The Ministry of Environment (or equivalent) is the provincial government department responsible for environmental protection including air and water quality, pollution control, waste management, and conservation. The ministry sets environmental standards, issues permits for activities with environmental impacts, enforces regulations, and responds to contamination incidents. Municipalities interact extensively with environmental ministries on matters like landfill approvals, wastewater treatment permits, stormwater management, and contaminated site remediation. Provincial environmental regulations directly affect municipal infrastructure operations and development approvals. Environmental ministry policies on issues like single-use plastics or greenhouse gas emissions also influence municipal environmental programs.