As Liberal Leader Stephane Dion spoke about his party's views on law and order in Mississauga, the Conservatives continued along the green path north of Toronto, announcing new money for land protection.
Following a visit to a conservation area in the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced at a press conference in King City that his government intended to devote $225 million to preserving ecologically sensitive land from being developed.
The money would go in part toward the purchase of such green spaces, as well as tax breaks for landowners agreeing to protect their property.
Harper, who made the announcement alongside Environment Minister John Baird, said the federal government would work alongside the Nature Conservancy of Canada and landowners to ensure the country's wilderness is protected, especially in developing areas.
"Everyone must do their part," Harper said. "Business, government, non-profits and individuals - together we can achieve the environmental goals we all share. Clean air, clean water, clean land, and natural wilderness areas that will be there for our children and for their children."
According to the PM, the project will protect more than 200,000 hectares of land.
While Harper has been crossing the country announcing a number of green initiatives, his party has eliminated a section of Environment Canada responsible for shaping the country's global warming policies.
The Climate Change Policy Directorate was responsible for creating the environment initiatives Harper has announced over the last few weeks.
The government says the amount of people working on climate change issues will not decrease and said this was a move to increase efficiency.
Critics believe this was done to transfer power from civil servants to the Prime Minister's Office.
Highlights of the Conservative government's environmental plan, courtesy the Prime Minister's Office (PMO):
- Ecological Gifts Program - The Ecological Gifts Program administered by Environment Canada provides tax incentives to land owners who donate land title or place a conservation easement on ecologically sensitive land. In its May, 2006 budget, the government increased the incentive for land donations by reducing the taxable capital gains inclusion rate for certified ecological gift donations from 25 per cent to zero.
- $30 million to promote sustainable development of the Spirit Bear Rainforest
- $2 million for restoration efforts of Vancouver's storm-damaged Stanley Park
- $1 million to Nature Canada to develop a comprehensive network of nature organizations across the country.
- Programs in place to promote the protection of ecologically sensitive lands. These include the Habitat Stewardship Program, which has invested in 830 local projects to conserve critical habitat, as well as Environment Canada's Protected Areas Network, made up of 51 National Wildlife Areas and 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.