Document Released Under the Access to Information Act { Document divulgué en vertu de la Loi sur l'accés a l'information. MESSAGE EVENT PROPOSAL (MEP) DATE OF EVENT: Saturday, June 21, 2008 TIME OF EVENT: 10:30 am LOCATION: Bird Studies Canada Headquarters and National Research Centre, 185 Front St., Port Rowan (Ontario) (TBC) RAISON D'ETRE: To announce $677,037 in funding for Bird Studies Canada through Environment Canada’s Grants and Contributions Programs. The funding will go to protect at-risk bird species and the nests and habitat where birds live. See the breakdown for funding in Annex 1. PARTICIPANTS: Minister of the Environment, John Baird © Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, (M.P. for Haldimand - Norfolk) * Representatives) from Bird Studies Canada DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: ’ News conference with photo opportunity (details to come). STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that the Government is supporting real, community based initiatives that will deliver concrete results to protect Canada's environment. DESIRED HEADLINE: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS WILD BIRD CONSERVATION DESIRED SOUNDBITE: “Our Government is proud to support Bird Studies Canada and the good work this organization is doing,” said Minister Baird. “We know that on-the-ground community action like this achieves real results by using local expertise to build stronger communities and a better environment.” PROPOSED VISUAL: Minister Baird and/or Finley shaking hands with a representative from Bird Studies Canada in front of an apptopriate backdrop in the Bird Studies Canada headquarters or ata location nearby. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: * Audio/Visual equipment for Mit lighting) — contract required. * Canada flags - Ontario region to provide. ister(s) and media (mic, podium, patch box, i 000071 ‘THE CANADIAN PRESS ©?Document Keleasea Under ine ACLEDS Ww Information Act / Document divulgué en vertu de la Loi sur 'acods t'information. KEY MESSAGES: We are proud to support Bird Studies Canaca and the important work it does to advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats. We know that on-the-ground community action like this delivers real results in preserving and enhancing the quality of our natural environment. The projects wo fund use local expertise to build stronger communities and a better environment. We strongly encourage Canadians to apply to these programs to create new partnerships that will benefit Canada's natural legacy. ROLL-OUT / PRODUCTS / NEXT STEPS: News release — CEM Communications Backgrounder — BSC projects supported by Grants and Contributions ‘Speaking points - CEM Communications Media advisory — Ontario Region Annex 1 ‘The breakdown of Environment Canada Grants and Contributions funding in 2008-09 is as follows: " 41) $320,000 for migratory bird programs, including programs to provide information on the distibution and status of specific migratory birds, monitoring programs to. measure the health and status of wetlands and to monitor populations or birds breeding in northern Canada as the migrate to Latin America, surveys of waterbirds and beachbirds in Canada, as well as training programs for bird banders and data management and mapping tools to more effectively present the result of bird surveys to practitioners and the public. 2) $212,000 to inform conservation and protection as well as surveys relating to certain at-risk populations such as the Loggerhead Shrike, Hooded Warblers and Acadian flycatchers, Piping Plovers and more. 3) $126,577 from the Habitat Stewardship Program for Spocios at Risk to protect Piping Plovers, engage volunteers in monitoring nine species at risk in the Maritimes, increase Prothonotary Warbler breeding populations as well as to update publicly available information on the species, and help identify and promote stewardship of Bicknel!’s thrush habitat (forest) in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, * 4) $18,460 under the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund for an assessment of the extent of Niagara River Remedial Action Plan progress for the Niagara Area of Concer. 