Natural Resources Canada
Encyclopedia
The Department of Natural Resources (French:
Ministère des Ressources naturelles), operating under the FIP applied title
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is the ministry
of the government of Canada
responsible for natural resources
, energy
, mineral
s and metal
s, forest
s, earth science
s, map
ping and remote sensing
. It was created in 1995 by amalgamating the now-defunct Departments of Energy, Mines and Resources and Forestry. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) works to ensure the responsible development of Canada's natural resources, including energy, forests, minerals and metals. NRCan also uses its expertise in earth sciences to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of our landmass and resources." To promote internal collaboration, NRCan has implemented a departmental wide wiki based on MediaWiki
. Natural Resources Canada also collaborates with American
and Mexican
government scientists, along with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
, to produce the North American Environmental Atlas
, which is used to depict and track environmental issues for a continental perspective.
Under the Canadian constitution, responsibility for natural resources belongs to the provinces, not the federal government. However, the federal government has jurisdiction over off-shore resources, trade and commerce in natural resources, statistics, international relations, and boundaries. The current Minister of Natural Resources
is Joe Oliver
as of May 18, 2011.
The department is governed by the Resources and Technical Surveys Act, R.S.C., c.R-7 and the Department of Natural Resources Act, S.C. 1994, c. 41.
"structured along business lines according to types of natural resources and areas of interest." The department currently has these sectors:
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Ministère des Ressources naturelles), operating under the FIP applied title
Federal Identity Program
The Federal Identity Program is the Canadian government's corporate identity program. The purpose of the FIP is to clearly identify each program and service of the government or the government of Canada in general. Managed by the Treasury Board Secretariat, this program, and the government's...
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is the ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the government of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
responsible for natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
, energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
s, forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, earth science
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
s, map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
ping and remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
. It was created in 1995 by amalgamating the now-defunct Departments of Energy, Mines and Resources and Forestry. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) works to ensure the responsible development of Canada's natural resources, including energy, forests, minerals and metals. NRCan also uses its expertise in earth sciences to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of our landmass and resources." To promote internal collaboration, NRCan has implemented a departmental wide wiki based on MediaWiki
MediaWiki
MediaWiki is a popular free web-based wiki software application. Developed by the Wikimedia Foundation, it is used to run all of its projects, including Wikipedia, Wiktionary and Wikinews. Numerous other wikis around the world also use it to power their websites...
. Natural Resources Canada also collaborates with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
government scientists, along with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was established by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to implement the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation , the environmental side accord to the North American Free Trade Agreement...
, to produce the North American Environmental Atlas
North American Environmental Atlas
The North American Environmental Atlas is an interactive mapping tool created through a partnership of government agencies in Canada, Mexico and the United States, along with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a trilateral international organization created under the North American...
, which is used to depict and track environmental issues for a continental perspective.
Under the Canadian constitution, responsibility for natural resources belongs to the provinces, not the federal government. However, the federal government has jurisdiction over off-shore resources, trade and commerce in natural resources, statistics, international relations, and boundaries. The current Minister of Natural Resources
Minister of Natural Resources (Canada)
The Minister of Natural Resources is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Natural Resources Canada. As of January 19, 2010, the Minister of Natural Resources is Joe Oliver.-Ministers:Key:...
is Joe Oliver
Joe Oliver (politician)
Joseph "Joe" Oliver, , PC is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Eglinton—Lawrence as a member of the Conservative Party....
as of May 18, 2011.
The department is governed by the Resources and Technical Surveys Act, R.S.C., c.R-7 and the Department of Natural Resources Act, S.C. 1994, c. 41.
"structured along business lines according to types of natural resources and areas of interest." The department currently has these sectors:
- Canadian Forest ServiceCanadian Forest ServiceThe Canadian Forest Service is a sector of the Canadian government department of Natural Resources Canada. Part of the federal government since 1899, the CFS is a science-based policy organization responsible for promoting the sustainable development of Canada's forests and competitiveness of the...
- Corporate Management and Services Sector
- Earth Sciences Sector
- Energy Sector
- Innovation and Energy Technology Sector
- Minerals and Metals Sector
- Science and Policy Integration
- Public Affairs and Portfolio Management Sector
- Shared Services Office
- Geographical Names Board of CanadaGeographical Names Board of CanadaGeographical Names Board of Canada is a national committee of the Canadian Government Department of Natural Resources which authorizes the names used on official federal government maps of Canada since 1897. The board consists of 27 members including one from each of the provinces and territories...
Related legislation
Acts for which Natural Resources Canada has Responsibilityhttp://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/actacte-eng.php- Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention ActArctic Waters Pollution Prevention ActThe Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act is a Canadian government statute to prevent pollution of areas of the arctic waters adjacent to the mainland and islands of the Canadian arctic. The federal departments responsible for enforcing this Act is Natural Resources Canada, Transport Canada,...
- Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology ActCanada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology ActThe Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology Act is a Canadian government statute to establish a foundation called Sustainable Development Technology Canada to fund sustainable development technology. The federal department responsible for enforcing this Act is Natural Resources...
- Canada Labour CodeCanada Labour CodeThe Canada Labour Code is an Act of Parliament of the Canadian government to consolidate certain statutes respecting labour. The objective of the code is to facilitate production by controlling strikes & lockouts, occupational safety and health, and some employment standards.Generally speaking, the...
- Canada Lands Surveyors Act
- Canada Lands Surveys Act
- Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act
- Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act
- Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act
- Canada Petroleum Resources Act
- Canadian Ownership and Control Determination Act
- Cape Breton Development Corporation Act
- Cape Breton Development Corporation Divestiture Authorization and Dissolution Act
- Cooperative Energy Act
- Department of Natural Resources Act
- Energy Administration Act
- Energy Efficiency Act
- Energy Supplies Emergency Act
- Explosives Act
- Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act
- Forestry Act
- Hibernia Development Project Act
- International Boundary Commission Act
- National Energy Board Act
- Northern Pipeline Act
- Nuclear Energy Act
- Nuclear Fuel Waste Act
- Nuclear Liability Act
- Nuclear Safety and Control ActNuclear Safety and Control ActThe Nuclear Safety and Control Act of Canada replaced the Atomic Energy Control Act of 1946 with new, more effective and explicit legislation to regulate the activities of the Canadian nuclear industry. The NSCA also provided for the establishment of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission , which...
- Oil Substitution and Conservation Act
- Resources and Technical Surveys Act
See also
- EnerGuide for Houses
- GeoBase (geospatial data)GeoBase (geospatial data)GeoBase is a federal, provincial and territorial government initiative that is overseen by the Canadian Council on Geomatics . It is undertaken to ensure the provision of, and access to, a common, up-to-date and maintained base of quality geospatial data for Canada...
- Canada Green Building CouncilCanada Green Building CouncilThe Canada Green Building Council was created in 2003 to further the expansion of green building in Canada. Prior to the formation of the Council, Canada had participated in the United States Green Building Council through British Columbia's membership in the USGBC's Cascadia Chapter.The CaGBC...
- List of Canadian Ministers of Natural Resources
- R-2000 programR-2000 programR-2000 is a Natural Resources Canada program that was developed in partnership with the Canadian Home Builders' Association in 1981, and formalized as a standard in 1982...