PORT
ROWAN, ON -- June 21, 2008 -- Canada's Environment
Minister, John Baird, and Canada's Minister
of Citizenship and Immigration and Member
of Parliament for Haldimand - Norfolk, Diane
Finley, today announced $677,037 in funding
to protect wild bird species at-risk, their
nests and their habitat. Work will be carried
out by Bird Studies Canada, a not-for-profit
organization that advances the understanding,
appreciation and conservation of wild birds
and their habitat in Canada.
"Our Government
is proud to support Bird Studies Canada
and the good work this organization is doing,"
said Minister Baird. "We know that
on-the-ground community action like this
achieves real results by using local expertise
to build stronger communities and a better
environment."
"The work by Bird
Studies Canada is a great example of action
for our community, by our community here
in Ontario and across Canada," said
Minister Finley. "With the work it's
doing to conserve our wild birds and important
wetland areas, Bird Studies Canada's is
bringing benefits to both the local and
global environment."
The funding for the
Bird Studies Canada will come from Environment
Canada's annual grants and contributions
program, and will support a number of important
projects, including:
• monitoring programs to measure the health
and status of wetlands where migratory birds
rest and nest and to monitor populations
of birds breeding in northern Canada;
• surveys of waterbirds and beachbirds in
the Maritimes and British Columbia to monitor
the health of bird populations and provide
early warning of environment problems such
as oil spills or disease;
• a program to engage volunteers in monitoring
nine species at risk in the Maritimes;
• developing data management and mapping
tools to more effectively present the results
of bird surveys for use by governments and
volunteer organizations such as Birds Studies
Canada;
• providing information on the conservation
and protection and undertaking surveys relating
to certain at-risk populations in Atlantic
Canada such as the Loggerhead Shrike, Hooded
Warblers and Acadian flycatchers, Piping
Plovers and more.
Funding for community-based environmental
improvement projects across the country
is provided through the community action
programs managed or co-managed by Environment
Canada. Community groups are encouraged
to become involved in these programs. For
more information, visit the Funding and
Incentives section of Environment Canada's
web site: www.ec.gc.ca
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Appoints
Chair to the National Round Table on the
Environment and the Economy
OTTAWA, ON -- June 17,
2008 -- Canada's Minister of the Environment,
John Baird, today announced the appointment
of Robert Page as chair of the National
Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
(NRTEE). This appointment is effective immediately.
"Mr. Page brings
with him a wealth of experience and expertise
that will continue to greatly complement
the work that the Round Table does,"
said Minister Baird. "As acting Chair
since March of this year, it is clear that
his combined abilities and understanding
of the issues that the NRTEE addresses make
him an ideal choice to help push forward
the Round Table's agenda."
NRTEE is dedicated to
exploring new opportunities to integrate
environmental conservation and economic
development in order to sustain Canada's
prosperity and secure its future. Its mandate
has recently been enhanced to provide advice
to Canada's Government on Turning the Corner:
An Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
and Air Pollution.
NRTEE was created in
October 1988 by then Prime Minister Brian
Mulroney and its independent role and mandate
were enshrined in the National Round Table
on the Environment and Economy Act. Its
members are drawn from distinguished leaders
in business and labour, universities, environmental
organizations, Aboriginal communities and
municipalities.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
Biography
Robert Page, is currently the TransAlta
Professor of Environmental Management and
Sustainability, Energy and Environmental
Systems Group, Institute for Sustainable
Energy, Environment, & Economy, University
of Calgary, where he is also an Adjunct
Professor in the Haskayne School of Business.
From 1997 to January
2007 he was the Vice President Sustainable
Development, TransAlta Corporation, Calgary
with operations in Canada, US, Mexico, and
Australia. Dr Page, led their efforts on
climate change, emissions, and sustainable
development.
Prior to joining TransAlta
in 1997, Dr. Page spent 25 years in consulting,
academic teaching and research. Most recently,
he was Dean of the Faculty of Environmental
Design at the University of Calgary, where
he taught in the Environmental Science program
Dr. Page is known nationally and internationally
for his work on energy and the environment
in areas such as climate change, emissions
trading, biodiversity and protected spaces,
environmental impact assessment, and policy
and regulation.
He is Chair of the Board
of Directors of BIOCAP Canada, a national
research partnership on biological carbon
capture and bio-energy, and a past Chair
of the Board of the International Emissions
Trading Association (Geneva). Dr. Page also
chaired the Banff Bow Valley Study (federal
inquiry into the ecological intensity of
Banff National Park) and served on the Alberta
Special Places 2000 Committee.
Dr. Page's activities
have been varied, and have included the
Board of Directors of Clean Air Strategic
Alliance of Alberta (CASA), the International
Institute for Sustainable Development, the
Business Environmental Leadership Council,
(Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Washington,
DC) and the Canadian Water Network. He is
also a member of the Environment Committee
of the National Chamber of Commerce and
the Banff Calgary Board of the Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society.
Dr. Page has served
for the Government of Canada in international
negotiations on the Conference of the Parties
for Kyoto, the NAFTA negotiations, and trade
and the environment. He is the author of
many articles and several books on energy
and the environment, and has been recognized
nationally and internationally for his work.
