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For immediate release                                                July 30, 2002

  Lack of funding threatens Biosphere

MONTREAL - After a long-awaited opening in June 1995 and seven years since then of raising the public’s awareness of environmental issues, Environment Canada has announced that, due to reduced funding over the years, it may have to close part of the exhibition at the Biosphere and let go 25 % of the Biosphere work force. Those who will be hardest hit are Environment Component members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) who have been hired on a regular basis for the past four years.

The PSAC urges the Minister of the Environment and the federal government to live up to its promise of doing everything it can to protect and preserve the environment. The Biosphere is the only museum of its kind in Canada with its emphasis on the preservation of water, one of our most important natural resources, and its educational programs related to the protection of the environment.

"The purpose of the Biosphere is to make people aware of the importance of water and the need to protect this vital resource. Employees work to design and set up new exhibitions, educational programs and guided tours to provide a diverse public with the most relevant and up-to-date information on the environment. As well, they support a network of more than 5,000 environmental activists across the nation to carry out concrete action plans in the field focusing on community involvement", according to Guy Borne, Regional Vice-President of Environment Component of the PSAC.

Drastic cuts at the Biosphere will mean that it will no longer be able to fulfill its mission of keeping Canadians informed of environmental issues or of doing its part to preserve our environment. The Environment Component of the PSAC therefore calls upon the Minister of the Environment to provide adequate funding for the Biosphere in order to help protect our environment for current and future generations.

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