Memo of Understanding, Environmental Education Partnership

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Memo of Understanding, Environmental Education Partnership

A public-private agreement to promote environmental education was signed by the provincial, municipal and federal governments and Clean Nova Scotia at a ceremony today, Sept. 10, in Halifax.

The new Environmental Education Partnership was signed by David Morse, Minister of Environment and Labour, on behalf of the department's Youth Conservation Corps; Peter Kelly, mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality; Garth Bangay, the regional director general for Environment Canada; Angela Griffiths, director of Clean Nova Scotia; Debra Burleson, the director of the Museum of Natural History.

The program will initially focus on promoting water conservation and wastewater management. Under the agreement, the three governments and Clean Nova Scotia will contribute professional services and resources to develop educational programs designed to instill in Nova Scotians a strong sense of stewardship for their water resources.

The Department of Environment and Labour will co-ordinate the education program and provide annual funding, staff, meeting facilities and partnership development.

"The timing of this is announcement could not have been better," said Mr. Morse. "The province has just approved its first strategy on safe drinking water and this agreement will further help us promote our vision that everyone can play an important part in protecting and conserving our limited water supplies."