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News Releases and Statements - Archive
A complete listing of the department's News Releases and Statements issued in the last year. Archives are also accessible from this page.
Ottawa, November 22, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister John Baird, met earlier today with the Indonesian Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat, to discuss key issues at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Climate Change. Indonesia is the host country of the conference.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 21, 2007 - The Government of Canada has taken yet another major step to protect and conserve Canada's north by announcing the withdrawal of over 10 million hectares of land, one of the largest land conservation initiatives in Canadian history near the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, and around the Ramparts River and Wetlands, both in the Northwest Territories.
Ottawa, November 17, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister John Baird today congratulated the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on the release of its fourth and final report, covering key aspects of global climate change.
ST. JOHN'S, NL, November 14, 2007 -- The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced a contribution of $35,000 to the Conservation Corps of Newfoundland and Labrador for a Public Education and Outreach Initiative on Water Conservation and Source Contamination.
HAMILTON, Ontario, November 9, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington, announced today that the Government of Canada is investing $30 million towards the clean-up of contaminated sediment in Randle Reef in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern in the Great Lakes.
Halifax, NS, November 8, 2007 -Two Florida residents were convicted and fined in Halifax Provincial Court today for their roles in a major smuggling ring involving Queen Conch, an internationally protected marine endangered species.
St. Andrews, New Brunswick, November 8, 2007 - The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced $751,000 of new funding for four initiatives of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment as part of Canada's Action Plan For Clean Water.
Winnipeg, November 7, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, announced today that the Government of Canada is ramping up its support to clean up Lake Winnipeg.
St. John's, NL, October 26, 2007 - An in-depth investigation by Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Division into the illegal baiting of migratory birds and the use of electronic calls for the purpose of hunting migratory birds has resulted in convictions and fines for four New Wes Valley hunters.
OTTAWA , October 25, 2007 - Canada 's Minister of the Environment, the Honourable John Baird, today issued the following statement regarding the release of the United Nations Environment Program's 4th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-4) Report.
Medicine Hat, Alberta - October 18, 2007 - Alberta Energy Company Limited, and AEC West Ltd., (carrying on business in partnership under the style and trade name of EnCana Oil & Gas Partnership), EnCana Corporation, and EnCana Oil & Gas Company Ltd. have been charged in Alberta Provincial Court with one count under the Wildlife Area Regulations of the Canada Wildlife Act.
DARTMOUTH, NS, October 15, 2007 - Environment Canada announced today that it has completed its testing of samples taken after fish kills at Dunk River and Tryon River, Prince Edward Island, in July 2007 and it concluded that it cannot determine the exact cause of either incident.
Richmond, British Columbia - October 12, 2007 - Yuk Ming (Peter) Ho of Richmond, British Columbia received a $9,000.00 fine yesterday after pleading guilty in Richmond Provincial Court to illegally importing over 30,000 pieces of African elephant ivory.
JACKSON'S POINT, Ontario, October 12, 2007 -The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform announced today that the Government of Canada is investing $12 million to support the clean up of Lake Simcoe.
OTTAWA, October 12, 2007- The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today the appointment of Robert A. Dubé, Robert Sopuck, and Donald F. MacKinnon to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). These appointments are effective immediately.
VANCOUVER, October 9, 2007 - Today, Mark Warawa, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, announced on behalf of the Minister, the Honourable John Baird, an investment of one million dollars to protect seabird populations on the Scott Islands off British Columbia.
WASHINGTON D.C., September 28, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, today concluded two days of meetings on climate change in Washington, D.C. by stressing that for any post-2012 climate change agreement to be successful, it must include all major greenhouse gas emitting countries.
OTTAWA, September 26, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, today released the following statement in response to news that Environment Canada enforcement officers, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries officers, have dismantled a major ring involved in the smuggling of queen conch meat, an internationally protected marine endangered species.
Montréal, September 26, 2007 - Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Division along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries officers have dismantled a major smuggling organization of queen conch meat, an internationally protected endangered species.
