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Protecting Canada’s environment
Points from Parliament
With David Wilks
MP for Kootenay-Columbia
– Our government has also secured almost 4,000 km² of ecologically sensitive private lands.
– We have added an area nearly twice the size of Vancouver Island to the network of federal protected areas, including:
* The world’s first protected area extending from the mountain tops to the sea floor (Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site).
* The world’s largest freshwater protected area (Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area – pictured above), a six-fold expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories, considered to be a significant conservation achievement.
* Three new National Wildlife Areas (Akpait, Ninginganiq and Qaqulluit) in Nunavut, protecting 4,554 km2 of marine, coastal and terrestrial habitats including the world’s sanctuary for bowhead whales.
* Three new Marine Protected Areas under the Oceans Act: Musquash Estuary in New Brunswick, Bowie Seamount off the coast of British Columbia, and Tarium Niryutait in the Beaufort Sea.
– We have expanded our national parks network by creating Canada’s 44th national park, the Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve.
– Our proposed Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations will establish, for the first time, national air pollution emissions standards for major industrial facilities across the country. The expected emission reductions would result in lower smog levels and better air quality overall for Canadians and their environment.
– Our government is looking forward to continuing to build on these actions, and on the efforts of countless Canadians who are working to conserve and protect our rich natural heritage in order to contribute to Canada’s long-term prosperity.
– Our government is reducing emissions while supporting economic growth and job creation. In 2012, greenhouse gas emissions were 5.1% lower than 2005 levels, while the economy grew by 10.6% during the same period.
– We are achieving these reductions through our balanced sector-by-sector regulatory approach. To date, we have regulated the transportation and electricity sectors, which are two of the largest sources of emissions in Canada.
– We have also recently announced that our government is taking action to limit the growth of emissions from HFCs, which are the world’s most potent and fastest-growing greenhouse gases.
– We are coordinating federal/provincial efforts to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes under the Canada-Ontario Agreement, which was renewed on Dec. 18, 2014.
– This message funded by David Wilks.
