LÉVIS, QC, Jan. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister
of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for Lévis—Bellechasse, on
behalf of Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent,
announced funding from the EcoAction Community Funding Program for a
new environmental project in Lévis, Quebec. Coopérative Forêt d'Arden
will receive $71,000 in federal funding to support local action to
reduce pollution and improve air quality.
"The EcoAction community funding program is a concrete example of how
the Government of Canada is helping communities and their citizens
enjoy cleaner air, water and land," said Minister Blaney. "This project
will help to raise awareness amongst youth in Lévis on environmental
issues such as the importance of greenhouse gas emission reductions. We
are supporting projects like these because we believe they will make a
difference."
"Our government is taking real action to address the environmental
priorities of Canadians and ensure we have clean air, clean water, and
biologically diverse land for generations to come," said Minister Kent.
"EcoAction Community Funding supports community groups across the
country willing to take concrete action through on-the-ground
environmental projects. We are proud to partner with these
organizations that are committed to conserving Canada's natural
legacy."
This project seeks to reduce greenhouse gases by 10,000 tonnes through
raising awareness and promoting changes in the behaviour of 70 school
classes, 2,500 families and businesses in the city of Lévis. The
strategy aims to put schools in competition with one another and
businesses as well. The desired changes in behaviour relate to
transportation, consumption, packaging and recycling.
"Mobilizing the entire population depends on a better understanding of
issues related to climate change and having the proper means of
addressing them. Through its educational content and its online
mobilization platform, the project Bourse Scol'ERE québécoise has
become a tool of choice for inspiring sustainable behaviour aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Pamela Severini, President of
the Coopérative Forêt d'Arden.
The EcoAction Community Funding Program supports projects that
rehabilitate, protect or enhance the natural environment, and builds
the capacity of communities and individuals to ensure future
protection. This year, the Government of Canada is providing over $4
million for over 100 new projects under this Program.
More information about the EcoAction Community Funding Program is
available on Environment Canada's website, at www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.
(Également offert en français)
SOURCE: Environment Canada