GATINEAU, Quebec, September 25, 2007 - Environment Minister John Baird today assured Canadians appropriate funding would be provided to priority environmental programs and services by Environment Canada.
Ottawa, September 24, 2007 - Environment Minister John Baird today announced that the Government of Canada is taking action to combat the dumping of raw sewage into our lakes, rivers, and oceans, and greatly improve sewage treatment across Canada. This action will help protect the health of Canadians, and will help address the threat of blue-green algae growth.
MONTREAL, September 22, 2007- Canada's Environment Minister John Baird, is pleased to announce that countries attending the Montreal Protocol conference have reached a major agreement to speed up the phase-out of chemicals that harm the ozone layer and cause climate change.
Québec City, September 18, 2007 - Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service is reporting the presence of dead or dying ducks in Lake Saint-Pierre.
WINNIPEG - September 18, 2007 - Environment Canada meteorologists have confirmed that the Elie, Manitoba tornado of June 22, 2007 reached F5 intensity, the highest rating on the Fujita tornado damage scale, making it the first officially documented F5 tornado in Canada.
MONTREAL, September 17, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, today received an award on behalf of the Government of Canada from the United Nations Environment Programme for Canada's important contribution to making the Montreal Protocol on ozone protection a success.
MONTREAL, September 16, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, today marked International Ozone Day at the Biosphere in Montreal by recognizing the important work of Canadian scientists in protecting the ozone layer.
Ottawa, September 14, 2007 - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, is challenging the international community to speed up the phase-out of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and cause climate change.
Ottawa, September 14, 2007 - The summer of 2007 in Canada was not the warmest on record but temperatures were still higher than the norm.
TORONTO, September 13, 2007 - In a precedent-setting case, Cheung-Hon (Oliver) Mok received an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty Monday in the Ontario Court of Justice - Criminal Division to illegally importing traditional Chinese medicines containing derivatives of endangered animals and plants.
REVELSTOKE, September 5, 2007 - Jim Abbott, Member of Parliament for Kootenay Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide $625,000 to the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
Ottawa, September 4, 2007 - Environment Canada's Meteorological Service predicts that much of Canada will experience above normal to normal temperatures this season, as outlined in the Fall seasonal outlook for September, October and November.
MONTREAL, Quebec, August 27, 2007 - Environment Canada announced that 9112-7480 Québec Inc., operator of Nettoyeur Brillant in Montreal, Quebec, appeared before a judge of the Court of Quebec and entered a plea of guilty to charges under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) and attendant Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations.
OTTAWA, August 24, 2007 - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced that industry and other stakeholders will have until December 19, 2007, to provide information on how they are safely managing and using 19 chemical substances identified as high priorities for action under the Chemicals Management Plan.
Hanna, Alberta - August 22, 2007 - Lucas Pawley, of Redmond, Oregon, the sixth and final member of a party of American hunters charged with hunting offences, pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000 in Hanna Provincial Court today for exceeding the possession limit for White Fronted Geese, in violation of the Migratory Birds Regulations.
Vancouver, British Columbia - August 17, 2007 -On August 15, 2007, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $50,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund for use in the area of the Port Moody arm of Burrard Inlet.
TORONTO, Ontario, August 16, 2007 -The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Laurel Broten, Ontario's Minister of the Environment today announced the official signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
OTTAWA, August 14, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced his recommendation to add 36 animals, plants and fish to the list of species protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
North Vancouver, British Columbia - August 3, 2007 - Environment Canada has, as a result of a joint investigation with the British Columbia (B.C.) Conservation Officer Service, Ministry of Environment, laid charges under the Fisheries Act and the B.C. Environmental Management Act against the Canadian National Railway.
OTTAWA, August 3, 2007 - The Honorable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today the appointment of Mr. David McLaughlin as President of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). Mr. McLaughlin's appointment is effective August 8, 2007.
