Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today congratulated the Canadian forest industry and environmental groups for signing the world’s largest conservation agreement to protect significant areas of Canada’s vast Boreal Forest.
“This is an agreement of historical significance,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “It is an inspirational example of what can be accomplished when industry and environmental groups work together.
“It epitomizes what I have been saying all along – that you can successfully protect our natural resources while at the same time protecting jobs, and all in a way that will help make Canada a world leader in the future green economy.”
Today, 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and nine leading environmental organizations unveiled an unprecedented agreement – the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement – that applies to 72 million hectares of public forests licensed to FPAC members.
The Agreement, when fully implemented, will conserve vast areas of Canada’s Boreal Forest – protecting threatened woodland caribou and providing a competitive market edge for participating companies.
“This is the kind of example that other sectors can follow as we work towards being a global leader in the clean energy economy,” said Mr. Ignatieff.
“Putting in place sustainable forestry practices is something the Liberal Party has been calling for – and this agreement should be a wake-up call for our do-nothing Conservative government. It sends a loud and clear message to Stephen Harper that great things can be accomplished for our economy and our environment, if we just work together.”
Mr. Ignatieff has already committed a future Liberal government to bringing together our economy, our environment and our best ideas to create the jobs and prosperity of tomorrow. At the heart of this plan is the most significant investment in clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency this country has ever seen.
