By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Saturday, February 27, 2010

NEWS RELEASE

PARKS CANADA

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Government of Canada invests in visitor experience infrastructure and ecological integrity in Pukaskwa National Park

Parks Canada takes action in Northern Ontario

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, February 27, 2010 - On behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Mr. Greg Rickford,
Member of Parliament for Kenora, today announced investments of up to $2.3 million, including from Canada’s Economic Action Plan, that will support visitor experience, infrastructure and ecological integrity projects at Pukaskwa National Park.

“These initiatives will contribute to Pukaskwa National Park’s ecological integrity, enhance visitor infrastructure, employ Canadians locally and improve this national park, part of a major component of
Canada’s tourism industry,” said Mr. Rickford. “Our government is working to conserve parks like this one for future generations, ensuring that Canadians have an opportunity to experience, enjoy and understand these special places.”

The investment includes $250,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to support visitor infrastructure improvements along Pukaskwa National Park’s Coastal Hiking Trails.

In addition to Economic Action Plan funding, the Action on the Ground Program will provide national parks in Ontario $926,000 to increase the use of prescribed burns in ecosystems management, and will invest $1,144,000 to improve the ecological integrity of Pukaskwa’s coastal ecosystem through Action on the Ground funding.

“We are an experienced world-leader in protecting and restoring ecosystems using the best science available,” said Minister Prentice. “The work being undertaken at Pukaskwa National Park will help to advance our knowledge of the boreal forest ecosystem and improve the visitor experience-inspiring visitors to reflect on their actions and impacts on the environment”.

Through its Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada will invest up to $374 million for improvements of facilities and protection of Canada’s national parks and national historic sites. Parks Canada’s “Action on the Ground Program” is a nationwide initiative that encourages tangible actions to engage Canadians in a range of conservation activities that promote the ecological integrity of Canada’s national parks.

Canada’s national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas provide opportunities for visitors to experience, discover, understand and appreciate our natural and cultural heritage.

These protected areas help conserve biodiversity, generate economic benefits to adjacent communities, and serve as living laboratories to increase our understanding of the state of the world’s ecosystems.

For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder under Media Room.

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