CFB Esquimalt, July 26, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced that the federal government will invest $214 million this year to clean up contaminated sites across Canada.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today issued the following statement in relation to the oil spill in Burnaby, BC
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment today applauded 15 new graduates of Environment Canada's Basic Enforcement Training course, hosted by Algonquin College in Ottawa.
The Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Environment Canada are celebrating another one of Canada's exceptional birds, the Red-Breasted Nuthatch with a special coin and video presentation at the Royal Canadian Mint's facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today announced an investment of $30 million to establish the world's first National Air Quality Health Index and to expand the Air Quality Forecast Program to support this new initiative.
Five American hunters were fined $3000 each in Hanna Provincial Court on Wednesday June 27 for exceeding daily bag limits for White Fronted Geese, in violation of the Migratory Birds Regulations.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today the appointment of Wishart Robson to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). His appointment is effective immediately.
OTTAWA, Ontario, June 25, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment will work with the U.S. and Mexico to take further steps on issues of common environmental concern, including air pollution, at a meeting this week (June 26-27) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) in Morelia, Mexico.
Québec, Quebec, June 19, 2007 - Environment Canada announced today that Cascades Fine Papers Group Inc., a division of Cascades Inc., which operates the Breakey Fibres Division mill in Levis, Quebec, appeared today before a Court of Quebec judge and pleaded guilty to charges under the Fisheries Act.
WINDSOR, Ontario, June 15, 2007 - Christopher Donald Dunn of Windsor, Ontario was convicted today in the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Division, for unlawfully importing live coral into Canada from the U.S without a permit. Mr. Dunn was fined $615 and ordered to forfeit all Stony Corals seized from him at the Windsor border crossing.
Clean Air Day is our opportunity to learn more about how we can individually take action to reduce air pollution and reduce our personal carbon footprint. It is an opportunity to think about our future and to imagine the environment we want to leave to the next generation.
OTTAWA, June 5, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, issued a statement today to mark World Environment Day. This year World Environment Day coincides with the G-8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, where Minister Baird is accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper in discussions on the global fight against climate change.
OTTAWA, June 5, 2007 - The Honorable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today the appointment of Francine Dorion and Richard Prokopanko to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). Their appointments are effective immediately.
Environment Canada will present awards and certificates to 39 people on the Prairies during Environment Week, from June 3-9, 2007, in appreciation of their services over the years as volunteer climate observers.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, kicked off this year's Environment Week (June 3-8) by congratulating Canadians on their actions towards protecting and preserving the environment and encouraging them to stay involved.
Ottawa, June 1, 2007 - Environment Canada today released the summer seasonal outlook for the months of June, July and August. The summer outlook predicts that much of Canada will be warmer than normal.
An American hunter has been sentenced in Provincial Court to a fine of $10,000 for three counts of violating federal wildlife conservation legislation in connection with illegally hunting waterfowl in the Cumberland Marsh area of Saskatchewan in 2003.
As part of its international obligations, Environment Canada submitted today its annual national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 2005 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, joined by the Honourable Michael Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute $4.5 million to the Habitat Stewardship Program to protect species at risk and the habitat where they live.
The Honorable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today the appointments of Ms. Francine Doiron, Mr. Kerry Morash, Mr. Wishart Robson and Dr. Robert Slater to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE).
Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Canada Atlantic Opportunities Agency, Peter MacKay, and Nova Scotia's Minister of Environment and Labour Mark Parent, today announced $42.5 million in funding for Nova Scotia's part of Canada's $1.5 billion trust for clean air and climate change.
Canadian Horizontal Drilling Ltd. (CHD) of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, was fined $7,500 in Alberta Provincial Court on May 4, 2007, for contravening a Sentencing Order issued under the federal Fisheries Act.
The Minister of the Environment, the Honourable John Baird, today welcomed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report by Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change, released earlier today in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment today reiterated the Government's commitment to real action on the environment, but cautioned that with only eight months remaining, Canada cannot reach its 2008 to 2012 Kyoto targets, as required under Bill C-288, without intentionally manufacturing an economic recession.
