WOODBRIDGE, Ont. --
September 26, 2009 -- On behalf of Canada’s
Environment Minister Jim Prentice, Peter
Kent, Member of Parliament for Thornhill
and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
(Americas), today announced the Nature Conservancy
of Canada's successful acquisition of 4,729
acres of land at Wilson Island. The land
was secured in part with funding from Environment
Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program.
The total project cost was$ 7,401,285. The
purchase marks another achievement under
the Government of Canada's $225-million
Natural Areas Conservation Program.
“ With our investment
of $225 million in the Natural Areas Conservation
Program, the Government of Canada is taking
real action to protect and conserve our
ecosystems and sensitive species for present
and future generations,” said Minister Kent.
“Wilson Island is home to rare coastal wetlands
and forests, bedrock shoreline, and globally
rare sand beaches. We are committed to the
long-term conservation of biological diversity
and to working with partners such as the
Nature Conservancy of Canada and others
to protect Canada’s natural treasures.”
WilsonIslandgroup is
a cluster of eight islands. Wilson is by
far the largest island, and has north-facing
cliffs on water and land, canyons, raised
basalt beaches and an unexplored interior.
These qualities provide suitable habitat
for peregrine falcons and bald eagles. The
cool marine climate supports a number of
arctic-alpine species and vegetation communities
particular to this region. Wilson Island’s
coves, coldwater beaches and rare coastal
wetlands provide essential habitat for lake
trout and whitefish.
“The Natural Areas Conservation
Program represents an investment that will
help to ensure a healthy future for habitats
and species at risk,” said Minister Prentice.
“Such programs demonstrate the importance
and productive relationship between the
Government of Canada, the Nature Conservancy
of Canada, and other partners working to
conserve and protect the environment and
wildlife.”
“The Wilson Island group
presented an unmatched opportunity to protect
large scale, ecologically significant and
relatively untouched habitat,” remarked
the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Chris
Maher, Regional Vice-President, Ontario.
“This project has been on the conservation
community’s wish list for many years, and
the joint effort to protect this island
group has been crucial to its success.”
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. As of
March 2009, under the Natural Areas Conservation
Program more than 336 properties totaling
more than 256,150 acres (103,660 hectares)
had been acquired, protecting habitat for
over 74 species at risk.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government of Canada
Announces Funding for Phosphorous Project
Within the Moose Mountain Creek Watershed
CARLYLE, Sask – September
24, 2009 – On behalf of Canada`s Environment
Minister, Jim Prentice, Ed Komarnicki, Member
of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain,
today announced more than $37,000 in federal
funding to support a project that will reduce
agricultural inputs of phosphorous within
the Moose Mountain Creek watershed.
“This funding, provided
by the Government of Canada’s Lake Winnipeg
Basin Initiative, will continue important
work with communities, governments and other
partners to promote the long-term sustainability
of the Moose Mountain Creek watershed and
of Lake Winnipeg” said MP Komarnicki. “Projects
such as this are a model for partnerships
in watershed management across the country.”
“The committee is pleased
that they received approval for their project
to help reduce the amount of phosphorus
going into Lake Winnipeg. We are glad to
be part of the project, and look forward
to working together to help reduce phosphorus
here in the Moose Mountain Creek which will
reduce the amount of phosphorus ending up
in Lake Winnipeg. I feel this is a great
project with all the partners working together
for the same cause, water quality,” said
Mr. Jack Wilson, Chair of the Cornerstone
Agri-Environmental Group Plan Committee.
The project, led by
the Cornerstone Agri-Environmental Group
Plan Committee, will build awareness with
farmers in Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan
on agricultural practices that will reduce
inputs of phosphorous and nitrogen to waterways,
ultimately improving water quality. Other
projects funded in this second round of
the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative include
the East Interlake Conservation District’s
study of wastewater irrigation as an alternative
to depositing wastewater in waterways and
a University of Winnipeg project to determine
points of nutrient deposits along waterways
near Morden, Manitoba.
“These projects are
examples of ongoing important federal contributions
toward improving the health of the Lake
Winnipeg and its watershed. Funding for
the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative is part
of the $18 million committed by the Government
of Canada’s Action Plan for Clean Water.
Previous funding of
$1.1 million for 14
Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative stewardship
projects was announced in June 2009” said
Minister Prentice.
The Government of Canada
is committed to ensuring all Canadians have
access to clean, safe and healthy water
and that our water resources are used wisely,
both economically and ecologically.
Letters of intent for
the next round of stewardship projects to
be funded under the Lake Winnipeg Basin
Initiative will be accepted until October
1, 2009. For more information on project
criteria and application process, please
visit:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/paae-apcw/default.asp?lang=En&n=61284017-1
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
