GATINEAU, Que. -- October
7, 2010 -- The Honourable Jim Prentice,
Canada's Minister of the Environment, today
joins Quebec's delegate Minister for Natural
Resources and Wildlife (MRNF), the Nature
Conservancy of Canada and the National Capital
Commission to mark
the Nature Conservancy of Canada's acquisition
of a 477-hectare property in the Outaouais
for biodiversity conservation and species
protection. This project was guaranteed
in part by funding obtained under Environment
Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program,
and has a total budget of $685,000.
"This acquisition
marks another achievement under our government's
Natural Areas Conservation Program. With
this investment, we are taking real action
to protect and conserve our ecosystems and
sensitive species for present and future
generations," said Minister Prentice.
"Your actions, large or small, will
help to protect the abundance and variety
of life that is part of our natural heritage."
"This acquisition
represents specific action by our government
to preserve wildlife habitats. The protection
of biodiversity and natural landscapes,
and the restoration of wetlands are among
the MRNF's priorities. These actions also
help maintain economic and social activity
in the regions, because they allow the public
to benefit from these outdoor areas,"
noted Serge Simard, delegate Minister for
Natural Resources and Wildlife.
"The long-term
protection of this large forested area is
the reflection of a solid partnership at
the local and regional levels. It also allows
us to leave a precious natural heritage
to our children and grandchildren,"
added Nathalie Zinger, Regional Vice-President
of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The property, which
covers nearly 5 square kilometers, is located
directly on the northwest edge of Gatineau
Park. This natural setting is representative
of the forest ecosystems of the hills of
the Outaouais. The property is composed
of a forest mosaic, with several wetlands
scattered through it and a few bodies of
water. The acquisition of this property
will favour the development of ecological
corridors, in accordance with the priorities
of the Gatineau Park Ecosystem Conservation
Plan.
The National Capital
Commission, which manages Gatineau Park,
contributes financially to the management
fund for this property. "The acquisition
of this property is an example of cooperation
for environmental protection. The ecological
corridors foreseen in the Gatineau Park
Ecosystems Conservation Plan create areas
of natural continuity to support ecosystems
and species protection," said Marie
Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National
Capital Commission. "Our contribution
to the management fund underscores our commitment
to the preservation of Gatineau Park."
The Government of Canada's
$225-million 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.
It is through the ongoing contribution from
all donors that we can ensure the protection
of natural areas in Canada. As of July 2010,
under the Natural Areas Conservation Program,
over 138 800 hectares (342 982 acres) had
been secured, protecting habitat for over
79 species at risk.
+ More
Canada Announces Final
GHG Emission Regulations for New Light-Duty
Vehicles
OTTAWA, Ont. -- October
1, 2010 -- Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of the Environment, announced final
regulations that establish progressively
more stringent greenhouse gas emission standards
for new passenger automobiles and light
trucks for the 2011-2016 model years. These
are aligned with similar regulations in
the United States.
"Any significant
approach to fighting climate change must
include serious action to address on-road
emissions. Canada has worked closely with
the U.S. government to establish common
North American standards for regulating
GHGs from new light-duty vehicles -- and
we look forward to further collaboration,"
said Minister Prentice.
The Passenger Automobile
and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission
Regulations provide certainty to the automotive
industry and require significant technological
improvements to vehicles to reduce GHG emissions.
As a result of the regulations, it is projected
that the average GHG emission performance
of new vehicles for the 2016 model year
will be about 25% lower than the vehicles
that were sold in Canada in 2008.
Minister Prentice also
released a Notice of Intent regarding the
government's commitment to continue working
with the United States towards the development
of tighter standards for light vehicles
for the 2017 and later model years. Canada
and the U.S. will continue to undertake
technical assessment of potential annual
improvements in GHG emission performance
of up to 6%.
Canada is committed
to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions
17% from 2005 levels by 2020, a target which
reflects the importance of aligning with
the United States. Reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from new motor vehicles will play
an important part in helping us achieve
that goal. Cars and light trucks account
for about 12% of Canada's total GHG emissions.
For more information
and to view a backgrounder on this announcement,
please visit the Web site of Environment
Canada, at http://www.ec.gc.ca/.