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, will meet with his provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss plans to tackle climate change and air pollution on May 28, 2007 during a meeting of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) in Toronto, Ontario.
With respect to the comments of former United States Vice President Al Gore, the Honourable John Baird, the Minister of the Environment, made the following statement:
Ottawa, April 27, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today expressed Canada's New Government's strong support for the objectives of the Canadian Lung Association's Lung Health Framework in his closing address to the Framework's conference.
TORONTO, Ontario, April 26, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today unveiled Turning the Corner: An Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution, which will see the federal government for the first-time ever force industry to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.
CALGARY, April 25, 2007 - Leddy Exploration Ltd. (Leddy) of Calgary, Alberta, was sentenced in Alberta Provincial Court to a fine of $2,500 and a contribution of $40,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund, after pleading guilty to one count of violating subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act, which protects fish-bearing waters from the deposit of any substance that is harmful to fish and aquatic life.
OTTAWA (Ontario), April 24, 2007 - Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird today announced $15 million in funding for Prince Edward Island as part of a trust fund set up by Canada's New Government to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.
OTTAWA, April 22, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, joined by Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada celebrated Earth Day today with students, parents and teachers of Lakeview Public School by planting new trees in the school yard.
The Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of the Environment, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, announced today that Canada and the U.S. will start negotiations for an annex to the U.S.-Canada Air Quality Agreement aimed at reducing the cross-border flow of air pollution and its impact on the health and ecosystems of Canadians and Americans.
Today, Canada's Minister of the Environment, the Honourable John Baird, made the following statement in response to recent media reports of trilateral negotiations between Canada, Mexico and the United States on bulk water exports and diversions.
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.
Vancouver, April 12, 2007 - Environment Canada has laid 4 charges against Yuk Ming HO of Richmond, British Columbia for alleged violations of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). The charges stem from an investigation by Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Division, Pacific and Yukon Region. Mr. Ho has been given notice to appear in Richmond Provincial Court on April 26, 2007.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - April 11, 2007 -The Canadian Wildlife Federation, Environment Canada and the Royal Canadian Mint are teaming up to celebrate National Wildlife Week 2007 at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
OTTAWA, April 10, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, and Mr. Colin Maxwell, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, today marked National Wildlife Week, April 8-14, by calling on Canadians to help protect and conserve Canada's abundance and variety of wildlife and the habitat that sustains them.
Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird and Saskatchewan Environment Minister John Nilson today announced $44.4 million in funding for Saskatchewan as part of a trust fund set up by Canada's New Government to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.
OTTAWA, CANADA, April 5 2007 - Environment Canada today released the Canadian Consumer Battery Baseline Study, which reveals that the annual number of consumer batteries discarded is increasing dramatically, releasing a growing amount of dangerous substances into our land and water.
OTTAWA, April 5, 2007 - The Honorable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Angus Bruneau, Mr. Christopher Hilkene, Mr. Ken McKinnon and Dr. Robert Page to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. Their appointments have been confirmed by the Governor in Council and are effective immediately.
OTTAWA, April 2, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, joined Vicky Sharpe, CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Dusanka Filipovic, CEO of Blue-Zone Technologies and Michel Bilodeau, President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to celebrate the installation of Blue-Zone Ltd.'s patented DeltaTM technology in all of CHEO's operating rooms.
James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the,Environment announced today that Environment Canada will provide $450,000 in funding over three years to the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium.
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 30, 2007 - Canada's Minister of the Environment John Baird and Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Environment Clyde Jackman today announced $23 million in funding for Newfoundland and Labrador as part of a trust fund set up by Canada's New Government to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. The $1.5 billion trust fund for clean air and climate change is part of the Government's recent $4.5 billion budget commitment to make real progress on important environmental issues.
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 30, 2007 - Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, joined by Premier and Minister of the Environment Dennis Fentie, today announced $5 million in funding for the Yukon as part of a trust fund set up by Canada's New Government to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.
