OTTAWA,
Ontario -- November 26, 2008 -- Canada’s
Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced
today that a national roundtable on the
polar bear will be held on January 16, 2009
in Winnipeg to discuss the path forward
in protecting this iconic species. The Minister
is inviting territories and provinces, the
wildlife management boards, the Inuit, scientists
and others who have a management or conservation
role to protect Canada’s approximately 15,500
polar bears.
“We take our responsibilities
for species at risk very seriously. There
are many conservation actions already underway
by various parties. We’re looking forward
to working cooperatively and productively
in partnership with other key players to
discuss solutions that will help ensure
a future for the polar bear,” said Minister
Prentice.
The Polar Bear Roundtable
will be an opportunity to increase awareness
of the many conservation actions underway
by various parties and to hear views regarding
priority areas for action.
Minister Prentice will
also bring other governments, organizations
and others together in Ottawa, on December
16, 2008 to discuss the key issues around
implementing the Species at Risk Act.
“Our government is committed
to protecting Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity
and to working with our partners who share
responsibility and commitment to species
at risk,” said Minister Prentice. “The discussions
in Ottawa next month will be helpful in
assisting us for the broader upcoming Parliamentary
review in 2009 of the Species at Risk Act.
The Government of Canada
has put more resources to work to improve
science, recovery work and overall implementation
of the Species at Risk Act. To date, recovery
strategies for 104 species have been published
on the Species at Risk Public Registry.
Fréderic Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
