$100 Million in Federal Funding Will Transform the Way Land-Use Decisions are Made in Canada (September 22, 2005)

Listowel, ON, September 20, 2005 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell today announced the federal government is investing $100 million in the development of an Internet-based service that will provide a recognized source of information, analysis and interpretation of land, soil, water, climatic and biodiversity data to assist land-use managers in their agri-environmental planning.


Led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in partnership with other federal departments, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, non-government organizations (NGOs) and industry groups, the National Land and Water Information Service will provide online access to current, local and regional agri-environmental information such as the kind of production a particular section of land will support.


“The Service is an investment in agri-environmental sustainability and will serve the agricultural sector and all Canadians by encouraging responsible land-use choices,” said Minister Mitchell. “It will transform the way these decisions are made in Canada.”


Currently, the information needed to make responsible agri-environmental decisions is either not available or is not easily accessible. The National Land and Water Information Service will make data accessible through a recognized point of entry using on-line technology and tools and will also provide access to experts to help facilitate informed decisions.


Using the Service, agricultural producers will be able to determine, for instance, if their land will support an expanded operation or whether the water supply might be affected by the kind and size of the proposed production.


“Through this Service, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide information and decision support that encourages responsible environmental choices,” said Minister Mitchell. “Land management decisions at national, regional and local levels require this range of support to ensure due consideration of social, economic and environmental objectives.”


The National Land and Water Information Service is an integral part of the deliverables under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) to achieve environmental goals. The APF is the comprehensive policy involving the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the agriculture and agri-food industry. The goal of the APF is to help the agricultural sector address emerging challenges, such as increasing domestic and foreign consumer demand, increased global competition, and advances in science.


The National Land and Water Information Service will be developed using proven Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. GIS is a system of computer software, hardware, data and personnel, which manipulates, analyzes and presents information that is tied to a spatial location.


The Service is scheduled to be introduced through a phased approach over four years.


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For further information, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/nlwis/main_e.htm, or contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1-866-345-7972
(613) 759-7972


Matt Tolley
Press Secretary
Minister Mitchell’s Office
(613) 759-1059