Question Period Note: The Future of Environment and Climate Change Canada's Biosphere

The Future of Environment and Climate Change Canada's Biosphere

• The Biosphere is an award winning environmental museum.
• In April 2019, at the Nature Champions Summit, the governments of Canada and Quebec, in collaboration with the City of Montreal, created a working committee to develop a vision for the future of the Biosphere.
• The Government of Canada is currently reviewing the committee’s recommendations and is engaged in discussions with partners to identify and implement a vision for the future of the Biosphere

• The Biosphere’s dome has been part of the heritage of Montreal, Quebec and Canada since the 1967 World's Fair when it housed the United States Pavilion.
• The creation of the Biosphere as an environmental institution was announced following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and as a federal legacy for the 350th anniversary of the city of Montreal. Since its opening in 1995, it has been managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). It supports the Government of Canada's commitment to the environment and environmental education.
• The Department develops and implements the programming of the Biosphere, the only environmental museum in North America.
• In 2012, redacted, the Government of Canada decided to cease operations at the Biosphere at the end of the lease on December 31, 2019.
• The Government of Canada and its partners have been discussing the future of the Biosphere since April 2019. To allow for discussions to take place, ECCC has renewed its lease at the Biosphere until December 31, 2020.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office