Government of Canada Announces One Million Dollars for Conservation Efforts

RED DEER, July 8, 2006 – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency, today announced the signing of two contribution agreements with Nature Canada valued at more than one million dollars. The announcement was made at Nature Canada’s Annual General Meeting, in Red Deer, Alberta.

This significant financial contribution will support an on-the-ground investigation by Nature Canada as to how to best develop a comprehensive nature network – bringing together naturalists, conservation organizations and land trusts from across Canada. Together, these organizations will be able to work in concert on conservation issues that are important to all Canadians.

“We are interested in real, tangible results for Canadians and for our environment,” said Minister Ambrose. “The Government of Canada’s contribution announcement today will go a long way towards making our shared conservation goals a reality, and I am excited about working with Nature Canada on this important endeavour.”

“I am also pleased to announce that today’s announcement is a joint initiative between Environment Canada and the Parks Canada Agency,” added Minister Ambrose.

Parks Canada is responsible for the ecological integrity of Canada’s national parks, the sustainable use of national marine conservation areas and the commemorative integrity of national historic sites. It is also responsible for public education opportunities and meaningful visitor experiences. Environment Canada is responsible for the administration and implementation of the Species at Risk Act, an important tool for the conservation and protection of species at risk. Both Environment Canada and the Agency depend on strong alliances such as the one we are announcing today to accomplish this important work.

Over 14 months, there will be a participatory process of exploration, identification and assessment of current activities of over 360 local and provincial nature groups across Canada, as well as consultation with national conservation organizations and provincial land trusts on the development of a national alliance on conservation.

At the end of this process, a strategic plan will be developed outlining how a Canadian Nature Network could effectively engage the conservation community in the long-term to participate in policy discussions on important national issues and implement nature conservation priorities on the ground.

Nature Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Nature Federation, is a large environmental non-governmental organization that works to conserve and protect Canada’s natural diversity of plant and animal species and their environment.

For further information, please contact:

Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Denis Simard
Senior Media Relations Officer
Environment Canada
(819) 934-8008 or 1-888-908-8008

Josianne Jalbert
Media Relations Officer
Parks Canada
(819) 994-3023