New Maryland, NB - 15 May 2014
Thank you very much.
Good afternoon everybody.
I want to thank Leona for that kind introduction, and also for the great work that she’s been doing on today’s announcement.
Greeting to all my caucus colleagues who have managed to be with us today.
It’s wonderful to be in the Honourable Keith Ashfield’s riding and to see Keith looking so well.
We’re all delighted to see that.
Bob Sopuck has joined us from Manitoba.
He is the head of the Conservative Caucus of Hunters and Anglers, and also John Williamson, of course, the MP here from Southwest New Brunswick.
Greetings as well to Premier Alward, and so many members of the Legislative Assembly who have joined us today.
To John Lounds, President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy of Canada who has also joined us.
And of course, thanks to our hosts here at the New Maryland Centre.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, in a few moments I’ll be making an important announcement on our Government’s future environmental policy.
First, however, just allow me to indulge for a moment in a brief reflection.
The land upon which we live is an intrinsic part of our identity as Canadians.
And the desire to care for it is more than just a priority of our Government.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific and all the way to the Arctic, it is for Canadians a deep and widely-held passion.
Our ranchers, farmers, foresters, and fishermen are natural conservationists.
Many others, like hunters, anglers, canoeists and hikers, simply enjoy the outdoors.
But I think that even the people who never do any of those things will still tell you this: that the natural environment is - in a very real way - everybody’s business.
And the vast majority of Canadians want to know that their piece of Canada, no matter how small, will be used with a thought for those who will use it in the future.
That is our view also and our record shows it.
As far as our Government is concerned, a commitment to conservation results from our conservative policies.
That is why we have always worked hard to protect and, if need be, restore Canada’s national natural heritage.
It’s why we have been and will be establishing new national parks and marine protected areas, such as at Nahanni and Nááts’ihch’oh; on Bathurst Island, and Sable Island, and in the Mealy Mountains.
It’s why we’re creating a national urban park - Canada’s first - in Toronto’s Rouge Valley, an area that will be, by the way, 16 times the size of New York’s Central Park.
In fact, during our time in office, we have added to Canada’s network of federally protected areas, territories equivalent to the size of three-quarters of New Brunswick.
We’ve also worked with private entities such as the Nature Conservancy to secure thousands of square kilometres of private land for conservation purposes.
It’s why we work with strong private partners, such as Ducks Unlimited, to support hundreds of local projects to rescue, conserve, and restore degraded wildlife habitat, fragile ecosystems, and endangered wetlands.
And so, we have made, I believe, real tangible progress for our environment now rather than vague promises that would be funded by job-killing carbon taxes.
Now what of the future?
In the Throne Speech last year, our Government pledged to further expand protected areas.
We promised to work with communities, non-profit organizations, and businesses, to create and protect more green space in urban areas where Canadians can more easily enjoy them, and in some cases, right where they live.
Earlier this year, we adopted the United Nations 20/20 Biodiversity goals and targets for Canada.
This commits the Government of Canada to reach significant conservation thresholds, to expand opportunities for Canadians to experience nature, and to improve access to information about our natural heritage.
And as part of this year’s Economic Action Plan, we set aside the funds to make all of this a reality.
I’m therefore pleased to now announce the creation of our Government’s National Conservation Plan.
I’m further pleased to announce that, in recognition of the ongoing nature of environmental improvement, our Government has approved substantial funding to meet a five-year commitment.
These actions will involve significant steps towards achieving our biodiversity targets - that is protecting 17 per cent of our land and inland waters, and 10 per cent of our marine and coastal areas.
Building on our earlier achievements, our National Conservation Plan will also expand opportunities for our partners - municipalities, conservation interests, hunters and anglers, landowners, and community groups.
Opportunities for them to make practical improvements to the land around them in three priority areas.
First, by supporting the protection of ecologically significant spaces on private lands, our plan will enable Canadians to conserve lands and water in and around their communities.
The benefits will be measured in the ecological strength of these lands and the diversity of life within them.
Second, our National Conservation Plan goes beyond creating parks.
By assisting Canadians in their own efforts to restore wildlife habitat and wetlands, our plan will extend conservation possibilities through the whole of our landscape.
Finally, as we respond to the conservation challenges of today, we believe it’s important that all Canadians, urban and suburban, as well as rural, share the vision and the experience of a healthy environment.
Our National Conservation Plan will therefore support initiatives to make it easier for urban Canadians to connect with nature.
And it is our hope that as they enjoy, appreciate and understand this great land, just as their forbearers did, they will be drawn to work together for its conservation.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, let me just close with this: An ethic of true stewardship cannot be imposed by regulation.
It is of the heart.
If the central vision for Canada’s National Conservation Plan is to be achieved, it will require nothing less than this - and this is our goal: that Canadians should become willingly and eagerly a community of stewards.
As Conservatives, our goal is to conserve our birthright and to pass on something of value to those who come after us.
Now in a few short years, Confederation will celebrate its 150th anniversary.
We shall encourage Canadians to look back with pride, but also to look forward with hope.
Our purpose here today is to ensure that there will be a legacy worth inheriting.
The Canadians of the future will see that we were good stewards and that we left our country a better place than we found it.
Thank you all for being here.
Thank you very much.
