Ottawa, Ont. -- May
25, 2011 -- A Canadian was elected President
of the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) today during the Sixteenth World Meteorological
Congress being held in Geneva.
David Grimes, the head
of Environment Canada's Meteorological Service,
was elected by representatives of the 189
member states and territories of WMO, a
United Nations Specialized Agency. Grimes
succeeds Dr. Alexander Bedritskiy of the
Russian Federation, who has held the post
since 2003.
"The election of
David Grimes as WMO president is a great
honour for Canada," said Canada's Environment
Minister Peter Kent. "It is a recognition
of the professionalism and integrity of
Mr. Grimes. Canada's meteorological service
is world class, and we appreciate the show
of confidence from the international community
for Canada's expertise in weather, water
and climate science," added Minister
Kent.
The president-elect
assumes his new position June 6.
"I am honoured
to have been elected by my colleagues,"
said Grimes. "It will be a privilege
to serve the international meteorological
and hydrological communities in this capacity,
particularly starting this year as Canada's
meteorological service celebrates 140 years
of service".
The president's term
is for four years. The president leads sessions
of WMO bodies, and helps shape the world's
agenda for research and services related
to weather, climate and water. The president
builds consensus among nations on our collective
investments in Earth observations, research
and services in an international enterprise
that brings together national assets such
as satellites, ships, high performance computers
and, of course, people.
David Grimes, a career
meteorologist who studied mathematics, nuclear
and quantum physics at Brock University
in Ontario, has been Assistant Deputy Minister
and head of Environment Canada's Meteorological
Service since July 2006. He has been Canada's
Permanent Representative to the WMO since
December 2006.
As a Member of WMO,
Environment Canada participates in a wide
array of international initiatives related
to weather, climate and water. Some specific
examples where Canada has led international
cooperative efforts are:
•helping to rebuild
the forecasting capacity of Haiti's National
Meteorological Service following the devastating
earthquake in that country
•conducting volcanic ash monitoring and
air quality sampling during the volcanic
eruption in Iceland
•collaborating with weather forecasters
on best practices for the next winter Olympics
in Sochi (2014)
+ More
Poachers Hit with Large
Fines and Hunting Suspensions for Violations
under the Migratory Birds Convention Act,
1994
GANDER, NL -- May 9,
2011 -- A two-year investigation by Environment
Canada's Enforcement Branch into the excessive
harvest and illegal selling of migratory
birds in the Twillingate and New World Island
areas of Newfoundland and Labrador has resulted
in convictions and heavy fines for local
poachers.
Hardy Brian Dove, age
55 of Twillingate, pleaded guilty on April
11, 2011 in Provincial Court in Gander,
Newfoundland and Labrador to charges under
the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
He was sentenced on May 6, 2011.
Mr. Dove was fined $4,800
for illegally selling murres and eider ducks,
and for exceeding the possession limit for
these species. He was also fined $1,360
for monetary gain from the sale of migratory
birds. Mr. Dove was also ordered to surrender
a 5.8 metre boat and motor, one shotgun,
a number of duck decoys, and other hunting
items to the Crown. He is also prohibited
for six years from hunting or being in the
company of anyone hunting migratory birds.
Gary Leyte, age 55 of
Virgin Arm, pleaded guilty on September
16, 2010 in Provincial Court in Gander,
Newfoundland and Labrador to charges under
the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
Lionel Leyte, age 32 of Virgin Arm, also
pleaded guilty on September 16, 2010 and
Neil Barrett, age 65 of Twillingate, pleaded
guilty on October 19, 2010 all in relation
to the same investigation.
Gary Leyte was fined
$3,1000 for the illegal selling of murres
and eider ducks and exceeding the possession
limit of eider ducks. He was also fined
$250 for hunting migratory birds with a
shotgun capable of holding more than three
rounds of ammunition. In addition, Gary
Leyte was ordered to surrender a firearm,
a number of duck decoys, and other hunting
items to the Crown. He is also prohibited
for five years from hunting or being in
the company of anyone hunting migratory
birds.
Lionel Leyte was fined
$1,000 for the illegal selling of murres
and is prohibited from hunting migratory
birds for one year. Neil Barrett was fined
$1,000 for the illegal selling of murres
and is prohibited from hunting migratory
birds for one year.
Murres, locally known
as turrs, and eider ducks are protected
under the Migratory Birds Convention Act,
1994. It is illegal to sell, offer for sale,
buy or trade any migratory bird. Environment
Canada's wildlife officers enforce federal
legislation which protects plant and animal
species. These laws are enforced throughout
Canada in collaboration with other federal
departments, provincial and territorial
governments, and national and international
agencies and organizations.
