CANADA’s Environmental Issues

CANADA: The Great Lakes

Great Lakes What is the location of the Great Lakes? What might be an environmental problem associated with this?

The Great Lakes Spanning more than 750 miles from one end to the other, these vast inland bodies of water support life and provide water for drinking, transportation, power, recreation and many other uses.

Acid Rain - Problem The growth of industries and cities has caused air quality to decline, raising concerns about the effects of fossil fuel use and acid rain.

Acid Rain & the Great Lakes Factories near the Great Lakes have contributed greatly to Canada’s acid rain problem. When chemicals from the factories join with water in the clouds, they form acid rain.

Acid Rain & The Great Lakes Pollutants that are transferred from the air into the Lakes are responsible for harming the quality of the water in the Lakes, as well as the health of the plants and animals that call the Great Lakes home.

Great Lakes - Ecosystem If a fish or plant is poisoned by pollution, any animal that eats that fish or plant will be poisoned as well. If a fish or plant is lost from an ecosystem, all animals that feed on that plant or fish will lose their food supply.

Think, Pair, Share What do you think is the main cause of all of this pollution? What effects do you think this pollution has on wildlife? What effect does it have on humans?

Preventing Pollution - Solution In 1972, the U.S. and Canada created the first “Great Lakes Quality Agreement” pledging to clean up and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem. New laws put strict limits on the amounts of chemicals that factories could release into the air, water, and soil.

Preventing Pollution - Solution Today, education programs encourage prevention. People in industry and farming are using fewer harmful chemicals. Consumers are also choosing products that are safer for the environment.

Canadian Shield What is found in the Canadian Shield? What might be an environmental problem associated with this?

Canadian Shield Most of the Canadian Arctic is covered in a sheet of rock called the Canadian Shield. This region of ancient granite rock is thinly covered with soil and deeply eroded by glacial action.

The Canadian Shield

The Canadian Shield The Canadian Shield contains much of Canada’s mineral wealth, including diamonds. Mining is the biggest industry in the area The Canadian Shield also has large deposits of gold, silver, zinc, copper, and uranium.

Canadian Shield Canada’s extensive mineral resources provide valuable exports. Minerals from the shield help fuel the manufacturing development of southern Ontario and Quebec.

How eager do you think developers are to get to these minerals? Why? Do you think these people are concerned about what happens to the environment when they extract these materials? Why or Why Not? Gold Mine in Canada Nickel Mine in Canada

Timber Where are most of Canada’s Timber Resources found? What might be an environmental problem associated with this?

Canada’s Timber Resources With almost half its land covered in forests, Canada is a leading producer of timber products. These products include lumber, paper, plywood, and wood pulp. The major timber – producing provinces include British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario.

Canadian Shield & Timber - Problem In the past, almost all of Canada’s exports were raw materials such as minerals and timber. When too many of these raw materials are removed or extracted from the environment, it hurts the environment permanently.

Canada’s Boreal Forest The Boreal Forest is 10,000 years old. One of the world’s oldest forests. The timber in the Boreal Forest is being used to make paper products. This is endangering the lives of many animals like the woodland caribou and the red fox.

How does the Deforestation of the Boreal Forest make you feel? Why? Why might deforestation be more harmful than mining? Do you think the short-term gains of deforestation are worth the long-term effects? Why or Why not?

Canadian Shield & Timber - Solution Today, Canada does not export as many raw materials, and it has increased the export of manufactured goods like cars. Most provinces now have legislation requiring environmental assessments of new projects, such as mines, pulp, and paper mills.

Show what you know… Write a Haiku poem about the 3 environmental issues of Canada Remember a Haiku has 3 lines: 1st line: 5 syllables 2nd line: 7 syllables 3rd line: 5 syllables