Atlantic Canada has experienced considerable wetland loss over the past 300 years. Federal and provincial governments have responded with wetland conservation policies, regulations and other legislative tools. This paper reviews current wetland conservation policies in Atlantic Canada and explores the feasibility of a coordinated federal-provincial approach to wetland compensation in the region. The analysis indicates that although policies differ somewhat in goals and application, there is strong consensus support for the mitigation hierarchy of avoidance, minimization and compensation. It is concluded that there is also a solid policy basis for a coordinated approach to decisions regarding compensation mechanisms, ratios and monitoring in Atlantic Canada.