VANCOUVER
(British Columbia) July 24, 2008 -- Canada's
Environment Minister John Baird, Member
of Parliament for Kootenay -- Columbia Jim
Abbott and representatives from the Nature
Conservancy of Canada today jointly announced
that more than 550 square kilometres of
ecologically significant land will be conserved
near Creston, British Columbia, including
important habitat for local species and
species at risk.
"This is truly
an incredible property both in size and
value, covering an area nearly 140 times
the size of Stanley Park," said Minister
Baird. "We're proud to play a part
in this moment and of the success of the
Natural Areas Conservation Program. Over
the last year, our pledge of $225 million
to the Program has helped to conserve habitat
for 59 species at risk in over 71 properties,
and there's more to come."
Located in the South
Selkirks region of B.C., the property, known
as Darkwoods, includes high ridges, mountains,
valleys and trenches, as well as wetlands
that host over 100,000 migratory birds and
265 bird species. The property offers an
important passageway, connecting existing
conserved areas and bringing the total conserved
land in that location to 1,030 square kilometres
or an area almost nine times the size of
Vancouver. This is especially significant
for wide-ranging species such as the Grizzly
and the threatened Southern Mountain population
of the Woodland Caribou.
"Conserving precious
habitat like this is one of the best ways
to help our ecosystems and species thrive
and survive," said MP Jim Abbott. "By
conserving this important area in British
Columbia, the Government of Canada and the
Nature Conservancy of Canada are providing
important space for species at risk, including
our own woodland caribou, and a number of
species and plants that may otherwise become
threatened."
A portion of the Darkwoods
property was donated through the Government
of Canada's Ecological Gifts Program. Through
income tax incentives, the Ecological Gifts
Program encourages donations of ecologically
sensitive lands and interests in those lands
across Canada, ensuring a natural legacy
for future generations.
The Natural Areas Conservation
Programis 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.
The program is expected to result in the
long-term protection of more than 2,000
square kilometres of ecologically sensitive
land across Canada.
Amanda Galbraith
Deputy Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Van Loan, Baird and
Stanton Take More Action for Lake Simcoe
Clean-Up
ORILLIA, ON- JULY 18,
2008 -Minister Peter Van Loan, Member of
Parliament for York-Simcoe and Government
House Leader and Mr. Bruce Stanton, Member
of Parliament for Simcoe-North, along with
Canada's Environment Minister John Baird,
today announced the first group of projects
to receive funding under the $30 million
Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund. In addition,
the three MPs announced $30,000 for the
Kitchener Park Naturalization Project in
Orillia as part of these projects.
"Our Government
has been clear that action needs to be taken
to clean up Lake Simcoe," said Minister
Van Loan. "Today's announcement demonstrates
real, meaningful, on-the-ground action for
Lake Simcoe. We're moving forward and cleaning
up this Ontario jewel."
"I'm pleased
to be here in Orillia today, seeing how
our Government's investment will help improve
the health of Lake Simcoe," said Minister
Baird. "Each of these projects around
the lake will have an important impact to
make a big difference for the environment
and for Canadians."
Thirty-six projects
will receive a total of $1.9 million in
the first round of projects approved under
the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund. A second
round of proposals will be sought in the
fall of 2008.
"As MP for Simcoe-North,
one of my priorities is fighting to preserve
and protect Lake Simcoe's environment,"
said Mr. Stanton. "I'm pleased to be
able to help deliver important funding for
Kitchener Park here in Orillia, because
it represents one more example of our commitment
to clean up the Lake."
"We are excited
to be working with Bruce Stanton and the
Government of Canada to preserve and protect
Lake Simcoe," said Ron Stevens, Mayor
of Orillia.
The Kitchener Park Naturalization
Project is one of the projects approved
to help clean up Lake Simcoe. The project
will receive $30,000 to reduce phosphorous
inputs into the lake by planting a shoreline
buffer strip to discourage geese from entering
the park area. The new 10-metre wide shoreline
plantings will create a filtering system
for the run-off from the park to the lake
and will stabilize the shoreline to reduce
erosion.
Projects funded by the
Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to
preserve and protect the environment of
Lake Simcoe. These projects are part of
an overall investment of $30 million over
five years, which was announced in February
2008.
This investment to clean
up Lake Simcoe is part of the Government's
Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes
projects like the Health of the Oceans initiative
to protect Canada's three oceans, the cleanup
of Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour and action
on pollution in Lake Winnipeg.
A backgrounder on the
Lake Simcoe clean-up initiative is available
at www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=4F84D2B1-CAC6-4D6A-94BE-C7F91DA5883B.
Garry Keller
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Takes More
Action to Protect Our Environment: 42 New
Enforcement Officers on The Ground Across
Canada
OTTAWA, ON -- July 23,
2008 -- Canada 's Environment Minister John
Baird today congratulated 42 new enforcement
officers who completed basic enforcement
training and are now ready to work across
the country.
"With 42 more enforcement
officers added to a strong team across the
country, we can take aggressive action to
protect the environment from those who would
damage our natural heritage. These on-the-ground
officers will increase the number of targeted
inspections, increase compliance with environmental
legislation and serve as deterrent by increasing
the visibility of enforcement operations,"
said Minister Baird.
The officers were hired
and trained as part of the Budget 2007 commitment
of $22 million to increase the number of
on-the-ground enforcement officers and ensure
polluters, smugglers and poachers are held
accountable for violations of environmental
laws.
"In Budget 2008,
our government went further. We provided
an additional $21 million over two years
to increase the effectiveness of our environmental
enforcement officers with better forensics
laboratory support, data collection, and
analysis so that new and existing enforcement
officers have the tools they need to ensure
compliance by industry and individuals with
our laws," added Minister Baird.
The officers graduating
today will be responsible for monitoring
industrial pollution and responding to environmental
disasters such as oil spills. Environment
Canada's enforcement personnel conduct inspections
and investigate potential offences under
a number of Acts and Regulations including
the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
1999; theSpecies at Risk Act (SARA); the
pollution provisions of Canada's Fisheries
Act; the Migratory Birds Act and Regulation;
and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection
and Regulation of International and Interprovincial
Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). They help ensure
that companies, government employees and
the general public comply with legislation
and regulations that protect Canada's environment.
As host of the nine-week
enforcement training program over the last
four years, Algonquin College has provided
qualified training services to Environment
Canada's Enforcement Branch. The next session
for recruits from across the country will
take place in 2009.
Amanda Galbraith
Deputy Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
