OTTAWA, Ontario, March 31, 2005 -- The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Parks Canada Agency and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to jointly invest more than $7.5 million to expand and protect Canada's national parks. Partnerships like the one between Parks Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada are powerful tools that enhance the ability to protect, preserve and present Canada's unique heritage places. The two organizations will cooperate over the next four years to acquire and conserve lands that are crucial to maintaining the ecological integrity of selected national parks. In some cases the lands will be added to the parks, and in others they may be held as buffer or corridor lands by NCC and conservation partners. Lands may also be acquired to establish new national parks. "The Government of Canada is committed to substantially completing the national park system and to protecting Canada's natural heritage," said Minister Dion. "Building a strong coalition of partners that share our conservation focus will help Parks Canada to maintain its position as a recognized leader in natural heritage conservation, and enhance our ability to protect, preserve and present Canada's unique heritage places. All Canadians have a role to play in preserving Canada's natural and cultural places." "This agreement represents a major step forward for conservation in Canada," said NCC President John Lounds. "We look forward to a long-term relationship with the federal government that will help improve the ecological integrity of these places that are so central to the Canadian identity." Parks Canada and NCC have a long history of cooperation going back to the 1980s, working together to add lands to or create buffers around several national parks of Canada for conservation purposes. In 1988, NCC negotiated the relinquishment of mineral rights within the boundaries of Grasslands National Park of Canada, enabling over 5,000 acres to be added to the Park. In 1999, NCC and Parks Canada worked together to secure Middle Island, Canada's most southerly point, as an addition to Point Pelee National Park of Canada. The acquisition of crucial properties within or adjacent to existing national parks is key to maintaining or restoring their ecological integrity. Under the umbrella of this MOU, Parks Canada and NCC will work together to secure lands, increasing the ability of both organizations to protect Canada's natural heritage. On behalf of the people of Canada, Parks Canada protects and presents nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and fosters public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that takes a business-like approach to the conservation of Canada's natural heritage. NCC works with individuals, communities, foundations, corporations and government to secure the outright purchase or donation of land, the donation of conservation easements and the relinquishment of mineral or timber rights. Since 1962, NCC and its supporters helped conserve more than 7,500 square kilometres (1.8 million acres) of ecologically significant land nationwide. Information: André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Environment (819) 997-1441 Jane Lawton Director of Marketing and Communications Nature Conservancy of Canada (416) 932-3202 Nicole RacetteNational Director Corporate Communications Branch Parks Canada Agency (819) 953-6782
