Highlights

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Businesses operating in Canada spent $8.6 billion in 2006 to protect the environment. Following a long-standing trend, the largest share of these expenditures was spent to deal with pollutants after they were created.
The oil and gas extraction industry spent more on environmental protection than any other industry, accounting for almost one-third of the total. Provincially, Alberta businesses spent the most to protect the environment, once again surpassing Ontario, the largest spender up until 2002.
Of the $3.8 billion in capital expenditures made for environmental protection, just over 40% was for pollution prevention.
The oil and gas extraction industry invested more than any other industry to protect the environment. Investments by Canadian oil and gas producers, most of which operate in Alberta, in areas such as pollution abatement and control, waste management, pollution prevention, and reclamation and decommissioning totalled over $1.7 billion in 2006.
Nationally, the petroleum and coal products industry was the second largest investor in environmental protection ($596 million) as that industry continued to upgrade refineries to meet new sulphur regulations.
Provincially, businesses in Alberta spent the most in capital to protect the environment ($1.9 billion), followed by Ontario ($827 million) and Quebec ($371 million). The large investments in Alberta are mainly due to high expenditures made by the oil and gas extraction industry.
Operating expenditures for environmental protection were mostly directed towards waste management and sewerage services ($1.7 billion) followed by pollution abatement and control ($1.0 billion).
The oil and gas extraction industry had the highest operating expenditures for 2006, mainly for site reclamation and decommissioning. Provincially, Ontario led the way followed closely by Alberta; $1.6 billion and $1.3 billion respectively.
Businesses spent close to $2 billion in 2006 on technologies that improve energy efficiency or reduce the use of fossil fuels. Examples include technologies such as cogeneration, waste energy recovery, solar energy and energy management systems.