message from Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change

By Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

I recently had the opportunity to share an urban hike on The Great Trail with Sally Jewell, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Ms. Jewell had come to Ottawa to discuss opportunities for further Canada-U.S. collaboration on protected areas and wildlife issues.

In April 2016, the two of us hiked on a spectacular section of the Trail along the shores of the Ottawa River behind Parliament Hill in the National Capital Region. The experience reinforced the value of access to our natural heritage that the Trail gives us, as well as the countless opportunities to learn more about our shared history and culture across the nation.

The gifts of The Great Trail extend further – active transportation and healthy living being significant benefits. In this way, I see The Great Trail as an important part of our national endeavour to combat climate change by increasing active transportation.

Choosing to cycle, walk or canoe not only enhances our health and well-being, but also reduces the polluting emissions that contribute to climate change.

Our government has invited Canadians to help us find new, creative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take a global leadership role on the climate front, here at home and abroad. Many ideas involve individual actions that can collectively have a big impact. Each of us can make a difference by leveraging all of the active transportation and recreational activities available to us thanks to The Great Trail, now and in the future.