TORONTO - A coalition of Canadian artists and environmental groups is calling on Premier Dalton McGuinty to protect Ontario's boreal forest to fight climate change.
The group of 11 artists, including author Yann Martel and singer Sarah Harmer, has written a letter urging McGuinty to protect a swath of the forest.
They say the boreal forest is a natural ally in the fight against climate change since it "quietly cleans our air and our water."
The group says many parts of the forest are designated for logging, which would threaten the woodland caribou and destroy one of Ontario's best defences against global warming.
The letter urges McGuinty to take this "golden opportunity" to include boreal forest protection in any provincial plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
McGuinty says the province is working on a plan to reduce the harmful emissions and take responsibility for the environment.
