Foundation 3: Examining the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk

Privacy Act Notice Statement                           

The personal information is collected under the authority of section 5 of the Department of the Environment Act and subsection 7(1) of the Financial Administration Act.

The Government of Canada is seeking input from individuals and communities across the country, particularly racialized, marginalized, and Indigenous peoples, to help inform the development of a national strategy to address environmental racism. Your feedback will support a better understanding of the issues and contribute to the creation of effective, inclusive policies.

The personal information created, held or collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada is protected under the Privacy Act. Information will be used, disclosed and retained in accordance with the conditions listed in the Personal Information Bank Outreach Activities PSU 938.

Any questions or comments regarding this privacy notice may be directed to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Division at ECATIP-ECAIPRP@ec.gc.ca. If you are not satisfied that your privacy has been adequately respected, you have the right to file a complaint. You may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by calling their information center at 1-800-282-1376 or by visiting their contact page.  

Foreword

Environmental justice and environmental racism are broad concepts that can be applied in various contexts. Environmental justice and environmental racism are new areas of work for the Government of Canada.  However, grassroots organizations have significant knowledge and experience in advocating for communities and raising awareness on these issues. The Government of Canada aims to work with these organizations, affected communities, and those with lived experiences. Their input will help to develop a national strategy to assess, prevent, and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice (the Strategy).

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is conducting a series of engagement activities, which will help us develop the Strategy. These activities represent a significant part of the policy development process, in principle and in the  context of the requirements of the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act. It is important to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders and partners that it may affect. To achieve this, ECCC will engage with a broad audience during the next consultation phase of strategy development.

Engagement documents are one way that governments can engage broadly with the public and various interested groups. They can be used when considering the development of new legislation or regulations or implementing a new policy or program. Each engagement document will focus on one of the following four key foundational topics:

1. Advancing environmental justice
2. Assessing, preventing and addressing environmental racism
3. Examining the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk
4. Indigenous environmental justice and racism

Each engagement will include a focused webinar that will consist of one session of up to two hours in length. The webinars incorporate presentations from federal officials as well as time for discussion and questions. Following the completion of the engagement period, ECCC will:

• review all feedback
• engage bilaterally with respondents to discuss submission (as required)
• publish a What We Heard Report to detail the input received
• publish a What We Did Report to detail how we used the input provided

The input received in response to the engagement documents, including through the accompanying webinars, will inform the development of the national strategy to assess, prevent, and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice. Consultation related to the Strategy will follow in 2026.

Introduction

This engagement guide is designed to support Canadians to contribute their experiences, ideas and suggestions to the national strategy.

As part of the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Justice and Racism Act, the strategy must include a study that:

• examines the connection between race, socio-economic status, and environmental risk
• provides data and statistics on where environmental hazards are located

The study will also consider topics like:

• representation in environmental decision-making
• perceived inequity in environmental regulatory outcomes
• existing federal initiatives that could be relevant in discussions of environmental justice

The study provides a starting point for federal analysis and information that support strategy development. This starting point can also help in considering further analytical opportunities or improvements as we learn from the first strategy

After completing the first National Strategy, the Minister will prepare a report every five years to assess its progress. The Minister will work with interested people and groups—including other ministers, governments across Canada, and Indigenous communities—to develop the report. The report will share key findings, conclusions, and recommendations to guide future action.

Environmental justice and racism are still new areas of focus for the Government of Canada. It’s important to build ongoing understanding of these issues across communities and institutions. Tracking how they evolve and measuring meaningful progress will help guide future action.

This engagement guide is divided into three discussion topics:

1. Fostering the continued growth of knowledge on environmental justice and racism in Canada
2. Information and statistics relating to the location of environmental hazards
3. Tracking development and meaningful progress

Topic 1: Fostering the continued growth of knowledge on environmental justice and racism in Canada

The federal study required by the Act will provide national baseline information on environmental justice and racism. The study offers a starting point to better understand environmental racism across Canada. It also helps guide future policy on environmental justice.

This includes the use of federal data and information to support a nationally consistent approach. The following are examples of Government of Canada resources that offer national data and information:

• The Census Learning Centre provides a wide range of population information at various geographical levels across the entire country
• The National Pollutant Release Inventory provides a single dataset of industrial locations and pollution outputs across the country
  • while it may not include all industrial locations, it does provide consistency and is updated routinely
• The Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory shows the locations of contaminated sites under federal responsibility across Canada
  • the data includes details about the types of contaminants and the condition of each site
  • some contaminants, like air pollutants, also have separate datasets—such as national air quality maps
• The Canadian Energy Regulator’s Interactive Pipeline Map offers key data on pipelines regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator
  • it includes information on pipeline use, safety and environmental considerations, tolls, and financial details
• Canadian Energy Regulator Biophysical, Socio-Economic, and Regional Data and Information (BERDI) to make its biophysical, socio-economic, and regional data accessible to the public
  • this includes Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessments, which contain valuable information on public safety, species at risk, and environmental protection
• The Federal Impact Assessment Registry provides information on projects, regional and strategic assessments across Canada
  • it includes details on projects located on federal lands, outside Canada, and those requiring federal permits and authorizations

Discussion Question: What actions can help build national awareness and understanding of environmental racism and justice in Canada?

