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.
The Ecological Gifts Program enables landowners
to create a natural legacy and protect family lands, while benefiting
from specific tax benefits. Many Canadians who own wetlands, woodlands
and other wildlife habitats cherish their land and want to see its natural
features preserved.
"The donation of the Prairie Smoke property marks an important
milestone in the Ecological Gifts Program. It will become part of the
46,000 hectares of donated private land already in protection under this
program a significant contribution by Canadian landowners",
said Minister Ambrose. "This is a realistic, results-oriented approach
to protecting our environment," added Minister Ambrose. "The
Government's introduction of a new tax incentive for donations of
sensitive lands demonstrates our firm commitment to real environmental
solutions and economic benefits to Canadians."
The Prairie Smoke nature reserve, donated by Karen Popp of Brechin, Ontario,
to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, is the latest addition to a network
of nature reserves across Canada. Prairie Smoke is part of the Carden
Plain, home to globally rare occurrences of alvar, a prairie-like ecosystem
situated over limestone bedrock. This seemingly harsh environment is home
to many rare and uncommon species - from a blanket of native wildflowers,
such as the namesake Prairie Smoke, to endangered birds, such as the Eastern
Loggerhead Shrike. In addition, the donated land is in the centre of an
internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). IBAs are sites that
provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds.
In recognition of these generous donations of land by Canadians, the
Government of Canada announced in Budget 2006 that Ecological Gifts made
after May 2, 2006 will be exempt from the capital gains inclusion for
income tax purposes.
An ecological gift is a donation of land or an interest in land - such
as a conservation easement, covenant or servitude - that has been certified
as "ecologically sensitive" according to specific national and
provincial criteria, to an approved environmental charity or any level
of government. Ecologically sensitive lands are areas or sites that currently,
or could in the future, significantly contribute to the conservation of
Canada's biodiversity and environmental heritage. In exchange for their
gift, donors of certified ecologically sensitive lands enjoy special income
tax provisions specific to their gift. Ecological gifts receive tax treatment
that is different from most other charitable gifts. Some benefits that
they may receive are reduced taxable capital gain on the disposition of
the property; no income limit for calculating the tax credit/deduction;
donation value certified by the Government of Canada; and a tax liability
for donees that do not protect the gifted land.
For further information, please contact:
Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Jason Travers
Stewardship Section
Environment Canada
(819) 953-4068
