Speech

Hello everyone.

I am very proud to be here with you. What makes this occasion even more special is the presence of a distinguished group, including Mssrs. Simard, Filion of Ducks Unlimited and Mr. Galipeau.

I am delighted to participate in today’s announcement that Ducks Unlimited has acquired Lochaber Bay, a large 715-hectare area in the Outaouais to be kept for the conservation of natural sites.

Through its Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation, the Government of Canada has made a specific commitment to maintaining, promoting, protecting and preventing the loss of natural environments that are essential to several species at risk, such as the Northern Map Turtle, the Least Bittern (an aquatic bird), the Bald Eagle (a bird of prey) and the White Oak, to name just a few.

Lochaber Bay is a preferred habitat for many animal and plant species. Among other things, it serves as a staging area for waterfowl and a breeding habitat for a number of animal species.

Protecting Lochaber Bay is an addition to the many wetlands conservation actions taken by Ducks Unlimited along the Ottawa River in collaboration with Environment Canada, Quebec’s Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la faune and other partners.

These actions taken today will help to protect the abundance and diversity of life that will be part of our natural heritage of tomorrow.

We realize that no level of government or organization can achieve such preservation objectives by working alone. This is why we are always pleased to join forces with Quebec’s Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la faune and why we have created strong ties with several partners, including Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

In 2007, Prime Minister Harper announced that the Government of Canada would forge a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to implement the Natural Areas Conservation Program.

This program adopts a practical, targeted approach that aims to help us protect natural areas so that our generation and future generations can benefit from them. This program has enabled us to protect more than 160,000 hectares of habitat and 101 species at risk to date across Canada.

Over the past four years, this Program has produced tangible outcomes. This now makes the program a natural complement to other initiatives such as the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk and the Ecological Gifts Program in helping promote the preservation of wildlife and natural environments.

Partnerships are essential because wildlife does not recognize borders, jurisdictions or property titles. Species are happy to settle wherever they find adequate habitat, whether on private property near towns and cities or in rural areas. Consequently, it is very important for governments and landowners to work together to protect our natural heritage.

In closing, I would like to thank all those who made the acquisition of this territory possible. I assure you that the Government of Canada will continue to work with its partners to restore, improve and protect our country’s biological diversity.

Thank you.