Owen
Sound, Ontario,April 4, 2008 - Canada's
Environment Minister John Baird was joined
today by Larry Miller, Member of Parliament
for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, to announce funding
of up to $58,550 to the Pine River Watershed
Project as part of the EcoAction Community
Funding Program. This project will improve
water quality in the Huron-Kinloss Township.
"Our Government
is committed to addressing the environmental
priorities of Canadians," said Minister
Baird. "We are proud to support community
groups across the country willing to take
concrete action through on-the-ground environmental
projects in order to preserve and enhance
the quality of Canada's natural heritage."
The Pine River Watershed
Project will focus on four agricultural
sites in the area by engaging landowners,
volunteers and youth to participate in monitoring
and rehabilitating of severely eroded banks,
installing crossings to prevent cattle from
entering watercourses, and creating two
nitrate dispersion areas to improve water
quality.
"The Government
of Canada is committed to protecting the
environment through major initiatives such
as the Action Plan for Clean Water,"
said Larry Miller. "Local action, such
as the restoration and water quality improvements
to be achieved in the Pine River Watershed,
is equally important and beneficial to Canadians."
Each year, Environment
Canada funds various groups which help to
deliver real results for Canadians and our
environment. Environment Canada's EcoAction
Community Funding Program provides financial
support to locally-based, not-for-profit
organizations to undertake community-level
projects that have positive, measurable
results for the environment. The Program
assists these organizations in initiating
actions that result in cleaner air, reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water,
and the conservation of nature at the local
community level.
"The Pine River
Watershed Initiative Network is a wonderful
example of a grassroots-community based
organization that can truly make a difference
for both the health of the environment as
well as the community. The funding we are
receiving today is a long-term investment
in both environmental stewardship and community
wellness" said John Bertrand, Project
Coordinator for the Pine River Watershed
Initiative Network. "This monetary
investment will ignite community spirit
as well as provide community members with
the capacity to address environmental issues
in the Pine River Watershed, resulting in
a cleaner and healthier environment for
generations to come."
Funding for these community-based
environmental improvement projects across
the country is provided through Environment
Canada's community action programs. Community
groups are encouraged to become involved
in these programs. Since 1995, the EcoAction
Community Funding Program has supported
more than 2,100 projects with over $67 million
in federal funding.
More information about
the EcoAction Community Funding Program
is available on Environment Canada's website.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government of Canada
joins Earth Hour: Peace Tower clock face
to go dark
Gatineau, Quebec - March
28, 2008 - The Honourable Michael M Fortier,
Minister of Public Works and Government
Services and the Honourable John Baird,
Minister of the Environment, are pleased
to announce this Saturday the Government
will participate in Earth Hour, a global
event to raise awareness of climate change.
"As one of Canada's
largest landlords, Public Works and Government
Services Canada (PWGSC) wants to illustrate
its commitment to energy efficiency by joining
communities around the world to mark Earth
Hour," said Michael M Fortier, Minister
of PWGSC. "The Government of Canada
operates some of the most energy efficient
buildings in the world, and we will continue
to take steps to make our buildings even
more efficient."
During Earth Hour the
Peace Tower clock face on Parliament Hill
will go dark, as will non-essential lighting
on Parliament Hill, as well as the Canada
wordmark and architectural lighting on buildings
across the country, wherever possible. PWGSC
already turns off non-essential lighting
during non-working hours in its buildings
across Canada, wherever feasible, as part
of its ongoing conservation practices.
"Doing our part
for Earth Hour demonstrates our Government's
continued commitment to real action for
the environment," said Environment
Minister John Baird. "Canadians want
to see their Government take a leadership
role. By turning off the lights across Canada
we are setting a highly visible example
for other Canadians to follow."
The Government of Canada
has taken real action to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions through its Turning the Corner
plan. Under our Government's leadership,
Canada will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
an absolute 20% by 2020.
PWGSC has significantly
improved the environmental sustainability
of its office buildings over the years.
Between 11000 and 2007, energy consumption
in its Crown-owned buildings decreased by
more than 23%. In addition, all new office
buildings are designed to meet the LEED®
Gold standard, and all major renovations
to meet the LEED® Silver standard. In
2007, the department signed a contract with
the Building Owners and Managers Association
of Canada to use their Go Green Plus standard
to assess all its Crown-owned office buildings
over a three-year period. Initiatives like
these not only lessen government's impact
on the environment, they also save taxpayers'
money.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Fortier
+ More
MP Comuzzi Delivers:
Government Funds Local Group to Help Clean
up Peninsula Harbour
OTTAWA, Ontario, April
3, 2008 - Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament
for Thunday Bay-Superior North, on behalf
of Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird,
today announced $250,000 for EcoSuperior
Environmental Programs to help develop a
strategy to cleanup sediment in Peninsula
Harbour. Peninsula Harbour, one of the polluted
hot spots on the Great Lakes, is located
on the northeastern shore of Lake Superior
between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.
"This funding will
achieve real results for Canadians where
it matters most - our local community,"
said Mr. Comuzzi. "The work being undertaken
to improve Peninsula Harbour will produce
not only a cleaner environment, but will
also generate jobs, boost local sales and
tax revenue and contribute to stimulating
regional development. Our goal is to see
Peninsula Harbour return to productive economic
and recreational use."
EcoSuperior is a not-for-profit
green organization that addresses environmental
issues for Thunder Bay and the surrounding
area. Through partnerships with local business
and industry, as well as all levels of government,
its mandate is to increase public awareness
and participation in building a cleaner,
greener community and a healthy environment.
This investment to further
the clean up Peninsula Harbour is part of
the Government of Canada's Action Plan for
Clean Water. The Government has also taken
action to protect water quality, including
tough new regulations against the dumping
of raw sewage and improving raw sewage treatment
in municipalities and first nation communities
across Canada. These measures will help
filter out substances like phosphates, which
can lead to excessive blue-green algae production.
Through this funding,
the group will engage in public consultations
to developing strategies and guidelines
to measure progress on the cleanup efforts;
assist in the completion of geotechnical
field investigations; and begin detailed
engineering designs.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
