Environment Minister David Anderson Announces $1.9 Million for Community Environmental Projects

More than $221,000 in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX, January 7, 2003 - The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today announced $1.9 million in funding for 53 environmental projects in communities across Canada. In Atlantic Canada, 6 projects were approved for a total commitment of $221,654.

"These projects are demonstrations of the tremendous capacity of communities to chart their own course towards sustainability", said Minister Anderson. "I congratulate the organizations and volunteers involved in these projects for making Canada a healthier place to live, one community at a time."

The funding comes from Environment Canada's EcoAction Community Funding Program, which helps locally-based, non-profit organizations undertake environmental projects. Successful projects in Atlantic Canada include:

• a storm water management project in Grand Falls - Windsor, Newfoundland
• a nutrient management project for farmers in northwestern New Brunswick
• a coastline protection project in selected areas across Nova Scotia
• a climate change and conservation project for churches in Prince Edward Island
• a cattle restricting and pollution prevention program on riverside properties in the Annapolis Valley
• a pilot project to educate on septic system design, placement, maintenance and usage in Halifax

To be eligible for EcoAction funding, projects must result in positive, measurable environmental benefits and build public awareness of priority environmental issues such as air quality, climate change, water quality and species at risk. The projects must also respond to community needs and obtain matching funding or in-kind support from other sponsors. Submission deadlines for proposals to the EcoAction program are February 1st and October 1st of each year.

A list of the recently approved projects and information on the EcoAction program can be found at http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/community/funding.html