WHITEHORSE, Y.T. --
October 8, 2010 -- Environment Canada officers
have completed a two-week import/export
border blitz at the Beaver Creek border
crossing in Yukon
Territory. Officers uncovered more than
50 violations under federal and territorial
laws, including those under the Wild Animal
and Plant Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
The blitz resulted in
23 seizures or detentions involving whole
or parts of protected species such as walrus,
black bear, grizzly bear, sea otter, caribou,
moose, eagle (feathers), coyote, dall sheep
and bowhead whale.
Working in cooperation
with the Canada Border Services Agency,
Yukon Territorial Conservation Officer Services
and the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, more than 350 persons or vehicles
carrying wildlife or wildlife parts were
inspected from September 12 to 24, 2010.
Enforcement actions
included written warnings, seizure of goods,
and tickets issued under the Yukon Wildlife
Act, which is administered by the Yukon
territorial government. Some of the violations
have led to further investigations which
may result in additional charges.
WAPPRIITA is the legislation
used to implement the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) in Canada. CITES sets
controls, through a permit system, on the
international trade and movement of animal
and plant species that are endangered, or
have been, or may be, threatened due to
excessive commercial exploitation.
Environment Canada investigates
potential offences under a number of Acts
and Regulations including the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999; the Species at Risk
Act; the pollution provisions of Canada's
Fisheries Act; the Migratory Birds Convention
Act, 1994; the Canada Wildlife Act; and
WAPPRIITA. They help ensure that companies,
government employees and the general public
comply with legislation and regulations
that protect Canada's environment.
Further information
on CITES and WAPPRIITA may be found at http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/.
+ More
Government of Canada
Announces Details of Major Investment to
International Climate Change
WATERLOO, Ont. -- October
1, 2010 -- Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of the Environment, released the
details of Canada's $400 million commitment
for international climate change while speaking
to the Centre for International Governance
Innovation's annual conference.
"This represents
Canada's largest ever contribution to support
international efforts to address climate
change and it will support three key areas
in which Canada has considerable expertise:
adaptation, clean energy, forests and agriculture,"
said Minister Prentice.
Funding for adaption
will support critical on the ground projects
that will build knowledge and adaptive capacity,
while reducing vulnerability to natural
disasters. Other funding will focus on mobilizing
private sector investment in renewable energy
and energy efficiency projects, and will
provide technical assistance to developing
countries as they work to implement these
types of clean energy. Canada's contribution
will also support projects in developing
countries which are essential to laying
the groundwork for ambitious global action
on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
Under the Copenhagen
Accord, developed countries committed to
provide fast-start financing approaching
US$30 billion for 2010-2012 to support climate
change mitigation, including financing for
adaptation, capacity building, technology
transfer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
from deforestation in developing countries.
As promised as part
of the Accord, this investment represents
the 2010 portion of Canada's fair share
of the fast-start financing promised by
developed countries under the Copenhagen
Accord. While Canada contributes to 2 per
cent of worldwide GHG emissions, it is contributing
4 per cent of the funding.
Canada will continue
to work constructively to implement the
Copenhagen Accord and to complete the negotiations
under the UNFCCC for a comprehensive, legally
binding post-2012 agreement that is fair,
effective and comprehensive.
