Ottawa Insider

As the United Nations biodiversity conference in Montreal nears its end, Canadian federal politicians are weighing in on the corporate, big-money influence that can shape negotiations.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU environment commissioner and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault remain optimistic the United Nations biodiversity conference in Montreal will result in an ambitious plan to protect nature, but developing countries appear unwilling to move forward without financing commitments from wealthy countries.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s opening speech at COP15 was interrupted by a group of Indigenous protesters playing drums and singing “Canada is on native land” and “climate leaders don’t build pipelines.”

Canada supports the goals of the European Union's forestry trade rules, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says, after a leaked letter recently revealed the country's efforts to water down proposed regulations right before the United Nations' global biodiversity conference kicks off in Montreal.