Natural Resources Canada

Under the Constitution Act, 1867, primary responsibility for natural resources falls to provincial governments, however, the federal government has jurisdiction over off-shore resources, trade and commerce in natural resources, statistics, international relations, and boundaries. The department administers federal legislation relating to natural resources, including energy, forests, minerals and metals. The department also collaborates with American and Mexican government scientists, along with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, to produce the North American Environmental Atlas, which is used to depict and track environmental issues for a continental perspective.

The current minister of natural resources is Tim Hodgson. The department is governed by the Resources and Technical Surveys Act and the Department of Natural Resources Act.

Structure

The department currently has these sectors:

• Corporate Management and Services Sector
• Land and Minerals Sector
• Strategic Policy and Innovation Sector
• Low Carbon Energy Sector
• Energy Efficiency and Technology Sector
• Strategic Petroleum Policy and Investment Office
• Canadian Forest Service
• Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Sector
• Office of the Chief Scientist
• Major Projects Management Office
• Communications and Portfolio Sector
• Legal Services
• Audit and Evaluation Branch
• Geographical Names Board of Canada
• Space Weather Canada

The following sub-agencies are attached to the department:

• Canadian Forest Service
• Northern Pipeline Agency Canada
• Canada Energy Regulator
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Atomic Energy of Canada Limited