By Carol Martin
SooToday.com
Tuesday, July 21, 2009

NEWS RELEASES

TONY MARTIN, MP

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

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Martin pleased call for invasive species funding finally approved

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Tony Martin congratulates the federal minister of natural resources and the federal government for listening to his calls for funding to improve the invasive species program through the Great Lakes Forest Research Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

The incidents of invasive species are growing and becoming a major problem in the Great Lakes regions.

Martin has been calling upon the federal government since he was elected as the federal member of Parliament to address this issue by improving funding to the local invasive species program.

“This is an important program that needs to be expanded to deal with the ever growing number of invasive species that we are encountering. We need to protect our local natural resources against these types of predator organisms. We have one of the country's top research centres located in Sault Ste. Marie and there is no doubt they will continue to do great work in this area,” said Martin.

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Orazietti joins federal and provincial ministers to announce invasive species centre moving forward in Sault Ste. Marie

McGuinty government $15 million investment will protect environment and create jobs

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - The McGuinty government, in partnership with the federal government, is creating a new $24-million Invasive Species Centre in Sault Ste. Marie with $15 million in support from the province, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“This new facility will allow our community to further establish itself as a national leader in forestry research,” said Orazietti. “Curbing the progression of invasive species is important to preserve biodiversity and protect Ontario’s natural resources.”

The new centre will be dedicated to combating alien invasive species that threaten Canada’s natural resources and ecosystems.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is contributing a total of $13.4 million to the Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC), consisting of $9 million in funding over two years for the new Invasive Species Centre and $4.4 million to modernize GLFC facilities.

The Government of Ontario committed $15 million to the Invasive Species Centre initiative in its 2008 budget.

“Invasive species, such as the emerald ash borer, are serious threats to forest ecosystems and communities and could potentially cause millions of dollars in damage to forest resources and city landscapes,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “We’re pooling our resources so we can be more effective in finding ways to detect, contain and control invasive species.”

Aquatic invasive species are also recognized as a serious problem threatening the biodiversity of our lakes and rivers, and the new centre will play a coordinating role in addressing their spread.

In the Great Lakes Basin alone, nearly 200 species from around the world have been introduced and include many well-known invaders such as sea lamprey, zebra mussel, round goby and purple loosestrife.

“The new Invasive Species Centre in Sault Ste. Marie will help us coordinate provincial, national and international efforts to check the spread of terrestrial and aquatic invading species and the negative effects they can have on the health of our ecosystems and economy across Ontario,” said the Honourable Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources.

“We are fortunate to live in a province blessed with an abundant variety of plants, animals, birds, fish and insects, but we need to stop the spread of invasive species if we are to preserve the province’s biodiversity.”

The Great Lakes Forestry Centre is one of six Canadian Forest Service centres in Canada.

NRCan’s scientists working at the GLFC have focused mainly on three alien invasive insects affecting Ontario’s forests: the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle and the Sirex wood wasp.

Research is being conducted on the life cycle of these forest pests and to develop detection and control techniques.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' scientists will collaborate with NRCan researchers on these initiatives and provincial staff will use the knowledge generated from this research to monitor areas where these insects may appear and to provide information to foresters and communities on control and mitigation measures.

As well, NRCan will work closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide information to support the CFIA’s regulatory responsibilities for addressing alien invasive species.

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