OTTAWA, ON -- May 22,
2010 -- Environment Canada today announced
the six award winners from across Canada,
for the Nature Matters! Contest, which invited
Canadian youth to submit a video or written
essay that answers the question, "Why
is nature important
to you?". The recognition took place
during the grand-reopening ceremony of the
Victoria Memorial Museum Building of the
Canadian Museum of Nature, on the occasion
of the International Day of Biodiversity
2010.
"I am impressed
with the clear vision that young Canadians
have articulated to conserve our rich biodiversity
now and for future generations," said
the Honourable Jim Prentice, Environment
Canada's Minister. "Enjoying and appreciating
our natural environment is an integral part
of Canadian tradition, and by working together,
we can also make it part of our legacy to
mark this important year for biodiversity."
From January 28 to March
28, 2010, this contest provided an opportunity
for young Canadians to explore the importance
of biodiversity and Canada's extraordinary
natural heritage.
Winning written essays
will be displayed in public art panels outside
Environment Canada's premier museum, The
Biosphère in Montreal. Winning video
essays will be projected for visitors at
The Biosphère in Montreal during
2010. Winning and runner-up essays are published
on the Website of the Canadian Biodiversity
Information Network, a shared public resource
of our federal, provincial, and territorial
governments.
The United Nations declared
2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity.
Environment Canada is taking this opportunity
to inspire and engage Canadians to create
a legacy of local action, projects and partnerships
focused on conserving biodiversity beyond
2010. In addition, the International Day
of Biodiversity is an excellent opportunity
for everyone to participate in activities,
like tree planting events as part of the
Green Wave initiative.
For more information on 2010 International
Year of Biodiversity, and International
Day for Biological Diversity, please visit:
www.cbin.ec.gc.ca/
www.cbd.int/2010
http://www.cbd.int/idb/
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Canada Announces Continental
Approach to Reduce GHG Emissions from Heavy-Duty
Vehicles
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- May
21, 2010 -- Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of the Environment, announced that
the Government of Canada will regulate greenhouse
gas emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles
under the Canadian Environmental Protection
Act, 1999. Canada's regulations will be
aligned with those of the United States.
"Canada and the
United States had great success in establishing
common standards for regulating greenhouse
gas emissions from passenger automobiles
and light trucks," said Minister Prentice.
"Building on our strong working relationship
with the Obama administration, we are taking
the next logical step by addressing emissions
from heavy-duty vehicles."
Environment Canada will
develop proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles.
Over the coming months, the Government will
be working with the heavy-duty trucking
industry, including manufacturers and users,
to develop these regulations. A consultation
draft of the regulations is expected to
be available for comment from industry,
stakeholders and the public in the fall
of 2010. The final regulations will be implemented
between the 2014 and 2018 model year.
In Canada, the transportation
sector accounts for about a quarter of greenhouse
gas emissions. Heavy-duty vehicles account
for about 6 per cent of total greenhouse
gas emissions in Canada. Reducing emissions
in this sector will help us achieve our
2020 target of a 17 per cent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels.
+ More
Governments of Canada
and Northwest Territories Complete an Interim
Response to the Joint Review Panel Report
for the Mackenzie Gas Project
OTTAWA, Ont. - May 17,
2010 - The Governments of Canada and the
Northwest Territories today announced that
they have completed an interim response
to the Joint Review Panel's (JRP) report
for the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP). The
interim response addresses the JRP's 176
recommendations regarding mitigation of
the potential environmental and social impacts
of the proposed MGP.
"The Governments
of Canada and the Northwest Territories
have collaborated to respond to the JRP
recommendations regarding the Mackenzie
Gas Project. The release of this information
brings us closer to another MGP milestone,"
said Environment Minister Jim Prentice.
"The environmental assessment of the
project will be finalized under the Mackenzie
Valley Resource Management Act and the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act. This will
assure Northerners and all Canadians that
the environmental and socio-economic impacts
of this project have been assessed under
a rigorous process."
"This government
recognizes the importance of the mitigation
measures outlined in the JRP report and
acknowledges the need for sustainable economic
development within a rigorous environmental
stewardship framework in the Northwest Territories."
said Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor
for the Métis. "The sharing
of the Interim Response will inform consultations
with Aboriginal groups prior to the preparation
of the final response."
The Governments of Canada
and the Northwest Territories believe that
the interim response is in keeping with
the overall intent of the JRP's report and
have concluded that implementing the interim
response would eliminate or significantly
reduce any of the adverse impacts of the
MGP. This is reflected by the fact that
both Governments propose to accept or accept
the intent of the vast majority of the recommendations
within their respective jurisdictions.
The Governments have
acknowledged the importance of the mitigation
measures outlined by the JRP and have responded
to the wide range of recommendations. The
proposed responses support environmental
mitigation ranging from permafrost and terrain
monitoring, inspection and enforcement strategy
for fish and fish habitat protection, plans
for dredging and barge landings, recovery
strategies and actions plans for Species
at Risk, habitat offsets in response to
future development in the Kendall Island
Bird Sanctuary, implementation of the NWT
Protected Areas Strategy, to emergency response
and spill prevention procedures.
The interim response
will be provided to Aboriginal groups living
along the proposed pipeline route to ensure
that potentially affected groups have substantive
information in advance of upcoming consultations.
The outcomes of this ongoing consultation
process will inform the development of the
final response. Consultation with the JRP
regarding proposed modifications and rejections
to the recommendations will also be undertaken
prior to finalizing the response.
Following consultations,
the Governments of Canada and the Northwest
Territories will finalize the interim response
before posting it on the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Registry internet site. It will
also be distributed to the National Energy
Board before it releases its "Reasons
for Decision" on whether to issue the
required authorizations respecting the MGP.
To find out more about
the Interim Response and upcoming Aboriginal
consultations, please visit the Mackenzie
Gas Project Office website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/bpgm-mgpo/default.asp?lang=En&n=3A161B21-1
