LANSDOWNE, Ont. -- July16,
2009 -- Gord Brown, Member of Parliament
for Leeds-Grenville, on behalf of Canada’s
Environment Minister Jim Prentice joined
representatives from the Canadian Biosphere
Reserves Association and the Frontenac Arch
Biosphere Reserve
today, to announce $5 million in funding
over five years to support 14 of the 15
biosphere reserves in Canada and the Canadian
Biosphere Reserves Association.
“Today’s announcement
reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment
to protecting our rich biodiversity across
the country,” said Minister Prentice. “Canada’s
biosphere reserves are excellent examples
of community-based initiatives that protect
our natural environment while ensuring the
continued growth of the local economy in
an ecologically sustainable way.”
Biosphere reserves are
areas designated and recognized internationally
by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization) for demonstrating
practical approaches to balancing conservation
and development. Biosphere reserves are
comprised of one or more core protected
areas, a buffer area in which activities
compatible with conservation occur, and
a large area of co-operation where sustainable
resource management practices are promoted
and developed. The world network consists
of 553 biosphere reserves in 107 countries.
The Government of Canada’s
investment will facilitate activities and
projects within the Canadian biosphere reserves
related to conservation, sustainable development
and capacity building. It will allow the
Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association
to build up their organization, raise the
profile of biosphere reserves in communities
and become self-sufficient models for community-based
environmental action. Additionally, it will
help them co-ordinate projects such as environmental
monitoring, promoting sustainable tourism,
facilitating sustainable agriculture, and
raising public awareness on sustainable
development and promoting sustainable economic
activities.
“By fostering sustainable
resource management practices, biosphere
reserves enhance the conservation value
of Canada’s protected areas,” said Gord
Brown. “The Government of Canada is committed
to land conservation and preserving biodiversity.”
Bill Rodgers
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Of Canada
Takes Action To Protect Important Land In
Alberta
RED DEER, Alta. - July
2, 2009 - Jim Prentice, Minister of the
Environment joined representatives from
the Nature Conservancy of Canada and TransCanada
Pipelines in announcing the conservation
of globally significant habitat in the central
parklands region of Alberta.
"Our Government
is taking real action to conserve Canada's
natural treasures," said Minister Prentice.
"The Red Deer River Natural Area project
is an excellent example of federal funds
creating a strong stewardship partnership
that will conserve species at risk and their
habitat."
The Red Deer River Natural
Area is home to a number of Canada's species
at risk, including the Sprague's pipit songbird,
the western blue flag iris and the northern
leopard frog. In addition, the nearby Pine
Lake, Buffalo Lake and Goosequill-Hummock
Lakes provide excellent staging habitat
for waterfowl in the spring. The preservation
of this land takes Canada one step closer
to delivering on the trilateral North American
Waterfowl Management Plan.
"This project demonstrates
cooperation across public, private and non
profit sectors, to conserve key habitat,"
said Minister Prentice, "We are committed
to the long-term conservation of biological
diversity and to working with partners to
protect Canada's natural treasures."
The Government's 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. Since
its inception in 2007, the Program has allowed
for the conservation of over 336 properties
totaling more than 103,660 hectares, protecting
habitat for over 74 species at risk.
Bill Rodgers
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government of Canada
Announces Regulations to Reduce VOC Emissions
from Automotive Refinishing Products
GATINEAU, Que. -- July
8, 2009 -- New regulations announced today
willreduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
in automotive refinishing products. VOCs
found in these products contribute to the
creation of smog, which is harmful to both
human health and the environment.
“The Government of Canada
is serious about cleaning up the air to
protect the environment and health of Canadians,
“said Canada’s Environment Minister, Jim
Prentice. “This is one of a series of regulations
we are putting in place to reduce VOC emissions
from everyday consumer and commercial products.”
The regulations introduce
VOC concentration limits for 14 categories
of coatings and surface cleaners, which
are used for refinishing or repairing the
painted surfaces of automobiles, trucks,
and other mobile equipment. These regulations
were developed following extensive stakeholder
consultation. Once in force, the VOC concentration
limits will align with the requirements
of leading jurisdictions in the development
of VOC product regulations, such as California
and the European Union.
The regulations are
expected to reduce the annual amount of
VOCs emitted from automotive refinishing
products by an average of 40 percent. Combined
with other VOC reduction initiatives proposed
under the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions
of April 2007, the regulations are expected
to reduce ground-level ozone and particulate
matter which contribute to the formation
of smog. Their reduction would in turn benefit
human health and the environment.
The Government of Canada
added VOCs to the List of Toxic Substances
in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) on June
12, 2003. This addition gave the government
the authority to develop VOC control instruments,
such as these regulations, under CEPA 1999.
For more information on the regulations
to reduce VOC emissions from consumer and
commercial products visit www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/voc
.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
