NAGOYA, Japan -- October
27, 2010 -- TheHonourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of the Environment, today delivered
Canada's national statement to delegates
at the United Nations Biological Diversity
Conference. The 10th meeting of the Conference
of Parties (COP10) has
brought nations together to work on developing
a protocol that will address the conservation
of biological diversity, the sustainable
use of its components and the fair and equitable
sharing of benefits arising from the use
of genetic resources.
"Canada has a long
history of support for the Convention on
Biological Diversity. We are also the proud
host of the Secretariat of the Convention,
a role we have enjoyed for more than 15
years. This 10th meeting of the Parties
provides an opportunity to reinforce our
global commitment to the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity," said
Minister Prentice. "Canada supports
a strategic plan for the future that is
ambitious and realistic. We are committed
to working with international partners to
protect the world's natural legacy and to
support the sharing of the benefits arising
from its utilization."
In his statement, Minister
Prentice stressed that Canada made substantial
investments to halt biodiversity loss, protecting
more than 100 million hectares of land,
nearly 10% of Canada's land mass, 3 million
hectares of ocean, and 470 species at risk,
including securing and restoring habitat.
He mentioned that we
have one of the best national park systems
in the world and have grown it by 30% in
4 years. He stated that our commitment to
conservation goes beyond Canadian borders,
with a $40 million contribution to the World
Bank to address deforestation and forest
degradation in developing countries, as
part of our $400 million contribution this
year in fast-start financing under the Copenhagen
Accord.
Minister Prentice went
on to state that governments cannot act
alone to meet biodiversity targets. "Businesses,
cities, aboriginal peoples and civil society
are all partners and make important contributions
as we look to the future and all work together
to make a difference".
Pascale Boulay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
$3 million Award Imposed
as Syncrude Canada ltd. Convicted of Violating
Environmental Laws
ST. ALBERT, Alb. --
October 22, 2010 -- Syncrude Canada Ltd.
was convicted of one offence under the federal
Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and
one count under the Alberta Environmental
Protection and Enhancement Act. The charges
are related to the deaths of 1606 migratory
waterfowl found in the company's Aurora
Settling Basin or tailings pond in 2008.
"This significant
result and award demonstrates our Government's
ongoing commitment to enforce federal environmental
regulations in the oilsands," said
Environment Minister Jim Prentice, "We
will continue to work with all levels of
governments to protectmigratory birds and
the environment."
Syncrude Canada Ltd.
was sentenced to pay an award of approximately
$3 million. The award consists of:
•$300,000. This is the
maximum fine available for an offence under
the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
This fine will be paid to the federal Environmental
Damages Fund (EDF).
•$500,000. This is the maximum fine under
Alberta's Environmental Protection Act.
Half of the provincial fine will be directed
towards the creation of a program for bird
protection and monitoring and integrated
with aboriginal training at Keyano College
in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
•$2.2 million to be applied to the following
environmental projects:
•$1.3 million to be held in trust by the
University of Alberta for the Avian Protection
Research Study;
•$900,000 to purchase lands in the Golden
Ranches Conservation Area near Edmonton.
The federal conviction is for the offence
of depositing or permitting the deposit
of a substance harmful to migratory birds
in waters or an area frequented by birds,
in contravention of subsection 5.1(1) of
the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
The provincial conviction is for one count
of contravening section 155 of the provincial
Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement
Act by failing to keep or store a hazardous
substance in a manner that avoids contact
with animals.
The charges stemmed
from a joint investigation that was initiated
after a large number of dead and dying migratory
birds were found in the Syncrude's Aurora
Settling Basin located north of Fort McMurray,
Alberta on April 28, 2008. The joint investigation
was conducted by Environment Canada, Alberta
Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource
Development enforcement officers.
The Environmental Damages
Fund is administered by the Government of
Canada. The fund was created to provide
the courts and companies with an option
to direct monetary penalties and settlements
to invest in and restore the environment.
It helps ensure polluters take responsibility
for their actions and enforces the "polluter
pays" principle.
For more information,
please contact:
Pascale Boulay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
