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CHRISTINE
TELL MLA – Provincial Update – May 13, 2010 PREMIERS
LEAD NEW WEST PARTNERSHIP ASIAN TRADE MISSION Saskatchewan
Premier Brad Wall, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Alberta
Premier Ed Stelmach will lead a joint trade mission to China and Japan to
promote trade and commerce opportunities between Western Canada and Asia. The
joint mission is the first since the three provinces formally signed the
New West Partnership on April 30, creating a seamless economic region of
nine million people with a combined GDP of more than $550 billion. The
trade mission will promote Western Canada's clean technology, natural
resources and competitive investment climate in Shanghai, Beijing and
Tokyo from May 14-22. "Saskatchewan
is focused on establishing the West as Canada's economic powerhouse,"
Premier Wall said. "Our first joint task is to take our message to
the vast market opportunities that exist in Asia. The West has the
resources the world needs, we have the opportunities global investors want
and the New West Partnership is making it as easy as possible to access
them." The
premiers will work to establish a permanent collaborative trade and
investment presence in Asia and promote Western Canada's competitive
advantage of having some of the lowest corporate income tax rates in the
G7 with stable financial institutions. The
trade mission will market the region's substantial natural resources such
as gold, copper, potash, wood, natural gas and metallurgical coal as well
as Western Canada's geographical advantage as North America's Pacific
Gateway with direct access by rail, air and highway to major North
American markets. The
three western provinces combined for $19.8 billion in exports to Asia in
2009 - a 41 per cent increase from 2000. This included $6.6 billion in
total exports to China and $5.8 billion to Japan in 2009. Wildlife
Habitat Protection Act On
December 2, 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced amendments to
the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (WHPA), which can enable the Province
to sell certain parcels of land that are currently owned by the Crown.
This proposed change has come at the request of farmers and ranchers that
have managed these lands for, in most cases, generations. It is the
Government’s belief that these producers are outstanding stewards of the
land and that they are in the best position to ensure the future
protection of the land to which they have devoted so much of their lives. WHPA
protects approximately 3.5 million acres of Crown land by preventing
significant alteration, while allowing compatible traditional uses, such
as grazing. When lands were originally identified for protection in
1984, they were primarily assessed for importance as habitat for big game
animals. Since then, emphasis has shifted to consider additional
ecological values such as rare or endangered species. This
current review and approach considers a range of modern tools to manage
conservation values on land beyond Crown ownership. As part of the new
land management approach, WHPA is proposed to be updated to include
ecological, social, and economic values, in addition to wildlife habitat. Early
stage science-based assessments by professionals within the Ministry of
Environment have shown that the vast majority of WHPA land will continue
to remain under protection -- either through the WHPA, or under private
ownership with a conservation easement that will stipulate which
activities are permissible on that parcel of land in perpetuity. Conservation
easements have been used extensively by conservation organizations for
this purpose. To date, conservation easements are held by agencies
such as the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and
the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Currently, more than 82,000
hectares of land in the province are managed through conservation
easements. In addition, maximum penalties for violation of the
easements have been increased from $2000 to $100,000 for individual
violations and from $5000 to $500,000 for corporations. Amendments
to the act also now allow for stop work-orders, the ability to seize
equipment and court ordered injunctions. Farmers
and ranchers are, in many cases, avid hunters and sportsmen that care
deeply about preserving the natural environment for the enjoyment of
future generations. The privilege to access deeded or leased
agricultural land for hunting is, and will remain, at the discretion of
individual landowners and lessees. Access to these lands for the
purpose of hunting is based primarily on trust between landowners and
hunters and is not affected by the land being owned by the crown or held
privately. In
addition, the Province of Saskatchewan currently has 14,739,255 acres land
protected under the Representative Areas Network (RAN). This
includes the most ecologically sensitive lands such as the Great Sand
Hills, migratory bird sanctuaries, Fish and Wildlife Development Fund
lands, Ducks Unlimited Lands and other important ecological reserves.
It is important to note that these lands will not be affected by any
proposed chances to the WHPA. Our
goal is to find the most appropriate balance for protecting conservation
and ecological values while enabling private land ownership for those who
have proven to be the best stewards of the land – our farmers and
ranchers. We are committed to continuing to work in cooperation with
conservation agencies to protect native habitats in our province. Staying
in Touch I
appreciate the many opportunities to make a positive difference in our
constituency. Your phone calls, letters and emails make a big difference
in keeping me informed on the issues that matter to you. If
you would like to recognize anyone or have your event mentioned in this
newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact me. _______________________________________________________________________________ This
newsletter is produced with the assistance of the Saskatchewan Party Caucus
Office. |
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