OTTAWA, March 22, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today marked World Water Day by promising action to improve the health and quality of Canada's fresh water resources through the Government's National Water Strategy.
Ottawa, Ontario, March 19, 2007 -- The Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of the Environment, joined by Nunavut Premier, the Honourable Paul Okalik, announced today that Canada's New Government will provide the Government of Nunavut with $5 million from the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.
TORONTO, Ontario, March 16, 2007 - The Governments of Canada and Ontario are building on the accomplishments of the current Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) to continue to improve and protect the Great Lakes, their waters and their ecosystem.
FREDERICTON (CNB), March 16, 2007 - The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, and joined by New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham, today announced that Canada's New Government intends to provide New Brunswick with $34 million as part of the new Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change to support provincial projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.
CAMBRIDGE BAY, Nunavut, March 16, 2007 - Miramar Hope Bay Ltd. of Vancouver has been fined $100,000 in Nunavut Territorial Court in Cambridge Bay for a violation of subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act resulting from a June 2004 spill of 19,000 litres of diesel fuel into Windy Lake, Nunavut.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, March 15, 2006 - Canada submitted today two reports to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, March 15, 2007 -The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today announced Canada's New Government's is contributing $1 million toward the reforestation of Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. Minister MacKay was speaking on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, March 11, 2007 -- The Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of the Environment, joined by Northwest Territories Premier Joseph Handley, today announced that Canada's New Government intends to provide the Government of the Northwest Territories with $5 million as part of the new Canada ecoTrust, which supports provincial and territorial projects that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and air pollution. The NWT may also use these funds to adapt to a changing climate.
WINNIPEG, March 3, 2007 -- The Honourable John Baird, Canada's Minister of the Environment, joined by Manitoba Premier Gary Doer today announced that Canada's New Government intends to provide Manitoba with $53.8 million as part of the new Canada ecoTrust to support provincial projects that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions smog and air pollution.
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, February 20, 2007 -- Colin Lester, a St. John's farmer, pleaded guilty in Provincial Court yesterday to charges of violating subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. The charges resulted from a May 2005 release of liquid cattle manure from the farm's storage lagoon into the South Brook in St. John's, NL.
OTTAWA, Ontario, February 15, 2007 -- The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced Canada's intention to become a member of the Legislators Forum of the G8 + 5 Climate Change Dialogue.
OTTAWA - February 8, 2007 - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced the launch of the Challenge to Industry for the safe management of chemicals that has already begun with the Gazetting of the first list of 15 priority substances on February 3rd.
SURREY, British Columbia, February 7, 2007 -- A Vancouver resident has been convicted of hunting migratory birds out of season. The conviction follows charges laid under the Migratory Birds Regulations, made pursuant to the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) after an investigation by Wildlife Officers of Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Division in Vancouver, B.C.
Paris, France, February 2, 2007 -- Environment Minister John Baird stated today that he and Canada's New Government accept the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report and called on Canadians to get ready for some tough decisions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
POINTE-À-LA-CROIX, Québec, January 25, 2007 - Starting at 6:00 am today, wildlife protection officers from Québec's Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, New Brunswick and Environment Canada have put a stop to the illegal activities of a group of poachers active in the Gaspé and northern New Brunswick regions.
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, January 22, 2007 - Master Cleaners (1988) Ltd., represented by owner Robert MacLauchlan, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, appeared in Provincial Court on January 18, 2007 to plead guilty to two alleged violations of the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations.
Vancouver, January 21, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today signaled that the government will proceed with a $30 million contribution to support the Conservation Investments and Incentives Initiative (CIII) fund.
Vancouver, January 18, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a contribution of $2 million towards the restoration of Vancouver's Stanley Park National Historic Site (NHS) of Canada.
Vancouver, B.C. - January 9, 2007 - Federal Environment Minister John Baird will meet this afternoon with representatives from ten environmental non-governmental organizations as part of his outreach to Canada's environmental leaders. Greenpeace Canada, Pollution Probe, Nature Canada, Équiterre, the Pembina Institute, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Sierra Club of Canada, World Wildlife Fund and the David Suzuki Foundation are expected to participate.
