TORONTO, Ontario, March
16, 2007 –The Governments of Canada and
Ontario are building on the accomplishments
of the current Canada-Ontario Agreement
Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
(COA) to continue to improve and protect
the Great Lakes, their waters and their
ecosystem.
To demonstrate this commitment to continued
cooperation, Federal Environment Minister
John Baird and Ontario Environment Minister
Laurel Broten today released a draft COA
for 2007-2010 for public comment that commits
the two governments to continue to work
together in the Great Lakes Basin.
Specifically, the new agreement will clean
up Areas of Concern, eliminate or significantly
reduce harmful pollutants and protect and
restore the basin’s biodiversity. In addition,
two new areas of special focus that will
benefit from enhanced cooperative work in
the Great Lakes Basin are understanding
climate change impacts, and protecting the
Great Lakes as a source of drinking water.
“Continuing the cooperative work under
the Canada-Ontario Agreement reflects our
commitment to pursue practical, results-oriented
solutions to reduce pollution and improve
the health and well-being of Canadians,”
said Minister Baird. “The quality of our
water is essential to the economy and the
health of our aquatic ecosystems.”
“The Great Lakes are a precious and vital
resource for millions of people in Ontario
and one of the most biologically diverse
regions in Canada,” said Minister Broten.
“This agreement will allow us to continue
to deal with the issues facing the Great
Lakes, including protecting the aquatic
ecosystems and to help us deal with challenges
ranging from threats to our drinking water
to the impacts of climate change.”
The COA will enhance awareness and stewardship
of the Great Lakes by promoting greater
involvement of COA partners and stakeholders
in implementing the agreement and promoting
the sustainability of Great Lakes communities.
The coordination of monitoring, research
and information-sharing will also be improved.
The current five-year COA expires this
year. The renewed three-year COA will contribute
to meeting Canada’s obligations under the
Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
which is currently under review by both
countries. A new COA beyond 2010 would reflect
the outcomes of that review.
In the coming weeks, the two governments
will look for ways to involve the Canadian
Great Lakes community over the next three
years in developing a vision for the longer-term
future of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem.
Both governments are seeking public input
on the draft COA. The deadline for written
comments is May 16, 2007. The Agreement
is available onEnvironment Canada's website
at: www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/agreements.
It is available through Ontario’s Environmental
Registry at www.ebr.gov.on.ca under the
EBR number 010-0063. The provincial comment
period begins today while the federal government’s
comment period begins March 17, 2007 when
the Notice of Intent is published in the
Canada Gazette, Part I.
For more information on COA and the Great
Lakes Basin ecosystem please visit: www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes.
Eric Richer / Press Secretary / Office of
the Minister of the Environment
Anne O’Hagan / Office of the Ontario Minister
of the Environment
John Steele / Ontario Ministry of the Environment
+ More
Canada's New Government Provides $1 Million
for Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park Restoration
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, March 15, 2007 –The
Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Minister for the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency, today announced Canada’s
New Government’s is contributing $1 million
toward the reforestation of Point Pleasant
Park in Halifax. Minister MacKay was speaking
on behalf of the Honourable John Baird,
Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable
Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources.
“Canada’s New Government is making this
contribution so that Canadians and visitors
from around the world can once again fully
enjoy this natural treasure,” said Minister
MacKay. “I am proud to be involved in helping
make this happen. Once again this Government
is delivering real results for Nova Scotians
and Atlantic Canadians.”
"Together with the people of Halifax
and Dartmouth, this Government recognizes
that Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park is a
treasure that must be restored from the
devastation caused by Hurricane Juan,” said
Minister Baird. “Today is one more step
to ensure the regeneration of the forest’s
ecosystem and biodiversity for the benefit
of current and future generations.”
When Hurricane Juan struck Point Pleasant
Park on September 29, 2003, an estimated
75,000 trees -- more than 70 percent of
the park’s forest -- were downed or damaged
by the storm.
