Environment Canada's Minister and the Nature Conservancy of Canada launch Gifts to Canadians Week in Calgary

June 21, 2010

CALGARY, Alta.  -- Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, today met with the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC) President & CEO, John Lounds, to celebrate the launch of the ninth annual Gifts to Canadians week.

Gifts to Canadians is an annual announcement that is part of NCC's ongoing efforts to celebrate and conserve Canada's biodiversity from coast to coast and leave a lasting natural legacy for all Canadians. Each year, NCC announces a total of 10 natural areas across the country, one from each province, as its Gifts to Canadians.

"The partnership between the Government of Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada has produced great results over the last three years which is why I am proud to be here today to join Mr. Lounds in launching this year's Gifts to Canadians," said Minister Prentice. "Under our government's $225-million Natural Areas Conservation Program, over 630 land transactions have been successfully negotiated across the country, helping protect and conserve our ecosystems and sensitive species for present and future generations." 

"These Gifts to Canadians are tangible examples of what we are able to achieve by working together. By designing and managing networks of protected areas we fulfill our national and global responsibility to protect Canada's natural treasures for the future," said John Lounds President & CEO of Nature Conservancy of Canada. "What better way to celebrate our nation than by protecting the spectacular lands and wildlife that our country is known for around the world."

The Government of Canada's 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 March 2010, under the Natural Areas Conservation Program over 138,600 hectares (342,500 acres) have been secured, protecting habitat for over 79 species at risk.


Related documents:

Natural Areas Conservation Program
[Backgrounder - 2010-06-21]