2 000072 THE CANADIAN PRESS **?SvUUuIEN Canada - Government Ui Camaua invests MOTE Lai 90/ /,YYUY IN WIG BI... rage 1 O12 WoW essere ggugrere Canada Home > Media Room > News Releases News Release Government of Canada Invests More Than $677,000 in Wi Conservation PORT ROWAN, ON -- June 24, 2008 -- Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, and Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Member of Parliament for Haldimand ~ Norfolk, Diane Finley, today announced $677,037 in funding to protect wild bird species at-risk, their nests and their habitat. Work will be carried out by Bird Studies Canada, a not-for-profit organization that advances the understanding, appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitat in Canada. “Our Government is proud to support Bird Studies Canada an¢ the good work this organization is doing," said Minister Baird. "We know that on-the-ground community action like this achieves real results by using local expertise to build stronger communities and a better environment." "The work by Bird Studies Canada Is a great example of action for our community, by our ‘community here In Ontario and across Canada," said Minister Finley. "With the work it's doing to conserve our wild birds and Important vetland areas, Bird Studies Canada's is bringing benefits to both the local and global environment." ‘The funding for the Bird Studies Canade will come from Environment Canada's annual grants and contributions program, and will support a number of important projects, including: © monitoring programs to measure the health and status of wetlands where migratory birds rest and nest and to monitor populations of birds breeding in northern Canada; * surveys of waterbirds and beachbirds in the Maritimes and British Columbia to monitor the health of bird populations and provide early warning of environment problems such as oil spills or disease; * 2 program to engage volunteers in monitoring nine species at risk in the Maritimes; + developing data management and mapping tools to more effectively present the results of bird surveys for use by governments anc volunteer organizations such as Birds Studies Canada; * providing information on the conservation and protection and undertaking surveys relating to certain at-risk populations in Atlantic Canada such as the Loggerhead Shrike, Hooded Warblers and Acacian flycatchers, Piping Plovers and more. Funding for community-based environmental improvement projects across the country is provided through the community action programs managed or co-managed by Environment Canada. Community groups are encouraged to become involved in these programs. For more information, visit the Funding and Incentives section of Environment Canada's web ste: For more information, see Backarounder... For more information, please contact: Eric Richer Press Secretary Office of the Minister of the Environment 613-286-6064 Environment Canada Media Relations http://www.ee. ge.ca/default.asp?lang=Enden=714D9 AA &news=6FB25752-BD59-THE CANADIAN PRESS ©*?ine Latest News Trom Bird Studies Canada, Page | of 3 This Week's Highlights National News spans clasede BirdLife 27 June 2008 inert onto Ema PF ven NATIONAL Government of Canada Announces Major Funding for Bird Studies Canada (.tor) Minister John Baird, BSC Presicent George Finay, & Minster Diane Pinley 237 June 2008 ~ Last weckend, Cenads's Environment Minister Joan Bard and Diane Filey, Minister of Citzenship and Immigration and Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk made a fanding ‘nnouncement ot Bird Studies Canada’s Port Rowan hendguerers. Envconmeat Canadas investigg $677,637 ffom is gran and contributions and community action programs into several impotant nal BSC inittives. This funding will seppor the collecion of infermaton onthe distribution and satus of certain migratory birds; monitoring programs fo measure the health nd status of wetands and ‘of birds breeding in notern Canada, waterbud ard beached bind surveys; bird baoder taining [rogram projets to monitor and protect atcisk species in various pars of Canads and to promote bia stewardsip, and an assessment of remedial action progres forthe Nugara Ares of Cancer, For more details, ‘Support for BC Breeding Bird Atlas Continues to Grow F ar Scr RITISH a= sone COLUMBIA Mince vancouver _ pa Ie foundation Frist sWnoure 24 June 2008 ~ We have a series of significant anzouncements regarding funding support forthe Bitch Columbia Breeding Bird Aths. Bird Stedies Canada has signed a memorandum of andestandang with the BC Ministry of Environment for the final five years ofthe projec (2000-2013), which inclades an annual contibuton of $80,090 to he project (subject to funding availablity) Thiv'sin addition tothe $140,000 already received from BC MoE forthe projec’ fist two years (2017-09) Environment (Canada’s Canadian Willie Service has committed $50,000 for 2038-03, n ation tothe $59,000 ay http://www. bsc-eoc. org/organization/newsarchive/6-27-08 html THE CANAQIAN,RRESS ©