The federal government has taken a number of steps to advance natural asset management in Canada. This includes launching the Natural Infrastructure Fund, supporting natural infrastructure projects through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, providing long-term funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and emphasizing natural assets in the National Adaptation Strategy.
There are far more opportunities than this, however, and by acting on them the federal government would achieve many of its own objectives including net-zero 2050 and 2030 biodiversity goals, and resilient infrastructure objectives.
NAI has made a variety of submissions including for Budget 2024, the federal housing policy and, most recently, Budget 2025.
Our Recommendations for Budget 2025
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the Government of Canada provide $25 million over 10 years to accelerate the uptake of natural asset management, in concert with provincial, territorial and local governments.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the Government of Canada include nature-related requirements for all future federal infrastructure investments, including those related to housing.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That the Government of Canada work with provincial governments to address watershed governance fragmentation.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That the Government of Canada support the development of national standards through direct funding contributions to ensure natural asset management is undertaken consistently across Canada.
RECOMMENDATION 5: That the Government of Canada optimize the full suite of infrastructure and non-infrastructure services that nature provides on its own federal lands.
RECOMMENDATION 6: That the Government of Canada strengthen existing funding mechanisms to support green infrastructure.
Read NAI’s full submission to the federal government’s pre-budget consultation.
