Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It is my privilege to appear before you today, on behalf of the Minister of the Environment, to discuss the 2014-15 supplementary estimates (B) for Environment Canada.
I have a brief statement to deliver, which will be followed by statements from our portfolio agencies. After that, we would all be pleased to answer questions on the supplementary estimates (B).
This is Environment Canada's first supplementary estimates to update the 2014-15 main estimates. The department's submission amounts to a net increase of $52.6 million, bringing the department's total budget to $1.035 billion. The estimates, as you all have seen, include $44.6 million for grants and contributions, $9.9 million for statutory items, and a reduction of $1.9 million for transfers between Environment Canada and other federal government departments.
As you can see, grants and contributions are a large part of Environment Canada's supplementary estimates. These are voted transfer payments with limited funding and defined start and end dates, and they are provided to individuals or organizations for activities meeting eligibility criteria set by the programs they support.
Now, as I mentioned, included in these estimates is Environment Canada's request for $25.6 million to implement the national conservation plan.
As you may recall, on May 15, the Prime Minister launched Canada's national conservation plan. The plan provides $252 million over five years and will contribute to Canada's long-term prosperity by taking concrete action in three priority areas.
First, it will safeguard and enhance biodiversity and ecosystems through conservation and stewardship actions.
Second, it will restore degraded ecosystems while protecting and recovering species at risk.
Third, it will also connect Canadians with nature to foster an appreciation for nature that will help to build a community of stewards of all ages.
The national conservation plan targets investments in new and enhanced initiatives, such as securing ecologically sensitive lands, restoring wetlands, supporting voluntary stewardship for species and habitats, and strengthening marine and coastal conservation.
The department's funding requests for these estimates will be used for such initiatives as securing, as I said, ecologically sensitive lands, fully accounting for Canada's conservation lands, and taking actions to restore wetlands. We will also support voluntary actions to conserve and restore species in their habitats and, as I said, help further connect urban Canadians to nature.
Mr. Chair, these are the highlights of the objectives that Environment Canada's supplementary estimates (B) will support in the department's work to provide Canadians with a clean, safe, and sustainable environment.
I will now pass the microphone to the CEO of Parks Canada.