Ottawa, November 6, 2025—Today, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco released the 2025 Environmental Petitions Annual Report to inform Parliament and Canadians about the number, subject matter, and status of petitions, including ministers’ responses.
From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada received 22 environmental petitions. The petitions raised concerns about toxic substances, greenhouse gas emissions, protecting human and aquatic life, and protecting green spaces.
The 4 departments that received the most petitions were Environment and Climate Change Canada (12), Health Canada (8), Transport Canada (7), and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (4). In many cases, a petition was sent to more than 1 organization. In total, 23 organizations responded to 36 petitions.
Environmental petitions are a unique way for Canadian residents—acting as individuals or on behalf of an organization—to bring their concerns and questions about environmental and sustainable development issues to the attention of federal ministers and be guaranteed a response. Organizations have 120 days to respond to petitions. The Commissioner administers the petitions process on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada.
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The 2025 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Environmental Petitions Annual Report, is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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