Signatories include:
- Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet, novelist and literary critic
- Mandy Gull, Deputy Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Government
- Jacqueline Scott, Founder of Black Outdoors
- Heather Reisman, CEO Indigo Inc.
- Mary Simon, Former Ambassador, Circumpolar Affairs
- Louise Dennys, Executive Publisher, Penguin Random House Canada
- – and more than 43 other women leaders
Investing in Nature is essential to our shared future
(Ottawa, ON) – In an Open Letter to Minister Freeland organized by the national non-profit, Nature Canada, women leaders from across the country have come together to ask the federal government to invest in Nature for our shared future. Signatories to the letter include writer, Margaret Atwood, Deputy Grand Chief Mandy Gull of the Cree Nation Government, Jacqueline Scott of Black Outdoors, and more than 49 prominent women leaders from across the country.
Signatories to the Open Letter ask Minister Freeland to ensure investments to expand protection of land, freshwater and oceans are a priority in the upcoming federal budget, and at a level commensurate with Canada’s historic Nature and global climate commitments.
Signatories support the call from the Green Budget Coalition for a minimum investment of $4.8B over five years, including support for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Guardian Programs. Without this, the promise of global leadership on Nature and climate will be empty, and we will have shortchanged future generations and all species the healthy future that is their right.
Signatories applaud the federal government’s public commitment to protect 25 per cent of land and ocean by 2025 and lead globally to ensure 30 per cent protection of the planet by 2030, while achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 – but want to see the government put funding behind the promises in this next federal budget.
The pandemic has thrown into relief what we value — and the urgent need to build up and invest in essential support systems that will secure a healthy, and more equitable future for all. In coping through the pandemic, as it has since time immemorial, our most foundational and essential support system has been Nature. It’s time the federal government invested in our shared future.
About Nature Canada:
Nature Canada is one of the oldest national nature conservation charities in Canada. For 80 years, Nature Canada has helped protect over 110 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species. Today, Nature Canada represents a network of over 100,000 members and supporters and more than 800 nature organizations.
