Media Release
Feb 27 2018
Toronto, Canada – Today, the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) applauded the federal government’s announcement that $1.3 billion over 5 years of federal contribution will be allocated towards conserving Canada’s protected areas as part of its 2018 Budget. “This is a historic investment in conserving nature,” says Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).“This marks a new era of land, water and wildlife protection in Canada. It recognizes the urgency of our biodiversity crisis and the importance of conserving our natural heritage.”
Budget 2018 allocates $500 million of the $1.3 billion funding to leverage conservation initiatives by provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, and corporate civil society partners to create a new $1 billion dollar fund for nature. The other $800 million of federal spending will be allocated to species at risk, national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries and connected spaces.
“This funding will enable Canada to deliver on our international commitment to protect at least 17 per cent of land and freshwater, and 10 per cent of our oceans by 2020, says Ms. McClenaghan. CELA is a longstanding member of the Green Budget Coalition which has consistently called on the Canadian government for substantial funding to ensure we can meet these important commitments.
Several areas across Canada have already been identified for protection by all levels of government, and this new funding can support rapid completion of these protected areas.
CELA is also pleased to see highly significant investments in science and research, climate change response, impact assessment and regulatory reform. The extension of accelerated cost allowance for renewable power capital investments for a further five years to 2025 was also gratifying.
Important investments in Indigenous drinking water and waste water, and in providing for a further 50 First Nations to move to the Land Management Regime were also outlined in the budget documents.
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For more information, contact:
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director
Canadian Environmental Law Association
theresa@cela.ca • Cell: (416) 662-8341
About CELA
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a non-profit, public interest organization established in 1970 to use existing laws to protect the environment and to advocate environmental law reforms. Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, CELA is one of 76 community legal clinics located across Ontario. CELA also undertakes additional educational and law reform projects funded by government and private foundations.
Media Release: CELA applauds federal government’s Budget 2018
Media Release
Toronto, Canada – Today, the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) applauded the federal government’s announcement that $1.3 billion over 5 years of federal contribution will be allocated towards conserving Canada’s protected areas as part of its 2018 Budget. “This is a historic investment in conserving nature,” says Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).“This marks a new era of land, water and wildlife protection in Canada. It recognizes the urgency of our biodiversity crisis and the importance of conserving our natural heritage.”
Budget 2018 allocates $500 million of the $1.3 billion funding to leverage conservation initiatives by provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, and corporate civil society partners to create a new $1 billion dollar fund for nature. The other $800 million of federal spending will be allocated to species at risk, national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries and connected spaces.
“This funding will enable Canada to deliver on our international commitment to protect at least 17 per cent of land and freshwater, and 10 per cent of our oceans by 2020, says Ms. McClenaghan. CELA is a longstanding member of the Green Budget Coalition which has consistently called on the Canadian government for substantial funding to ensure we can meet these important commitments.
Several areas across Canada have already been identified for protection by all levels of government, and this new funding can support rapid completion of these protected areas.
CELA is also pleased to see highly significant investments in science and research, climate change response, impact assessment and regulatory reform. The extension of accelerated cost allowance for renewable power capital investments for a further five years to 2025 was also gratifying.
Important investments in Indigenous drinking water and waste water, and in providing for a further 50 First Nations to move to the Land Management Regime were also outlined in the budget documents.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director
Canadian Environmental Law Association
theresa@cela.ca • Cell: (416) 662-8341
About CELA
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a non-profit, public interest organization established in 1970 to use existing laws to protect the environment and to advocate environmental law reforms. Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, CELA is one of 76 community legal clinics located across Ontario. CELA also undertakes additional educational and law reform projects funded by government and private foundations.
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