OTTAWA, Ontario, September
4, 2008 -- Canada's Environment Minister,
John Baird, today was pleased to announce
that Dr. Francis Zwiers, Director
of Environment Canada's Climate Research
Division, was elected as a vice-chair of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) Working Group I. This important group
assesses the physical scientific aspects
of the climate system and climate change.
"We are very proud
that Canadian scientists like Dr. Zwiers
and others are helping to lead the way on
international climate change issues,"
said Minister Baird. "As always, Canada
continues to work collaboratively with our
global partners through the United Nations
and other bodies to find real solutions
on climate change."
Dr. Zwiers is well-known
to the IPCC community, and the scientific
community at large, as an expert in the
field of climate research. He served as
Coordinating Lead Author for a chapter in
the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report entitled,
"Understanding and Attributing Climate
Change." He has also received numerous
awards of excellence, and published more
than 160 scientific articles.
As one of the new vice-chairs
of the IPCC Working Group I, Dr. Zwiers
will continue towork collaboratively with
our global partners to assess the physical
and scientific aspects of climate change.
"On behalf of the
Prime Minister and the Government of Canada,
I congratulate Dr. Zwiers on his election
as vice-chair and look forward to working
with him in the future," concluded
Minister Baird.
The Government of Canada
is supportive of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change's work and is proud of
Canadian scientists' contribution to this
Nobel Peace Prize winning organization.
The Panel's work adds to our understanding
of the risks associated with human activities
that contribute to climate change and offers
options for adaptation and mitigation.
Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
MP Bezan Announces Deadline
Extension for Lake Winnipeg Stewardship
Fund
GIMLI, MB -- September
3, 2008 -- James Bezan, Member of Parliament
for Selkirk-Interlake, today was pleased
to announce that due to overwhelming interest
to help protect Lake Winnipeg, the deadline
for project submissions to the Lake Winnipeg
Stewardship Fund is being extended from
September 1 to September 30th.
Mr. Bezan made the announcement
on behalf of Manitoba Regional Minister
Vic Toews, and Canada's Environment Minister,
John Baird.
"Our Government
is committed to helping clean up Lake Winnipeg,
which is one of the major projects under
our Action Plan on Clean Water," said
Mr. Bezan. "There is widespread interest
from stakeholders throughout the Lake Winnipeg
Basin to work together to rectify the serious
water quality problems affecting the lake,
and since there's been so much interest,
we want to make sure all those who have
a stake in protecting our lake are able
to take part."
Mr. Bezan also announced
today that close to one million dollars
is set aside this fall for projects and
science work to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen
pollutants going into Lake Winnipeg. This
2008 funding is part of the $18 million
Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative launched
in 2007 under the Government of Canada's
Action Plan on Clean Water.
"The Stewardship
Fund is just one component of Canada's $18
million Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative,"
added Vic Toews, Regional Minister for Manitoba.
"In addition to the millions of dollars
being provided for stewardship projects,
our government is also investing our world
class federal scientific expertise, as well
as millions more to implement a comprehensive
science program for Lake Winnipeg."
"Important scientific
and research activities have been underway
since the spring, focusing on hownutrient
runoff affects the ecology of the lake and
how to control nutrients throughout the
watershed," said John Baird, Canada's
Environment Minister. "This important
scientific research, supported by our Government,
is enabling water managers to better understand
the problems throughout the entire Lake
Winnipeg watershed."
The Lake Winnipeg Stewardship
Fund provides financial and technical support
for projects that reduce nutrient loads
and improve the water quality of Lake Winnipeg
and its watershed. For information on submitting
proposals under the Stewardship Fund, please
visit: http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/water/lw/index.en.html
The Government of Canada's key investment
to clean up Lake Winnipeg is part of the
Action Plan on Clean Water, which includes
major investments across Canada to protect
our lakes, rivers, streams and oceans.
Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
