Vancouver, April 12, 2007
- Environment Canada has laid 4 charges
against Yuk Ming HO of Richmond, British
Columbia for alleged violations of the Wild
Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade
Act (WAPPRIITA). The charges stem from an
investigation by Environment Canada’s Wildlife
Enforcement Division, Pacific and Yukon
Region. Mr. Ho has been given notice to
appear in Richmond Provincial Court on April
26, 2007.
It is alleged that in March 2005, Mr. Ho
unlawfully imported into Canada African
Elephant ivory which had been exported from
Hong Kong without a permit, an alleged importation
violation in contravention of WAPPRITTA.
Mr. Ho also faces a charge of possession
of African Elephant ivory specimens allegedly
for the purpose of distributing or offering
to distribute parts of an animal considered
to be threatened with extinction.
Controls on the international trade and
movement of animal and plant species that
have been, or may be, threatened due to
excessive commercial exploitation are set
by the Convention on International Trade
of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES). More than 30,000 endangered
species of animals and plants, including
African Elephants, are listed under CITES.
WAPPRIITA is the legislation by which Canada
meets its obligations under CITES. The Act
and regulations rely on a permit system
as assurance that trade in CITES listed
wild animal and plant specimens is legal.
Environment Canada is responsible for the
administration and enforcement of WAPPRIITA.
An individual found guilty of an offence
under the Act is liable to a maximum penalty
of a $150,000 fine or five years imprisonment
or both. Further information on CITES and
WAPPRIITA may be found at www.cites.ec.gc.ca.
Lisa Vitols / Marko Goluza
+ More
Canada’s New Government highlights National
Wildlife Week
OTTAWA, April 10, 2007 – The Honourable
John Baird, Minister of the Environment,
and Mr. Colin Maxwell, Executive Vice President
of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, today
marked National Wildlife Week, April 8-14,
by calling on Canadians to help protect
and conserve Canada’s abundance and variety
of wildlife and the habitat that sustains
them.
The theme of this year’s National Wildlife
Week - Canada’s North… ours to protect…
the world’s to cherish - coincides with
and promotes the efforts of the International
Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, an internationally
coordinated campaign of polar science research.
“Our identity as Canadians is linked to
our country's vast and beautiful natural
environment, and Canada’s New Government
has invested more than $384 million in new
conservation and protection initiatives,”
said Minister Baird. “This Government is
proud to partner with The Canadian Wildlife
Federation to celebrate National Wildlife
Week.”
Since 1963, the Canadian Wildlife Federation
in partnership with federal, provincial,
and territorial wildlife and related agencies,
has developed and implemented the National
Wildlife Week program in Canada. National
Wildlife Week raises awareness about the
importance of wildlife and wildlife habitat
in Canada.
“National Wildlife Week is a perfect opportunity
for Canadians to actively demonstrate their
appreciation for our natural environment,”
said Mr. Maxwell. “Schools, community groups
and caring Canadians are participating in
local festivals, starting habitat improvement
projects and discovering Canada’s North
during the week and continuing throughout
the year.”
Canada’s New Government has made several
recent important investments to preserve
and conserve nature and protect wildlife.
These include:
$110 million for more effective implementation
of the Species at Risk Act;
$10 million to conserve ecologically important
lands in the Northwest Territories;
$225 million to help preserve ecologically
sensitive land in southern Canada;
$30 million to help promote the sustainable
development of British Columbia’s Spirit
Bear Rainforest;
$2 million for restoration efforts in Vancouver’s
Stanley Park;
$1 million to help restore the hurricane-damaged
Point Pleasant Park in Halifax;
$700,000 for restoration projects at Pacific
Rim National Park Reserve; and
$5 million over 5 years for initial development
and $700,000 annually for ongoing operational
costs of protecting and cooperatively managing
the Northwest Territories’ Sahoyúé
- §ehdacho National Historic Site of
Canada with the Déline First Nation
and the Déline Land Corporation.
These initiatives are part of this new Government’s
comprehensive environmental agenda, which
totals $9 billion and includes the ecoENERGY
Initiatives, the ecoTransport Strategy,
the ecoAUTO Program to encourage Canadians
to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, support
for public transit, action on renewable
fuels and new investments of $4.5 billion
in Budget 2007.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is dedicated
to fostering awareness and appreciation
of our natural world. By spreading knowledge
of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring
research, promoting the sustainable use
of natural resources, recommending legislative
changes, and cooperating with like-minded
partners, The Canadian Wildlife Federation
encourages a future in which Canadians may
live in harmony with nature.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
