KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- June
27, 2011 -- Canada's Minister of the Environment,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
the Nature Conservancy of Canada's successful
completion of a conservation covenant protecting
the Warner Philip property - 259 hectares
of land near Kamloops,
British Columbia. This project was secured
in part with funding from Environment Canada's
Natural Areas Conservation Program and tax
incentives under the Ecological Gifts program.
"This project marks
another achievement under our government's
Natural Areas Conservation Program. With
this investment, we are taking real action
to protect and conserve our ecosystems and
sensitive species for present and future
generations," said Minister Kent. "Your
actions today will help to protect the abundance
and variety of life that will constitute
an integral part of our natural heritage
tomorrow."
The protected grasslands
area is situated in the Nicola River drainage,
30 kilometres south of Kamloops, B.C. The
property, which is part of a migratory bird
corridor, is rich in biodiversity and home
to Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Great
Horned Owls, and American Avocets, among
other species. The property also provides
habitat for rare species at risk such as
Long-billed Curlews, Burrowing Owls and
American Badger. The landowner, Connie Philip
is generously donating a conservation covenant
in memory of her late husband, Warner Philip.
"The Warner Philip
Conservation Area protects some of BC's
most valuable grassland habitat," said
Barbara Pryce, Okanagan Program Manager,
Nature Conservancy of Canada. "Connie
and Warner Philip cared for this special
property for their whole lives, and in return
it supported their family. The Nature Conservancy
of Canada is honoured to enhance the stewardship
of this ecologically and culturally important
property."
The Government of Canada's
$225-million Natural Areas Conservation
Program is an important on-the-ground initiative
that takes real action to preserve Canada's
environment and conserve its precious natural
heritage for present and future generations.
It is through the ongoing contribution from
all donors that we can ensure the protection
of natural areas in Canada. As of December
2010, the Natural Areas Conservation Program
has protected 151,278 hectares of habitat,
which includes habitat for 101 species at
risk.
The Ecological Gifts
Program complements other national initiatives,
such as the Natural Areas Conservation Program
and the Habitat Stewardship Program, by
facilitating enhanced income tax benefits
to Canadians who generously donate properties
that protect ecologically sensitive land.
+ More
Canada's Environment
Minister Announces Start Date for Biodiesel
Requirement
SASKATOON, Sask. --
June 29, 2011 -- Canada's Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
that the Government is moving ahead with
the 2 percent renewable content requirement
in diesel fuel and heating oil.
"Our Government
will continue to ensure that protecting
our environment, while balancing economic
growth and prosperity remains our priority",
said Minister Kent. "The steps we are
taking on renewable fuels, combined with
those of the provinces, will ensure a volume
of renewable fuel that will reduce annual
greenhouse gas emissions by about four megatonnes
a year--the equivalent of removing one million
vehicles from the road."
"This requirement
will further strengthen the market for renewable
fuels, which is good news for our farmers
and the environment," said the Honorable
Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian
Wheat Board. "Increased demand for
feed stocks like canola will ensure an even
stronger bottom line for farmers and a stronger
agricultural sector."
The regulatory amendment
to the Renewable Fuels Regulations will
be published in the Canada Gazette, Part
II, in the coming weeks. The coming-into-force
date for the requirement is July 1, 2011.
A non official, pre-published version of
the regulations is available at http://www.ec.gc.ca/energie-energy/default.asp?lang=En&n=0AA71ED2-1.
The Government has carefully
considered all the comments received on
the proposal and is balancing possible competitiveness
impacts on eastern refiners with the need
to minimize delays to support the Canadian
biodiesel industry in moving forward.
A permanent exemption
is being provided for renewable content
in diesel fuel and heating distillate oil
sold in Newfoundland and Labrador to address
the logistical challenges of blending biodiesel
in this region. Temporary exemptions for
renewable content in diesel fuel and heating
distillate oil sold in Quebec and all Atlantic
Provinces are being provided until December
31, 2012. This 18-month period will allow
eastern refiners time to install biodiesel
blending infrastructure.
This is an important
initiative in support of our commitment
to reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas
emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels
by 2020. It is also further action the Government
of Canada has taken in the transportation
sector. In addition, the Government of Canada
has finalized vehicle tailpipe emissions
regulations, and is working to do the same
for heavy-duty vehicles.
