Conservation groups across the country are applauding a major move by the Trudeau government to invest $1.3 billion over five years to help protect the environment.
John Foley, Atlantic spokesperson for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, says this is exciting news which has been a long time coming.
“There are a lot of things in there that are very positive especially from a conservation point of view. It’s really a game-breaker I think for us with substantial new funds allocated to parks, indigenous protected areas and private conservation efforts.”
Foley adds this type of federal funding allows the organization to leverage private donations and raises the possibility of doubling a given amount for conservation efforts.
He notes it’s not yet clear how the funding will be distributed or how it could impact projects in New Brunswick such as the Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Reserve near Dorchester or the Musquash Estuary near Saint John.
(Photo: Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Reserve (Nature Conservancy of Canada – photo by Mike Dembeck)
