Ecological Nation

At the quarter mark of the twenty-first century Canada faces two existential threats: runaway climate change and the rising global tide of right-authoritarian imperialism. The inextricable relationship between the two threats requires clear vision and bold policy as Canada reconceives its future.

Arguing that peace, order, and good government form the cornerstone of Canada’s national identity, Byron Williston revives the vision of philosopher George Grant to explore how these values can guide Canada in reimagining its identity across its own regions, within the North American context, and in the global political order. In a work that lays out a positive vision for Canada rooted in the ideal of an ecological nation, Williston argues that this country faces a stark choice between this ideal and absorption into the American empire. The key is a refined governance model addressing the failed history of Canadian climate policy and overcoming the false belief that Canada is essentially a land of inexhaustible resources. The nation-building project described here will both benefit all Canadians and avoid capture by the forces of social and political regression. It will help secure a sovereign and flourishing future for this country.

The challenges Canada faces are profound. To meet them the country must engage fully with the eco-national project. While daunting, this moment provides a unique opportunity for Canada to link its national well-being to that of planetary health and to create a singularly Canadian political ethic informed by Indigenous knowledge and developed in step with the ongoing project of reconciliation

Author Biography

Byron Williston has published extensively on environmental ethics, the climate crisis, and Canadian environmental and climate policy. He teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University and lives in Kitchener, ON.