GANDER, Newfoundland and Labrador, January 9, 2007 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered on his promise to reinstate the Newfoundland and Labrador Weather Office in Gander today, as it issued the first public weather forecast for the province. The Weather office was officially opened by Avalon M.P. Fabian Manning on behalf of Environment Minister John Baird.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, December 20, 2006 - Canada's New Government today took further action to combat climate change, announcing it would regulate the use of renewable fuels in Canada and deliver $345 million to assist farmers and rural communities seize new market opportunities in the agricultural bioproducts sector.
OTTAWA, December 20, 2006 - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Environment Canada (EC) are working together to prevent the illegal exportation of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable materials out of the Port of Vancouver.
OTTAWA, December 14, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate the sustainable development strategies of 28 federal departments and agencies.
OTTAWA, December 13, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, today confirmed that Canada's New Government will require vehicle manufacturers and steel mills to implement pollution prevention plans to ensure mercury switches are removed from automobiles before the vehicles are recycled.
OTTAWA, December 8, 2006 - The Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce the appointments of Janet Benjamin and Pauline Browes to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). Their appointments have been confirmed by the Governor in Council and are effective immediately.
Ottawa, Ontario - December 8, 2006 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today unveiled Canada's new Chemicals Management Plan. The plan takes immediate action to regulate chemicals that are harmful to human health or the environment.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, December 8, 2006 - Toronto company Ethiopian Spices and one of its co-owners, Abdurahman Abdullahi Ibrahim, were fined a total of $2,250 today in the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Division. The accused were found guilty on November 28, 2006 on charges of illegally importing rugs from Ethiopia made from monkey skins.
NAIROBI, November 17, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, today outlined Canada's achievements at the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
NAIROBI, KENYA - November 16, 2006 -- The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is heading the Canadian Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference from November 14 to 17 in Nairobi, Kenya.
MONTREAL, November 14, 2006 - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, announced today on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, that Canada's New Government introduced on November 2, 2006 new requirements for on-road motorcycles. These new emissions standard will reduce smog-forming pollutants from motorcycles, mopeds and scooters and therefore reduce the risks to health from air pollution.
TERRACE, British Colombia, November 14, 2006 - On September 26, 2006, West Fraser Mills Ltd., pled guilty in the Provincial Court of British Columbia to one count of depositing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish, contrary to subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act, and to one count of failing to comply with the requirements of a permit contrary to subsection 54(6) of the British Columbia Waste Management Act.
BRAMPTON, Ontario, November 14, 2006 -- Caviar Centre Inc. today was convicted in the Ontario Court of Justice - Criminal Division, for unlawfully importing sturgeon caviar into Canada from Turkey without a permit. The company, one of Canada's premier caviar import and wholesale operations, was handed a fine of $3,000 and ordered to forfeit the 126 kilograms of seized caviar with a retail value estimated at $305,000.
OTTAWA, November 10, 2006 -- The Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Chernushenko, Timothy R. Haig and Dr. Mark Jaccard to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). Their appointments have been confirmed by the Governor in Council and are effective immediately.
OTTAWA, November 5, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce that Canada will host the 20th Anniversary Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol in 2007.
OTTAWA, October 19, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, gave Canadians the first and central component of Canada's New Government's environmental Agenda when she introduced Canada's Clean Air Act in Parliament today.
Toronto, October 18, 2006 - Trading on the internet in endangered species, as well as goods containing their parts, could land you in jail. Mark J. Gleberzon, age 36, of Toronto, Ontario was convicted yesterday in the Ontario Court of Justice - Criminal Division, for unlawfully exporting endangered species from Canada to the United States.
PARRY SOUND, Ontario, September 8, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment; the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, announced today $500,000 for the first phase of a major study of the Upper Great Lakes.
