Celebrate World Oceans Day June 8th

OTTAWA -- A made-in-Canada recognition of the importance of healthy and clean oceans, World Oceans Day was first proposed by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.  “Canada has historically led the charge for protection of our oceans and on June 8th we should remember and feel proud of the impact our country has had in raising global awareness of the significance of our oceans,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

“With the horrible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the continuing destabilization of our climate, the acidification of sea water and the decimation of ocean life, it is more important than ever to consider how each of us can help protect and restore the life-giving waters of our planet,” said May.

The Green Party of Canada has proposed many solutions that could be implemented by our federal government, including:

• Permanently ban oil and gas exploration and development in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly the coast of British Columbia, the Gulf of St. Lawrence;
• Put in place a moratorium on oil and gas expansion into the Arctic Ocean and conduct a full assessment of environmental and socio-economic risks;
• Implement effective and meaningful greenhouse gas emission reduction programs;
• Maintain the strength of our environmental protection laws, including the Fisheries Act, which should make protection of critical fish stocks and habitat mandatory;
• Provide funding for small-scale projects to restore and enhance wild fish stocks;
• Promote and enforce sustainable fishing technologies such as long lines and work to ban bottom trawling.

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Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
C: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca