LANSDOWNE,
Ont.-- July 18, 2011 -- Hugh Segal, Senator
for Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds, on behalf
of Canada's Minister of the Environment,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
the Nature Conservancy of Canada's successful
conservation of the Sheffield Property-245
hectares of land within the Frontenac Arch
Natural Area, Ontario. This project was
secured in part with funding from Environment
Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program.
"The Government
of Canada is very pleased to be working
with dedicated partners, such as the Nature
Conservancy of Canada, for the long-term
conservation of the biological diversity
of Canada's natural treasures," said
Senator Segal. "The Arch is an area
of significant ecological overlap between
southern Carolinian elements and northern
boreal and mixed forest systems. As a result,
this is one of the most biologically diverse
areas in Ontario, particularly rich in plant
and bird species."
The acquisition is for
inclusion in Charleston Lake Provincial
Park. The Sheffield property represents
an ecologically significant area that is
home to important plant and animal species
including the endangered Butternut and threatened
Gray Ratsnake, Great Lakes / St. Lawrence
Population (also known as Eastern Ratsnake).
"This acquisition
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 Charleston
Lake Provincial Park expansion project is
an excellent example of multiple partners
coming together for a united cause, in this
case, one that conserves Ontario's beautiful,
natural legacy," remarked Chris Maher,
Ontario Regional Vice President for the
Nature Conservancy of Canada. "Achievements
like this demonstrate the amazing accomplishments
that can be realised when partners work
together."
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.
+ More
Canada's Environment
Minister Announces Integrated Plan for Oil
Sands Monitoring
Plan Focuses on Air
Quality, Biodiversity and Water
OTTAWA, Ont. --July 21, 2011 -- Canada's
Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter
Kent, released an integrated, world-class
monitoring plan for the oil sands region
today. The Government of Canada will be
working with the Province of Alberta on
implementing the plan.
"The oil sands
represent a significant, long-term economic
advantage for the people of Alberta, and
all Canadians," said Minister Kent.
"We must ensure that this resource
is developed in a way that protects our
air, our water and biodiversity for generations
to come."
The Government of Canada
coordinated the development of the monitoring
plan in collaboration with provincial, territorial
and academic scientists. This final plan
includes components for monitoring air quality,
biodiversity, and the next phase of water
quality monitoring in the oil sands region.
The plan will provide
the scientific foundation necessary to provide
governments and industry with the information
that they need to continue to ensure the
environmentally sustainable development
of this important resource.
The integrated monitoring
plan follows a 2010 recommendation of an
independent Oil Sands Advisory Panel, and
was designed on the core principles recommended
by the Advisory Panel: holistic and comprehensive;
scientifically rigorous; adaptive and robust;
inclusive and collaborative; and, transparent
and accessible.
The Government looks
forward to working with the Province of
Alberta and industry in developing strategies
for implementing the plan.
