Canada has a critical opportunity in Budget 2026 to turn ambition into action and lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient economy rooted in one of our greatest advantages: nature.
Amid growing pressure to strengthen sovereignty and competitiveness, 96% of Canadians want governments to position nature as a valuable economic asset. The unrealized value provided by Canada’s forests, farmlands and waters can help deliver the federal government’s Build Canada Strong mandate and A Force of Nature vision. The challenge now is ensuring the right systems, data, investment tools and partnerships are in place to unlock the value of nature as a driver of long-term prosperity.
Canada's Nature Advantage has worked with producers, Indigenous governments and organizations, investors, researchers, industry and governments to better understand the barriers to investment in nature-positive economic activity. Our 2026 Budget submission outlines five practical recommendations that can help unlock $10 billion in private investment in nature-positive working landscapes by 2030, strengthen rural and Indigenous economies, and build the foundation of a thriving nature economy. These recommendations are supported by a strong majority of Canadians across regions, demographics, and political affiliations.
Count Nature as an Asset. Treating natural assets more consistently with other forms of capital would align Canada with emerging international standards, improve transparency, and orient financing towards broader economic, infrastructure, societal and climate objectives. 74% support governments measuring the economic value of natural assets when preparing budgets and investment plans.
Create Interoperable Data Architecture. Standardized and interoperable data and valuation systems would enable investments in nature-based projects, support high-integrity nature markets and ensure informed decision- and policymaking. 75% support federal investment in environmental data systems.
De-Risk Early Investment. Targeted incentives and capital stacking structures would help farmers, foresters, and land managers adopt stewardship practices, while building project portfolios capable of attracting capital at scale. 81% support tax incentives that accelerate adoption.
Build Reliable Credit Markets. A well-functioning nature-based credit market would create durable revenue streams that reward stewardship, attract private investment and accelerate the deployment of nature-positive projects across Canada's working landscapes. 69% support regulated carbon credit systems that create new revenue opportunities.
Anchor policy in Indigenous rights. Expanded Indigenous ownership, access to capital, and revenue-sharing opportunities, including through dedicated financing tools and market incentives, would improve market integrity, reduce investment risk and support long-term economic development and reconciliation. 68% support expanding Indigenous participation and ownership.
Canada's Nature Advantage has proposed a Forest Credit Market Strategy as a flagship use case for the Five Building Blocks advanced in our pre-budget submission. By bringing together catalytic finance, credit enhancement, Indigenous partnership, project development support and environmental market infrastructure, the Strategy would demonstrate how targeted public investment can crowd in private capital and accelerate the growth of investable nature-positive projects. The Strategy could be delivered through a dedicated allocation within the forest-sector measures expected in Budget 2026, rather than through new spending. By piloting new approaches to de-risking Indigenous-led sustainable forest management and forestry credit projects, it would help build the pipeline of opportunities needed to attract investment at scale while advancing the objectives of both Build Canada Strong and A Force of Nature.
We envision a future where Canada’s natural wealth becomes a source of enduring prosperity, resilience and competitive advantage for generations to come. Budget 2026 is an opportunity to bring this vision to life by setting the foundation for a national economy that helps people and nature thrive together.