KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- October
19, 2009 -- Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament
for K amloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf
of Canada's Environment Minister Jim Prentice,
today joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada
(NCC) in announcing the donation of the
Rattlesnake Bluff property as an Ecological
Gift. The 4 hectares of ecologically sensitive
land near Kamloops, British Columbia was
generously donated
by Phil and Arlene Thiemer.
"The Ecological
Gifts Program represents an investment that
will help to ensure a healthy future for
habitats and species at risk. Such programs
demonstrate the productive relationship
between the Government of Canada, the Nature
Conservancy of Canada, and other partnersworking
to conserve and protect the environment
and wildlife",said Cathy McLeod.
"Rattlesnake Bluff
is an excellent example of federal funds
and incentives helping to create a strong
stewardship partnership that will conserve
important landscapes and protect habitat
for our species at risk. With this investment,
we are taking real action to protect and
conserve our ecosystems and sensitive species
for present and future generations. We are
grateful for the Thiemers generosity and
dedication to help protect one of Canada's
natural treasures," said Minister Prentice.
In 2006, the Thiemers
purchased this small but important land,
located southeast of the Lac du Bois Grasslands
Provincial Park, to prevent development
of a rock quarry on the property. The property,
a popular wildlife viewing area for local
naturalists, has rugged cliffs and dry sagebrush
steppe that provide a vital habitat to an
impressive number of species at risk including
Bighorn Sheep, Western Rattlesnake, and
Great Basin Gophersnake.
"Rattlesnake
Bluff is a fantastic addition to NCC's burgeoning
grassland conservation work in and around
Kamloops. This project was a success because
of strong partnerships--from the Thiemers,
who initiated the project, to local naturalists,
who rallied behind it, to the governments
and foundations who allocated much needed
funds. Our thanks go out to all who helped
protect Rattlesnake Bluff," said Barb
Pryce, NCC's Okanagan Project Manager.
The Ecological Gifts
Program provides tax incentives to private
land-owners that donate ecologically sensitive
land, or partial interest rights to the
land, to eligible charitable organizations
or government bodies that in turn protect
the land in perpetuity. In Budget 2006,
ecological gifts were made 100-percent exempt
from capital-gains tax.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Tic Tac Tox Exhibit
at the Biosphere
Montreal, Que. -- October
28, 2009 -- Environment Canada's Biosphere
is inviting the public to visit its new
Tic Tac Tox exhibit, which will be open
from October 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010.
Tic Tac Tox stimulates
thinking about humans sharing their world
with chemical substances and toxic products.
It is important to draw attention to the
potential risks of these products, which
are essential to a variety of activities.
After learning about
the differences between the notions of chemical
and toxic products, visitors will be captivated
by a series of images projected onto six
screens that show the impact of commonly
used products on the environment. This visual
and auditory presentation inspired by the
"zapping era," will be particularly
appealing to teenagers and young adults.
The next part of the exhibit is an interactive
area where visitors can identify the parts
of the body that can be affected by different
substances.
Tic Tac Tox also helps
visitors learn more about control measures
in effect in Canada and allows them to locate
the quantities and types of pollutants released
in Canada using a computerized map of the
National Pollutant Release Inventory. The
exhibit also includes a fun, theatrical
performance presented twice daily that provides
visitors with concrete solutions for living
in a healthy environment.
As an environment museum,
Environment Canada's Biosphere has a mandate
to generate environmental action and involvement
by Canadians. In addition to presenting
special events and exhibits, the Biosphere
develops numerous educational products for
a diverse clientele throughout the country
and is a renowned forum for environmental
exchanges.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
