RED
DEER, July 8, 2006 – The Honourable Rona Ambrose,
Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible
for the Parks Canada Agency, today announced the
signing of two contribution agreements with Nature
Canada valued at more than one million dollars.
The announcement was made at Nature Canada’s Annual
General Meeting, in Red Deer, Alberta.
This significant financial contribution
will support an on-the-ground investigation by
Nature Canada as to how to best develop a comprehensive
nature network – bringing together naturalists,
conservation organizations and land trusts from
across Canada. Together, these organizations will
be able to work in concert on conservation issues
that are important to all Canadians.
“We are interested in real,
tangible results for Canadians and for our environment,”
said Minister Ambrose. “The Government of Canada’s
contribution announcement today will go a long
way towards making our shared conservation goals
a reality, and I am excited about working with
Nature Canada on this important endeavour.”
“I am also pleased to announce
that today’s announcement is a joint initiative
between Environment Canada and the Parks Canada
Agency,” added Minister Ambrose.
Parks Canada is responsible
for the ecological integrity of Canada’s national
parks, the sustainable use of national marine
conservation areas and the commemorative integrity
of national historic sites. It is also responsible
for public education opportunities and meaningful
visitor experiences. Environment Canada is responsible
for the administration and implementation of the
Species at Risk Act, an important tool for the
conservation and protection of species at risk.
Both Environment Canada and the Agency depend
on strong alliances such as the one we are announcing
today to accomplish this important work.
Over 14 months, there will be
a participatory process of exploration, identification
and assessment of current activities of over 360
local and provincial nature groups across Canada,
as well as consultation with national conservation
organizations and provincial land trusts on the
development of a national alliance on conservation.
At the end of this process,
a strategic plan will be developed outlining how
a Canadian Nature Network could effectively engage
the conservation community in the long-term to
participate in policy discussions on important
national issues and implement nature conservation
priorities on the ground.
Nature Canada, formerly known
as the Canadian Nature Federation, is a large
environmental non-governmental organization that
works to conserve and protect Canada’s natural
diversity of plant and animal species and their
environment.
