"resources-arent-infinite\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources aren&#8217;t infinite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada has a large land mass bordering three oceans and bountiful freshwater resources, including the Great Lakes. But its resources are not infinite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Impacts of resource development also extend to people. Effective impact assessment must recognize Indigenous rights and sovereignty, in keeping with the right to self-determination reinforced by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/declaration\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective land stewardship by Indigenous nations is the foundation of Canada&#8217;s rich natural heritage. When Canadian politicians talk about fast-tracking developments and resource exploitation, they inherently ignore the moral and legal rights of Indigenous Peoples and governments that are enshrined in Canada&#8217;s Constitution and in international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"circular-economy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Circular economy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Outdated business models that threaten health and the future of resources won&#8217;t propel Canada into a new era of prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdhowe.org\/publication\/canadas-next-government-must-find-additional-fixes-for-the-productivity-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canada lags behind in innovation and labour productivity growth<\/a> (GDP per person hour worked), which are predictors of standard of living. This lag is known as Canada&#8217;s &#8220;innovation problem.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply harvesting and selling raw logs or minerals as fast as possible will not solve it. However, Canada can escape its innovation problem by using resources more efficiently in a value-added, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.resconrec.2023.107001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">circular economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boreal forests and wetlands found in Canada represent the lungs and kidneys of the planet. Canada&#8217;s boreal forest is the largest intact forest <a href=\"https:\/\/naturecanada.ca\/discover-nature\/canadas-different-environments\/canadas-boreal-forest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada also contains <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/canada-has-20-per-cent-of-the-worlds-freshwater-reserves-this-is-how-to-protect-it-159677\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20 per cent of the Earth&#8217;s surface freshwater<\/a> \u2014 more than any other nation \u2014 and 10 per cent of the world&#8217;s glacial waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada&#8217;s wildlife is iconic and careful management of our wildlife benefits both Canada and the world. Canada&#8217;s current environmental policies and regulations represent the collective effort of opposing political parties that have recognized the shared need for clean air and water are non-partisan issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"environmental-requirements\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Environmental requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Canada aggressively explores <a href=\"https:\/\/international.canada.ca\/en\/global-affairs\/corporate\/transparency\/reports-publications\/chief-economist\/diversification\/overseas-markets-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">markets other than the United States<\/a> for its resources, including the European Union, it will gain a competitive advantage by ensuring exports are sustainable and extracted without harming the environment and local people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s because markets like the European Union now require that all importers of many agricultural and household products prove that their production <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitecase.com\/insight-alert\/10-key-things-you-still-need-know-about-new-eu-deforestation-regulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">did not contribute to deforestation<\/a>. As other jurisdictions see the fallacy of short-term gains at the expense of the environment, Canada can be ahead of the curve in providing sustainable products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The long-term health of Canada&#8217;s economy relies on sustainable resource management, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.equiterre.org\/en\/articles\/cdp-sondage-elections-federales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">polling repeatedly shows that Canadians want a healthy environment<\/a>. Sustainable resource extraction can deliver long-term benefits for nature and future generations, rather than short-term, financial benefits to only a select few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Boom-and-bust policies have failed before \u2014 think about the collapse of the <a href=\"https:\/\/canadiangeographic.ca\/articles\/the-cod-delusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Atlantic cod fishery<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/environment-climate-change\/services\/air-pollution\/issues\/acid-rain-causes-effects\/history.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">acid rain crisis associated with unchecked emissions<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadashistory.ca\/explore\/peace-conflict\/reconsidering-the-gold-rush\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Klondike gold rush<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We implore politicians to ensure that development decisions are informed by rigorous and diverse forms of evidence, and robust and equitable policies that consider environmental justice. They should refrain from focusing solely on the short-term economic windfall. Instead, they must plan for resource use that is sustainable and equitable over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"four-ways-to-ensure-sustainability\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Four ways to ensure sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We recognize that resource development is integral to maintaining Canadian prosperity and sovereignty \u2014 and the good news is that it can be done sustainably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The details may be complex, but the big picture is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure that Indigenous rights-holders are not simply consulted but actively involved in planning, managing and leading development activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain strong environmental protection <a href=\"https:\/\/climateinstitute.ca\/time-to-rethink-how-the-impact-assessment-act-weighs-climate-concerns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">while cutting truly unnecessary red tape<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure that development does not cause harm to individuals, species or landscapes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Embrace <a href=\"https:\/\/thefutureeconomy.ca\/op-eds\/navigating-canadas-path-to-evidence-informed-decision-making\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">evidence-informed decision-making processes that are robust, transparent and inclusive<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of Canada&#8217;s international neighbours are enacting short-term actions, including cutting environmental regulations and spurring unfettered resource development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These actions are simultaneously a threat to Canada and an opportunity for Canadians to reject that approach and do better. If Canada chooses that path, it can gain a distinct competitive advantage today and long into the future and become less vulnerable to the political whims of other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elbows up, Canada \u2014 let&#8217;s be proud of protecting what we have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\">Carleton Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/255669\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Elbows up&#8221; means many things today in Canada, including using the country\u2019s rich natural resources more effectively to support a strong, independent economy that benefits people and society. We agree with the need to ensure economic stability and independence in Canada \u2014 but as scientists, we know this is only possible if resource development and exploitation are done responsibly and sustainably.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":95933,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[1623],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-95931","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-expert-perspectives"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95989,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95931\/revisions\/95989"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=95931"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=95931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}