OTTAWA, August 29, 2006 - Environment Canada has laid 14 charges against Wing Quon Enterprises Ltd. for allegedly importing CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) specimens without the required permits and for unlawfully possessing and distributing medicines containing Tiger, Bear, Pangolin, Musk Deer and Rhinoceros derivatives.
OTTAWA, August 28, 2006 - Environment Canada laid charges against Metalex Products Ltd. of Richmond and Davis Trading & Supply Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 1, 2006. It is alleged that these companies unlawfully imported hazardous waste in 2004.
OTTAWA, August 28, 2006 - Thousands of diet pill shipments ordered by Canadians are arriving at Canada's borders and being detained by federal wildlife and customs officials because they contain an endangered African plant species called hoodia.
OTTAWA, August 24, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the addition of 32 land-based species and 10 aquatic species to Schedule 1, the list of species protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
OTTAWA, August 16, 2006 - The Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, today acknowledged the recent efforts by British Columbia to protect and recover the endangered Northern Spotted Owl.
EDMONTON, August 11, 2006 - Canadian Horizontal Drilling Ltd. of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, has been charged in Alberta Provincial Court with one count of violating Section 79.6 of the Fisheries Act for allegedly failing to comply with a court order. This current charge relates back to Canadian Horizontal Drilling Ltd.'s original conviction and sentence from March 8, 2004 where Canadian Horizontal Drilling Ltd. pleaded guilty to a violation under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, which protects fish-bearing waters from the deposit of any substance that is deleterious to fish and aquatic life.
OTTAWA, Ontario, July 31, 2006 - Environment Canada welcomes the decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to assign the 511 telephone number for weather and traveller information services.
OTTAWA, Ontario, July 10, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, today announced funding for 101 environmental projects from the EcoAction Community Funding Program in communities across Canada. In total, over $2.8 million will be dedicated to local action aimed at reducing pollution, improving air and water quality, and protecting wildlife and natural habitat.
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.
MONCTON, New Brunswick, June 23, 2006 - Gemtec Ltd. and company official Robert Lutes were sentenced in Provincial Court in Moncton, New Brunswick today of violating the pollution prevention provisions of the Federal Fisheries Act. The charges relate to the deposit of acutely lethal landfill leachate that entered the Petitcodiac Watershed from the former Moncton Landfill Site.
OTTAWA, June 12, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced her proposed recommendation to add 42 new animals, plants and fish to the list of species protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
OTTAWA, June 11, 2006 - In recognition of the 35th annual Environment Week, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment has announced that for the first time in Canada, the federal government is taking action to reduce the amount of mercury released into our environment from scrap cars.
ORILLIA, June 8, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, today announced the donation of Canada's 500th ecological gift, namely the Prairie Smoke nature reserve. This brings the total value of ecological gift lands to more than $150 million dollars. The property is 275 hectares of a rare type of habitat and is located near Orillia, Ontario.
OTTAWA, June 5, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is calling on all Canadians to participate in Canadian Environment Week. This year marks the 35th celebration of Canadian Environment Week which takes place from June 4-10, 2006. The week gives Canadians an opportunity to encourage and celebrate grassroots action to make our environment cleaner and healthier.
IQALUIT, Nunavut, May 30, 2006 - Environment Canada has laid charges against Miramar Mining Corporation of Vancouver and four related companies for alleged offences related to a fuel spill at a mining exploration camp at Windy Lake, Nunavut.
Winnipeg, May 18, 2006 - Plans for Canada's Inter-agency Wild Bird Influenza Survey 2006 were announced today by representatives of Environment Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre. The survey will provide an early warning for the possible entry of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) into Canada.
Montreal, Quebec, May 17, 2006 - Environment Canada, in collaboration with the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MSDEP), the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services and its regional Public Health officials (including the City of Montreal), for the thirteenth consecutive year, is renewing the Info-Smog program for air quality.
Bonn, Germany, May 16, 2006 - Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, in her role as President of the Conference of Parties, delivered the opening address of the session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) calling on all countries engaged in the future dialogue to be innovative about the challenges ahead in addressing climate change.
