OTTAWA-
May 7, 2008 - Canada's Environment Minister
John Baird, today welcomed the announcement
by Auditor General Sheila Fraser of the
new Commissioner of the Environment and
Sustainable Development, Mr. Scott Vaughan.
"Accountability
and oversight is an important keystone of
responsible government," said Baird.
"That is also important when it comes
to ensuring the health of our environment.
That's why I look forward to working with
Mr. Vaughan now and in the future."
"I have already
spoken to Mr. Vaughan and will be meeting
with him at the earliest opportunity to
have a good discussion with him about the
positive work our Government is doing to
protect and preserve our environment,"
said Baird. "Whether it's fighting
climate change, taking action to protect
wildlife, conserving massive amounts of
parkland across Canada, moving forward on
clean water, our Government is taking real
action for our environment."
"I would also like
to thank Mr. Ron Thompson for his work as
interim Commissioner," concluded Baird.
"Ron Thompson served many years in
the Office of the Auditor General and is
a good example of the quality of Canada's
public service. Our Government wishes him
the best in his retirement."
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
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Ministers Clement and
Baird Recognize World Asthma Day and Asthma
Awareness Month
OTTAWA - Canada's Health
and Environment Ministers, Tony Clement
and John Baird, issued the following statement
today on World Asthma Day, in recognition
of the month of May as Asthma Awareness
Month.
"Asthma continues
to be a serious respiratory disease that
affects Canadians of all ages across the
country. In the past two years, our Government
has invested in new Made-in-Canada initiatives
that willhelp to improve the respiratory
health of Canadians," said Minister
Clement. "For example, we established
the world's first Air Quality Health Index
to better inform Canadians about the state
of air pollution, we expanded Canada's Air
Quality Forecast Program,and we partnered
with the Canadian Lung Association to develop
a national action plan to prevent and manage
respiratory diseases in Canada."
"While asthma is
clearly a health issue, it is also an environmental
issue. That's why last April, we launched
our Turning the Corner Action Plan to tackle
air pollution and reduce greenhouse gases,"
said Minister Baird. "Canada is one
of the only countries in the world taking
action at the same time on both air pollution
and greenhouse gases, and for the first
time ever our Government will require industry
to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
and air pollutants."
"We ask all Canadians
to join us on May 6 and throughout May in
recognizing the importance of asthma awareness
and protecting our respiratory health,"
concluded Ministers Clement and Baird. "To
learn more about how you can take part in
Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma
Day, we encourage you to visit the Global
Initiative for Asthma Web site."
Public Health Agency of Canada: Asthma
Health Canada, It's Your Health: Asthma
The Government's ecoACTION website: www.ecoaction.gc.ca
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Takes Action
to Watch Red River Water Levels: Upgrades
to Local Monitoring Station to Help Protect
our Communities
SELKIRK, Manitoba -
May 2, 2008 --Member of Parliament James
Bezan and Selkirk MLA Greg Dewar, on behalf
of Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro
Greg Selinger, announced today an investment
of $40 000 to establish and upgrade water
monitoring equipment along the Red River
in Selkirk.
"Our Government
is taking action for the people of Selkirk
and Manitobans all along the Red River,"
said Mr. Bezan. "Today's announcement
will provide Manitobans and our Government
with the right tools to protect our environment
and more accurately forecast water levels
and potential flooding. This will help save
lives and protect our communities, homes
and property."
"This is an important
step as we upgrade equipment that allows
Water Stewardship staff to better monitor
water levels and flows so we can gauge how
best to preserve this precious resource,"
said Mr. Dewar. "Our goal is to ensure
Manitobans maintain an abundance of high
quality water to meet present and future
needs. Data from the new equipment will
be very useful to water managers for a variety
of purposes such as monitoring Ice jams
at Selkirk, determining inflows to Lake
Winnipeg and determining the magnitude of
Red River flows through Winnipeg and via
the Red River Floodway."
The federal and provincial
governments will each contribute $20,000
toward the cost of the upgrade. This new
equipment and technology will give Manitobans
access to real time information on the internet
about water levels and flow rates in the
Red River. This information is an essential
tool for flood forecasting, for industry,
local residents and for water quality research
and knowledge. Manitoba Hydro also uses
the information from this station in operations
at its thermal generating plant at Selkirk.
"Manitoba Hydro
is pleased to partner with the federal and
provincial government to add this equipment
at Selkirk," said Bob Brennan, President
and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. "It will
report on water flows on the Red River and
enable us, with great accuracy, to meet
our licence requirements for the operation
of the Selkirk Generating Station."
This announcement builds
on the action the Government of Canada has
already taken to protect and preserve Manitoba's
water. Actions like investing $18 million
to help clean up Lake Winnipeg and banning
high concentrations of phosphates in household
products to reduce blue-green algae growth
in Lake Winnipeg.
Environment Canada Media Relations