In answering this question, you may wish to think about:

• what do you need—whether in a community, non-profit, school, or government role—to better understand environmental justice and racism
• are there specific information, tools, data or resources that could further understandings of environmental racism
  • are there barriers to accessing certain existing information
• How might the national study best support the continued learning and growth of the Canadian public
  • what would be relevant, useful, and accessible? How should this information be shared

Topic 2: Information and statistics relating to the location of environmental hazards

Under the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Justice and Racism Act, the study must include data on where environmental hazards are located. Since the Minister must report on the strategy every five years, it’s important to understand what data Canadians need. This helps support long-term progress on environmental justice.

Discussion Question: What information or statistics about where environmental hazards are located would help you most, as work on environmental justice and racism continues?

Examples of this, based on national, federal data (see examples of federal datasets in Topic 1) might include:

• statistics related to the number of certain sites (National Pollutant Release Inventory)
• the locations of different project types and any concentrations or other insights (Impact Assessment Agency Registry)
• information related to the kinds of contaminants being released at differing sites and/or states of remediation (Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory)

In answering this question, you may wish to think about:

• what do you want to know about the environmental hazards in your community
  • what kind of information would help you to better understand these hazards
• is there specific information you need to participate in environmental decision-making, or to bring concerns to the attention of decision-makers
• what format is most accessible for receiving this kind of technical information
  • do you prefer visuals and/or spatial data
  • are data tables useful
  • do you have a use for statistical information
• are there ways existing federal datasets could be adjusted to better meet your needs
  • for example, making it easier to understand the relationships between differing facilities and/or locations, or by creating user guides
• is there support that would be helpful as you work to interpret data

Topic 3: Tracking development and meaningful progress

The Act names potential measures that may be included within the strategy, including:

• possible amendments to federal laws, policies and programs
• the involvement of community groups in environmental policymaking
• the collection of information and statistics relating to health outcomes in communities located in proximity to environmental hazards

A National Strategy would identify key themes and focus areas. It would also outline actions to help assess, address, and prevent environmental racism.

How will the Government of Canada monitor these priority areas and actions for progress

The federal government uses performance indicators to track how well programs, policies, or services are working. Performance indicators can include:

• outputs which measure “how much” was produced or provided
  • for example, the number of environmental enforcement actions taken in a year. By measuring activities and outputs, an organisation can assess efficiency, economy quality and quantity
• performance indicators are measurable ways to track progress towards achieving an outcome
  • for example, an indicator of effective environmental enforcement may be fewer reported incidents of illegal dumping within a year. Indicators help us learn by what we see, hear, read, feel, touch or smell
• outcomes are clear, measurable changes. They show who is affected and what is happening when things are working
  • for example, a community’s satisfaction with improved industry behavior related to illegal dumping. By measuring outcomes, an organization can assess effectiveness, satisfaction and magnitude

Discussion Question:

Communities facing environmental racism, along with grassroots groups and advocates, have deep knowledge of their priority issues and where change is needed. They also know firsthand when progress is happening.

How might the advancement of environmental justice in the Canadian context be tracked? What may be outputs or indicators of meaningful progress?  

In answering this question, you may wish to think about:

• how might progress be best shared with the public
  • what would make information accessible, tangible, and/or relevant
  • are there certain formats that you prefer
• how will we know if communities, advocacy groups, researchers, and governments are improving their understanding of environmental justice and racism
  • what signs or results would show that knowledge is growing
• what kinds of changes or results would show real progress in advancing environmental justice
• are outputs or indicators for your community or experience the same as for others

Concluding question

Is there anything else you would like to add at this stage to contribute to the development of a national strategy for Canada?

Next steps

ECCC developed this engagement guide to facilitate the contribution of Canadians’ experiences, ideas and suggestions to aid the creation of the Strategy.

Public engagement on the Strategy will include opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities to join the conversation. Please provide input by December 12, 2025. Information is available on ECCC’s environmental justice webpage.

Organizations and interested parties are encouraged to hold their own engagement sessions and share the results with the government. A guide on how to do this and a presentation deck with additional information are available.

Environment and Climate Change Canada will compile and publish input received in a “What We Heard” document. We will publish the document online by Winter 2026.

This information will form the foundation of a national strategy for Canada. We will share the Strategy with Canadians for consultation in 2026.

If you would like more information on environmental justice and how to contribute to the strategy development, visit Environment and Climate Change Canada’s environmental justice webpage.