Dr. Page holds an honours
Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master of Arts
degree from Queen's University and a doctorate
(international relations) from Oxford University.
He and his wife Jocelyne spend free time
roaming the wilds of the Rockies and the
Shield Country of Ontario.
+ More
Government of Canada
Takes Action to Protect Important Land in
Southern Alberta
LETHBRIDGE, AB -- June
18, 2008 -- Rick Casson, Member of Parliament
for Lethbridge today joined representatives
from the Nature Conservancy of Canada and
local ranchers of the Milk River Ridge in
announcing the conservation of globally
significant habitat in the foothills fescue
grasslands of Alberta.
"Our Government is taking real action
to conserve Canada 's natural treasures,"
said Minister Baird. "The Sandstone
Ranch project is an excellent example of
federal funds creating a strong stewardship
partnership that will not only conserve
species at risk and their habitats but will
also complement and support existing ranching
operations."
The land, totaling1,700
hectares (4,200 acres), is home to a number
of Canada's species at risk, including the
Sprague's Pipit songbird, Western Silvery
Minnows and the Western Blue Flag iris.
In addition, nearby Ross and Reed Lakes
and their associated uplands, including
Sandstone Ranch, provide critical nesting
habitat for waterfowl, especially Northern
Pintail ducks. The preservation of this
land takes Canada one step closer to delivering
on the trilateral North American Waterfowl
Management Plan."
"This is the kind
of natural legacy that makes Canada so unique
and I'm proud to be part of a government
making it happen," said Mr. Casson.
"It is important that we preserve unique
places such as the Sandstone Ranch for future
generations so that they too can understand
and appreciate our natural environment."
The Natural Areas Conservation
Program is an important on-the-ground initiative
that takes real action to preserve Canada's
environment and conserve its precious natural
heritage for present and future generations.
Already, 70 properties totaling more than
9,000 hectares have been acquired coast
to coast, resulting in the protection of
over 50 species at risk, such as rare turtles,
the Ram's Head Lady-Slipper (a globally
threatened orchid), the Monarch Butterfly,
and the Blue Racer Snake. The program is
expected to result in the long-term protection
of up to half a million acres of ecologically
sensitive land across southern Canada.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Governments Take Action
for Cleaner Air: Air Quality Alert System
Launched in Saint John and Southern New
Brunswick
SAINT JOHN, NB -- June
25, 2008 -- Veteran's Affairs Minister Greg
Thompson and New Brunswick Health Minister
Michael Murphy today announced that the
world's first Air Quality Health Indexis
now available to residents of Saint John,
New Brunswick.
"Canadians are
entitled to clean air, to know the quality
of the air they breathe and what they can
do to reduce the harmful impacts of air
pollution," said Minister Thompson.
"A year ago our Government announced
$30 million to establish an alert system
across the country to provide Canadians
with the help they need to protect their
families. This investment, combined with
our Turning the Corner plan to cut air pollution
from industry by 50 per cent, shows how
serious we are about cleaning up the air
we breathe and improving the health of Canadians."
Canada's Air Quality
Health Index, found at www.airhealth.ca,
provides real time information to Canadians
about the quality of the air they're breathing.
It is an effective tool to help individuals
understand the health risks posed by air
pollution, and help Canadians take action
to protect their families. The project is
supported jointly by the Governments of
Canada and New Brunswick.
New Brunswick Health
Minister Michael Murphy said the new Air
Quality Health Index will better serve the
population of Saint John than the existing
air quality index because the new index
associates air quality with health risk.
"Based on how their
body reacts to different levels, individuals
and caregivers can decide what steps they
should take to protect their health on a
particular day or hour. This may mean reducing
or rescheduling outdoor physical activities
or monitoring symptoms more closely,"
Murphy said. "I encourage Saint John
residents take advantage of this tool in
order to better protect their health."
Air quality data from
several air monitoring stations in Saint
John operated by the New Brunswick Department
of Environment will be used to determine
the Air Quality Health Index value for Saint
John each hour of the day.
"It was recognized
several years ago that we needed a better
tool to inform people about the health effects
associated with air quality." Environment
Minister Roland Haché said. "I
am pleased that the Department of Environment
has been actively involved in this collaborative
effort for the new air quality initiative."
The Saint John Index
is innovative as it will have information
when persistent pollutants such as Sulphur
Dioxide or Total Reduced Sulphur are present.
The experience gained in developing this
procedure will be invaluable to other Canadian
communities that have similar local pollution
concerns.
With federal funding
of $30 million over four years, the Air
Quality Health Index will be rolled out
to other mid- and large-sized communities
across the country. Federal partnerships
with municipal and provincial governments
and non-governmental organizations are key
to the program's success. In New Brunswick,
air quality monitoring data and assistance
with forecasting is provided by the New
Brunswick Department of Environment. Provincial
and municipal health authorities and non-government
community-based organizations will help
respond to public concerns about air quality
and convey information about how the Index
can help residents protect their health.
This announcement complements
the Government's other clean air initiatives
including the launch of a national vehicle
scrappage program to get smog-producing
cars off the road, tough new emissions standards
to reduce air pollution from cars and limits
on smog-producing chemicals in everyday
products.
For more information about the Government
of Canada's environmental initiatives, please
visit: http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca
Laryssa Waler
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health