“Healthy urban forests contribute to healthy
cities and improve the quality of our lives
in many ways,” said Minister Lunn. “The
restoration of Point Pleasant Park is important
for the Halifax Regional Municipality and
its residents, and this funding shows our
government’s commitment to taking real action
to produce real results.”
Point Pleasant Park is one of our municipality’s
greatest natural assets and one of the most
loved and well-used parks in Canada,” said
Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter
Kelly. “This funding will help us restore
the health of Point Pleasant Park so that
HRM citizens and visitors can continue to
enjoy and take full advantage of this wonderful
resource.”
Hurricane Juan swept across Nova Scotia
early on September 29, 2003 before weakening
to tropical-storm strength as it approached
Prince Edward Island. The brunt of the storm
was borne by Halifax Regional Municipality,
and particularly Point Pleasant Park. The
damage to the city and the park shocked
Canadians, as well as the Nova Scotians
who were directly affected. To ensure the
public’s immediate safety, the Government
provided funding for the initial cleanup
of the park through the Disaster Financial
Assistance Arrangements program.
Point Pleasant Park is federal land that
is leased to the Halifax Regional Municipality
by Parks Canada, which owns and operates
the Prince of Wales National Historic Site,
located in the Park.
Eric Richer / Press Secretary / Office of
the Minister of the Environment
Kathleen Olson / Acting Director of Communications
/ Office of the Minister
Canada's New Government Announces Ecotrust
Funding for Northwest Territories
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, March
11, 2007 -- The Honourable John Baird, Canada's
Minister of the Environment, joined by Northwest
Territories Premier Joseph Handley, today
announced that Canada's New Government intends
to provide the Government of the Northwest
Territories with $5 million as part of the
new Canada ecoTrust, which supports provincial
and territorial projects that will help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and
air pollution. The NWT may also use these
funds to adapt to a changing climate.
"Canada's New Government is working
with all governments to protect environment
for Canadians and reduce air pollution,"
said Minister Baird. "Today's announcement
recognizes the important initiatives of
the Northwest Territories to deliver measurable
progress that benefits all Canadians."
"Our experience tells us the North
is being impacted by climate change much
more quickly than other parts of Canada.
NWT residents are prepared to take a leadership
role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,"
Premier Handley said. "We are very
pleased to join forces with Canada to take
action to address this critical issue. It
will take a concerted effort by all Canadians
to make the changes needed -- but we can
do it by working together".
Northwest Territories' funding under the
Canada ecoTrust is intended to support projects
relating to energy conservation and efficiency,
alternative and emerging technologies as
well as development of hydro-electric resources.
The Government of the Northwest Territories
has indicated it will use Canada ecoTrust
funding to move forward on several territorial
projects which may include:
Development of hydro resources including
mini-hydro-electric plants to service the
small isolated communities of Whati and
Lutselk'e;
Energy conservation activities to reduce
household consumption of fossil fuels;
An Energy Efficiency Financing Program that
supports residents in making energy-saving
investments in their homes, appliances and
vehicles;
Establishment of alternative energy projects
utilizing wind and heat pumps; and
Utilization of residual heating systems
and surplus hydro capacity to heat public
buildings.
The Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate
Change will be designed to allow each province
and territory to develop technology, energy
efficiency, and other projects that will
provide real results. The Government of
Canada will work with all provinces and
territories to fully develop this new, national
fund.
Canada's New Government is already taking
concrete action to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollution by committing
to implement aggressive regulations to reduce
emissions in all industrial sectors and
bring in new initiatives in the energy and
transportation sectors. Northwest Territories'
ongoing and new initiatives, supported by
the Canada ecoTrust, will complement those
efforts.
The Canada ecoTrust will be established
using part of the anticipated 2006-07 budgetary
surplus. Resources for the Canada ecoTrust
initiative will consist of $1.5 billion
of new funding on a national basis. This
funding will be contained in the upcoming
budget and is a part of the actions being
taken on the fiscal imbalance. This new
funding will be available as soon as Parliament
approves the budget.
Eric Richer / Press Secretary / Office of
the Minister of the Environment
Julia Mott / Cabinet Communications / Office
of the Premier
