News Release

Canada Joins the International Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking

OTTAWA, Thursday, April 12, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of the Environment announced today that Canada is joining the international Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT).  The international coalition, whose members include the U.S., Australia, India and the United Kingdom, aims to address the illegal trade of plants and animals.

"I welcome the opportunity, especially during Canada's National Wildlife Week, to join an international coalition whose purpose is to enhance the protection of wildlife throughout the world," stated Minister Baird.  "Our participation in this Coalition further demonstrates our commitment to enforcing environmental laws. In addition, Budget 2007 allocated of $22 million in additional funding to strengthen our capacity to enforce Environmental protection laws and allocated $110 million over the next two years to for more effective implementation of the Species at Risk Act.  This funding will help ensure our pollution and wildlife protection laws are respected."

Governments and non-government organizations worldwide have recognized the critical need to address growing threats to wildlife from poaching and illegal trade.  CAWT focuses political and public attention on the issue and facilitates action for effective wildlife law enforcement and regional cooperation.  Joining the Coalition also complements Canada's commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which aims at ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of our most threatened wildlife.

"We welcome Canada as a partner in this global alliance dedicated to combating criminal activity - activity that is threatening so many wildlife species with extinction," asserted Claudia McMurray, the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the Department of State in Washington.  "We look forward to robust collaboration that will build on the Coalition's work to halt the loss of biodiversity by curbing both the supply and demand for wildlife and wildlife products."

The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking is an association of governments, industry and conservation organizations that share the common goal of working within their spheres of influence to stamp out illegal wildlife trade. An initiative of the United States of America, CAWT was founded in 2005 and, with the addition of Canada, has grown to include the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Australia.  The Coalition also includes 14 international conservation and industry organizations. 

For more information, please contact:

Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Environment Canada Media Relations
(819) 934-8008
1-888-908-8008