News Release

Government of Canada Invests In Community Environmental Projects In the Bas-Richelieu

BAIE-DU-FEBVRE, Que. -- June 8, 2010 -- The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, today announced $33,300 in funding through the EcoAction Community Funding Program for a new project focusing on the environment in the Bas-Richelieu, in Quebec. This federal funding will support local action to reduce pollution, improve air and water quality, and protect wildlife and natural habitat.

“This government is committed to addressing the environmental priorities of Canadians,” said Minister Prentice. “We are proud to support community groups across the country willing to take concrete action through on-the-ground environmental projects that will achieve a more sustainable Canada. Their actions, large or small, will help to protect the abundance and variety of life that is part of our natural heritage.”

Funded through the EcoAction Community Funding Program, the initiative “Faire de l’éducation relative à l’environnement au Lac Saint-Pierre” (Engaging in Environmental Education at Lake Saint-Pierre) will make it possible to train 200 teachers and facilitate 150 classroom workshops, with the goal of encouraging eco-leadership among young people by having them undertake a concrete project as a group. For example, their project could be to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by their school or community, or to redure the water consumption and improve the water quality. The project requires an overall investment of $82,520.

“This funding will enable the cooperative to offer high-quality training and educational products and to meet the needs of teachers, students and their parents while increasing environmental and social benefits for the region,” stated René Raiche, Director general of the Coopérative de solidarité de la Réserve de la biosphère du Lac‑Saint‑Pierre.

The EcoAction Community Funding Program is a Government of Canada initiative that supports projects that rehabilitate, protect or enhance the natural environment, and builds the capacity of communities and individuals in support of a more sustainable Canada. The project announced today will assist locally‑based, non-profit organizations in initiating actions that result in cleaner air, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, and the protection of nature at the local community level.

More information about the EcoAction Community Funding Program is available on Environment Canada’s website at the following address: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.

Related documents:

Environment Canada's EcoAction Community Funding Program
[Backgrounder 2010-06-08]

For further information, please contact:

Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008

Canada’s Environment Minister Twitter page:
http://twitter.com/jimprentice

Environment Canada’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/environmentcan