November 7, 2001

COALITION CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT

OTTAWA (November 7, 2001) — Canada’s environmental and conservation organizations today called on the Liberal government to put forward a significant environmental reinvestment strategy in the upcoming budget.

“We know that national security is on everyone’s mind as we head toward a December budget — but we also need to feel secure in the air we breathe and the water we drink,” said Julie Gelfand, executive director of the Canadian Nature Federation and Chair of the Green Budget Coalition.

"Shifting the economy to more environmentally sustainable choices happens to be a great way to create jobs — and this upcoming budget is a good place to start," said Elizabeth May, executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada.

The Green Budget Coalition submission urges the federal government to address the following key areas in next month’s budget:

Healthy Communities, including a “Clean Canada Fund” that would make a commitment to the clean-up and remediation of toxic waste sites and relocation of communities at risk;
Protection and Conservation of our Natural Heritage, including improvements to Canada’s 39 national parks, and the creation of new national parks and marine conservation areas; and
Clean Air and Climate Change, including tax credits to promote clean energy technology and rewards for homeowners who invest in energy efficiency. These initiatives will create over 124,000 jobs.

The Green Budget Coalition includes 16 environmental and conservation organizations, from Greenpeace to Ducks Unlimited. The full text of the Coalition’s submission is available online at www.cnf.ca/greenbudget.