Environmental Politics in Canada: Managing the Commons into the Twenty-First Century

Dr. Patrick W. Colgan is Director of Research and Natural Lands at the
Royal Botanical Gardens.

This excellent book by Judith McKenzie, a political scientist at the
University of Guelph, provides an analytical framework for the politics
of environmental issues. She begins by tracing the visibility of these
issues—high on the agenda in the 1980s, less so in the 1990s, and
reappearing with a bang via Walkerton and climatic change. Her first
chapter examines the many aspects of green political theory. The
discussion weaves a detailed tapestry of relevant political theory from
Locke through Malthus, transcendentalism, Limits to Growth, Gaia, and
biophilia. The analysis highlights problematical topics such as
sustainability, intergenerational responsibility, nation states versus
bioregions, and diverse perspectives based on religions, ecofeminism,
and animal welfare.

McKenzie next considers environmentalism as a social movement and the
process by which conservation aims are translated into community action.
(The historical waves of conservation in the early 20th century, the
1960s, and more recent years underpin current issues such as “good
wood,” Ontario’s controversial Lands for Life program, and the
battle over genetically modified organisms.) She frames the governmental
role in environmental policy in terms of constitutional ambiguities,
political jurisdictions, the vicissitudes of federal and provincial
departments, and legislation on endangered species. Particularly
intriguing are attempts to harmonize federal and provincial efforts, and
issues such as whether voluntary compliance, which replaced earlier
“control and command” mechanisms, is functioning.

McKenzie’s critical examination of Canadian natural resources
includes fisheries, minerals, agriculture, forestry, and water.
Aboriginal fishing, the Whitehorse Mining Initiative, pesticides,
softwood, and water mining are all addressed, as are the problems of
acid rain and ozone depletion. A final chapter investigates the impact
of trade liberalization and multilateral agreements, including the Rio
Earth Summit, the demonstrations in Seattle, and cases such as the
tuna–dolphin case.

Tables, figures, and boxes highlighting points are well used, and each
chapter includes a list of readings and discussion points. McKenzie
dedicates the book to Rachel Carson, who would no doubt be pleased with
its contents.