Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) seeks to enhance the responsible development and use of Canada’s natural resources and the competitiveness of Canada’s natural resources products. They are an established leader in science and technology in the fields of energy, forests, and minerals and metals and use our expertise in earth sciences to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base of their landmass.
NRCan develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
They conduct innovative science in facilities across Canada to generate ideas and transfer technologies. They also represent Canada at the international level to meet the country's global commitments related to the sustainable development of natural resources.
Their Vision: Improving the quality of life of Canadians by creating a sustainable resource advantage
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) traces its beginnings back to the founding of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) on April 14, 1842 - a full 25 years before Confederation.
As the forerunner of NRCan, the GSC laid the groundwork for the success of our natural resources sectors. Over the years, as Canada grew, its mandate was divided among a number of government agencies. Today, with the establishment of NRCan in 1994, the department mirrors the original GSC in many respects - dealing with a breadth of natural resources issues and helping ensure the sustainable development of our natural resources for the benefit of all Canadians.
The GSC was established for the express purpose of preparing an inventory and assessment of the mineral wealth of the Province of Canada (then comprising southern Ontario and Quebec). It was also charged with observing its soils and waters. Indeed, the GSC's mandate was to gather information that would best foster economic development of mineral resources, stimulate new industry, and attract immigrants to agriculturally important lands.
The geologists responsible for carrying out this mandate faced a daunting task that grew as huge new territories were added to the evolving entity of Canada. Carrying out fieldwork in uncharted, trackless wilderness involved much hardship, deprivation and danger. As Sir William Logan, the founder of the GSC, was quoted in The Times of London in 1862,
Few persons can imagine the arduous nature of this work. Our indomitable geologist is often compelled to penetrate the trackless primeval forest, to force his way across the tangled cedar swamp, and brave the dangers of the Canadian Rapids in a frail canoe; and to these difficulties we may add that his path is disputed at every step by the most relentless and invincible foes with which man in these regions has to contend - countless hosts of mosquitoes and black flies. 1
The official duties of the early geologists - gathering data on Canada's land mass - became submerged in the broader role of explorer of new lands. Along with rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and waters, they brought back information on the flora, fauna and peoples that they met in their travels.
The specimens and artifacts that geologists sent back from the field are now part of collections held by NRCan, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. The three museums trace their beginnings to the small geological museum that Sir William Logan opened to the public in the 1850s.
