Ottawa,
March 6, 2008 - Environment Canada is predicting
that much of Western Canada will experience
colder temperatures this spring season.
Eastern Canada should experience near-normal
temperatures. The prediction is found in
Environment Canada's Seasonal Temperature
and Precipitation Outlook for March, April
and May 2008, which was released today.
The highlights from
the outlook are:
Temperatures are expected to be below normal
over much of Western and Northern Canada,
but Central and Eastern Canada should experience
near-normal temperatures.
(Above normal or below
normal means a difference of one degree
Celsius or so from the average seasonal
temperature for most of Canada. The average
temperatures can be found on Environment
Canada's Weather Office Web site in the
climatology section.)
No clear indicators
were noted for the seasonal precipitation
forecast for this upcoming spring. However,
below-normal precipitation is the more likely
outcome over the Arctic and above-normal
precipitation is possible over the rest
of Canada.
The Seasonal Outlook
can be beneficial to specialized users as
it offers advance notice of possible conditions.
For example, it allows energy companies
to plan ahead for the future requirements
of their clients for the upcoming season,
which could also influence the energy market
prices.
As the accuracy of long-range
forecasts varies from region to region and
from season to season, Canadians should
consult the Skills Maps for further information
on the seasonal forecast and should also
rely on Environment Canada's five-day forecast
regularly for the latest weather information
in the near future.
Because weather can
vary from one year to the next due to natural
variability, it is difficult to attribute
these cooler-than-normal temperatures to
a specific cause.
For more information on the Seasonal Temperature
and Precipitation Outlook, please visit:
http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html.
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Environment Minister
Comments on Commissioner's Report
OTTAWA - March 6, 2008
- Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird,
today commented on the Report of the Commissioner
of the Environment, presented earlier today.
"The Commissioner's
Report identified issues that had been raised
many years ago under the previous government,
and they did little or nothing to fix those
problems," said Minister Baird. "The
good news is that on many of these issues,
our Government is taking action where the
previous Government failed."
Since coming to office,
the Government has made major investments
and announcements in areas raised in the
report, including:
• $225 million to protect
sensitive nature areas in partnership with
the Nature Conservancy of Canada;
• $110 million to protect Species at Risk;
• $61.5 million to protect the Health of
the Oceans;
• $48 million to clean up Great Lakes Areas
of Concern;
• A massive expansion of Nahanni National
Park Reserve, home to several species at
risk, as well as major land protections
in the Northwest Territories; and
• An Action Plan on Clean Water.
The Commissioner also
found that the Government was making real
progress on several issues, including protecting
Canadians from toxic chemicals, insurance
for nuclear plants, and cleaning up military
dumpsites.
"We're glad to
see the Commissioner is pleased with our
action in five major areas, and we are committed
to real action in the other areas, action
we have already started to take," said
Minister Baird. "There is no doubt
that it will take time and real dollars
to clean up the environmental failures of
the previous Government. We accept the comments
of the Commissioner and are working hard
to take action on the issues he has raised."
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