Montreal, Quebec, May 16, 2006 - Spruce Falls Inc., a division of Tembec Inc. that operates the industrial complex in Témiscaming in Quebec, appeared yesterday before a Quebec Court judge and pleaded guilty to charges under the Fisheries Act.
OTTAWA, May 11, 2006 - Environment Minister Rona Ambrose speaking today in the House of Commons outlined measures her department has taken and will take to deal with harmful emissions. "The record left by the Liberal government is shameful," said Minister Ambrose. "For all their talk of commitment to Kyoto goals in 2004, emissions are 35% above the Kyoto target negotiated on their watch."
OTTAWA, Ontario, April 28, 2006 - Significant steps are being taken today by the Government of Canada towards reducing releases of several toxic substances from some of the largest sources of industrial pollution in Canada. This is a concrete and tangible step toward the government delivering on its commitment to tackling air pollution and cleaning up the air that Canadians breathe.
OTTAWA, Ontario, April 20, 2006 - Mrs. Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment of Canada congratulates former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney who will be recognized this evening by Corporate Knights, the Canadian magazine for responsible business as the Greenest Prime Minister in Canadian history.
SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, April 18, 2006 - Munro Electronics Ltd. (1988) of Saint John appeared in court on April 13, 2006 and pleaded not-guilty to charges of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The Court will reconvene on May 2, 2006, at which time a trial date will be set.
Gander, NL - April 12, 2006 - The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the reinstatement of a weather forecast office for Newfoundland and Labrador located in Gander.
SAINTE-FOY, March 30, 2006 - Environment Canada has confirmed that there will be a spring conservation harvest of the Greater Snow Goose in 2006. As in previous years, this will take place from April 1 to May 31, 2006, in southern Quebec and from May 1 to June 30, 2006, in the north. Harvesting is authorized only on farmland, excluding those areas where large numbers of people customarily congregate to watch the geese, such as around Lac St-Pierre and Montmagny.
OTTAWA, March 24, 2006 - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment is pleased to announce that a significant milestone for the protection of the international marine environment has been reached today with the entry into force of the London Protocol. As a result of a recent surge of ratifications in recent months, and finally the ratification by Mexico in February 2006, the Protocol officially enters into force today.
OTTAWA, March 23, 2006 - Today marks the United Nation's World Meteorological Day, which commemorates the coming into force of the Convention on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950. This year's theme is "Preventing and Mitigating Natural Disasters," and Environment Canada is taking the opportunity to raise awareness about preparing for severe weather.
CORNER BROOK, Newfoundland and Labrador, March 16, 2006 - Three men from Rose Blanche, Newfoundland and Labrador, were convicted in Provincial Court on March 10, 2006, for offences under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
QUEBEC, March 13, 2006 - The Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada wishes to inform hunters interested in hunting the Greater Snow Goose next fall at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve that they can start registering now.
QUEBEC, March 2, 2006 - Five people entered guilty pleas in Alberta Provincial Court in Wainwright, to breaking provincial and federal wildlife regulations. On February 2, 2006, the Court fined the five people a total of $26,750, and barred each individual from hunting in Alberta for five years.
PORT AUX BASQUES, Newfoundland, March 2, 2006 - Three men from Newfoundland were sentenced in Provincial court on February 28th, 2006, for offences under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
WINNIPEG, March 1, 2006 - A Manitoba man was ordered to pay fines totaling just over $1,300 in Manitoba Provincial Court, after pleading guilty to charges of illegally importing and possession of live corals and clams, in violation of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
OTTAWA, February 16, 2006 - The Government of Canada has informed the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat that Environment Minister Rona Ambrose will assume the duties of President of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, February 27, 2006 - Mr. Jeffrey Dressler pleaded guilty on July 22, 2005, to two charges under the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste Regulations made pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. He received a sentence of 30 days on each count, to be served concurrently. The charges were related to actions taken by Mr. Dressler while employed by Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc. of Etobicoke, Ontario.
