OTTAWA,
Ontario, May 22, 2008 -- Canada's Environment
Minister, John Baird, and Canada's Agriculture
and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz, today
marked the 2008 International Day for Biological
Diversity by highlighting Canada's achievements
in protecting the diversity of life and
using biological resources sustainably.
"Canada is a country
of unmatched and abundant natural treasures
and we have to preserve that wealth,"
said Minister Baird. "As the first
industrialized country to ratify the Convention
on Biological Diversity and as host to the
Biodiversity Secretariat, Prime Minister
Harper and our Government have takenaction
by establishing massive areas of protected
land and water, including the world's largest
freshwater protected area in Lake Superior.
This action has increased our total protected
land area to well beyond the 10% target
for 2010."
"Canadian farmers
are proud to be the stewards of our land,
and this Government is joining with them
to protect that land," said Minister
Ritz. "Farmers are taking action with
the Environmental Farm Planning program,
they are adopting good practices that reduce
agricultural risk and they are benefiting
from this Government's realistic biofuels
policy. Environmental protection and sustainabilitybenefits
us all through the air we breathe, the water
we drink, and the land that grows our food."
This year's theme for
the International Day for Biological Diversity,
"Biodiversity and Agriculture"
is particularly relevant in Canada where
the federal government is actively working
with the agricultural sector to increase
understanding and awareness of the conservation
of natural biodiversity on agricultural
land.
In the past year, the
Government has taken action on major biodiversity
and conservation initiatives, such as:
Adopting, with 168 other
countries, the Global Plan of Action for
Farm Animal Genetic Resources, an international
framework to help meet challenges in animal
production, such as environmental change,
disease threats, human nutritional requirements,
fluctuating markets or changing societal
needs;
Massively expanding the Nahanni National
Park Reserve;
Majorland withdrawals on the East Arm of
Great Slave Lake, as well as the Ramparts
River and Wetlands;
$30 million to protect the Great Bear Rainforest
in British Columbia; and,
$225 million for the Nature Conservancy
of Canada to preserve and conserve up to
half a million acres of land across the
country.
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 the
International Day for Biological Diversity
to increase understanding and awareness
of biodiversity issues.
+ More
Strahl Announces Improvements
to BC's Early Warning System: Tsunami Warnings
to Protect the Safety of British Columbians
VANCOUVER, May 22, 2008-
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern Development
and Federal Interlocutor for Métis
and Non-Status Indians today announced that
the Government of Canada is taking further
action to protect the safety of British
Columbians by adding a Tsunami warning and
watch to the Weatheradio system for Vancouver
Island.
"Ensuring the safety
and security of Canadians is a top priority
for our Government," said Minister
Strahl. "Today announcement means we
are enhancing our early warning system to
meet the needs of British Columbia. By instituting
a tsunami warning system we will ensure
those living on the coast are kept informed
of every possible situation so they can
make the right decisions to protect their
families."
"During an emergency
every second counts, and the enhancement
of the existing BC Tsunami Warning System
announced today could mean the difference
between life and death," said the Honourable
Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources.
"We are giving Canadians the tools
needed to help protect their health, their
safety and their personal property."
With a newly installed
Weatheradio station in place on Mount Ozzard,
residents and visitors to the communities
of Tofino, Ucluelet and Bamfield will be
able to receive Weatheradio broadcasts on
their Weatheradio receivers. By early July
2008, the broadcast capability will also
be available to the BC Provincial Emergency
Program for use as part of its tsunami warning
notification system.
"While tsunamis
are rare, we want to be sure British Columbia
is prepared in the event one occurs along
our coast," said BC Minister of Public
Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen.
"This system extends the coverage of
British Columbia's tsunami warning system
providing greater protection for visitors
and residents along British Columbia's coastline."
When Environment Canada
meteorological staff receive notification
of a tsunami warning from the BC Provincial
Emergency Program, they will activate transmission
of the tsunami warning or watch on weather
dissemination systems, including the Weatheroffice
website, Automated Telephone Answering Devices,
Media Weather Services website, and the
Weatheradio network.
Environment Canada currently
uses this same technology to issue severe
weather warnings and watches to government
agencies, the media and the public.
A tsunami warning or
watch carried on Environment Canada's networks
will be either a text or voice message (depending
on the type of communication service) advising
that the BC Provincial Emergency Program
has issued a tsunami warning or watch.
Weatheradio is one way
that the general public can take responsibility
for their personal safety. Individuals can
purchase Weatheradios that can be programmed
to receive a specific tone from Environment
Canada broadcasting stations when a tsunami
warning or watch is issued. Weatheradio
receivers behave like smoke detectors, silently
monitoring and then alerting the public
to the initial warning message, providing
more time to respond to the event. Some
models activate flashing warning lights
and bed vibrators for the sight and hearing
impaired.
The enhancement of the
existing BC Tsunami Warning System announced
today is the result of a high degree of
collaboration between federal, provincial
and local agencies led by the BC Provincial
Emergency Program, Environment Canada and
Public Safety Canada, including the essential
participation and work from the Canadian
Coast Guard.
For more information:
To learn more about visit Environment Canada's
weather dissemination systems visit the
web site at: http://www.msc.ec.gc.ca/weather/contents_e.html
For more information
about the British Columbia Tsunami Warning
System, visit the Provincial Emergency Program's
Web site at: www.pep.bc.ca.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Canadian Hurricane Centre
Ready to Face 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season
HALIFAX, NS, May 22,
2008 - Environment Canada's Canadian Hurricane
Centre is making sure that Canadians are
prepared for another active year for hurricanes
in the Atlantic Ocean.
"Numerous international
forecast centres have declared that this
year will fall in line with the general
trend of the last decade," says Peter
Bowyer, Program Manager of the Canadian
Hurricane Centre.
Predictions from the
United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, ColoradoState University's
Tropical Cyclone Lab and the Tropical Storm
Risk Initiative in the United Kingdom predicts
that there is a high probability that hurricane
activity in the Atlantic will be near or
above normal for the 2008 hurricane season.
Canadians have learned
that in any given year, it takes only one
hurricane to inflict great damage to an
area and change our perceptions about our
vulnerabilities to hurricanes. Accordingly,
Environment Canada encourages Canadians
to be storm-ready for hurricane season,
prepare the same way each year, and then
watch and listen for Environment Canada's
hurricane bulletins on the internet at weatheroffice.gc.ca,
on Weatheradio, or through their local media.
Last year, two tropical
cyclones or their remnants entered Canadian
waters. Post-tropical storm Chantal passed
over south eastern Newfoundland, while post-tropical
storm Noel tracked through the Maritimes
and Labrador.
Chantal brought flooding
rains of 200 mm causing several municipalities
to declare local states of emergency. Noel
carried hurricane-force winds (135 km/h)
and the most powerful coastal waves seen
along Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast in decades,
causing severe coastal damage and resulting
in at least one fatality.
Hurricane season officially
runs from June through November when the
waters of the Atlantic are warm enough to
produce tropical cyclones. Hurricanes typically
start to really affect Canadian waters a
bit later in the season; however, the Centre
maintains a year-round vigil.
Environment Canada is
responsible for issuing severe weather watches
and warnings in Canada for conditions like
torrential rain, strong winds, storm surges
and high waves that tropical systems like
hurricanes can bring.
Peter Bowyer / Program Manager / Canadian
Hurricane Centre / Environment Canada
