WOLFVILLE,
NS -- June 6, 2008 -- The Government of
Canada entered into a memorandum of understanding
on environmental co-operation today with
the Atlantic provinces at the conclusion
of the two-day Atlantic Council of Environment
Ministers meeting. The agreement was signed
by Canada's Environment Minister John Baird;
Mark Parent, Nova Scotia Minister of the
Environment; Roland Haché, New Brunswick
Minister of the Environment, George Webster,
Prince Edward Island Minister of the Environment,
Energy and Forestry and Charlene Johnson,
Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Environment
and Conservation.
"Our Government
and our four partners in Atlantic Canada
share the goal of attaining the highest
possible level of environmental quality
in the Atlantic provinces," said Minister
Baird. "By signing this agreement,
both levels of government are formally demonstrating
their commitment to preserve, protect and
enhance the environment in the Atlantic
region for present and future generations."
The five-government
agreement contains a broad set of environmental
management principles of cooperation designed
to enhance environmental protection in Atlantic
Canada. The MOU strengthens the ability
of the federal and provincial governments
to work together to achieve shared environmental
objectives and will help create specific
multilateral or bilateral agreements. The
first will be focused on water.
"Our government
aims to make Nova Scotia one of the cleanest,
most sustainable environments in the world
by 2020," said Minister Parent. "Cooperating
with our Atlantic and federal partners will
help bring us closer to that goal."
New Brunswick's minister
of Environment was unable to attend the
ceremony but signed the agreement in advance.
"Environmental
stewardship is something New Brunswick takes
very seriously," said Minister Haché.
"Our government is pleased to be entering
in this partnership with the federal government
and other Atlantic provinces to work toward
environmental sustainability."
Prince Edward Island's
minister responsible for the environment,
energy and forestry noted the importance
of regional cooperation.
"The two main aims
for any government working on environmental
questions in this region should be the best
protection of our shared natural wealth
and the best use of tax payers' dollars
to achieve that protection," said Minister
Webster. "By setting down a framework
for intergovernmental cooperation this memorandum
of understanding ensures environmental work
in Atlantic Canada is delivered effectively,
and that it is delivered by the government
best positioned to respond to a given issue."
The minister from Newfoundland
and Labrador also complimented the spirit
of the agreement.
"We understand
the environmental challenges that are specific
to this region, as well as the measures
we must take to ensure sustainability and
protect the environment for future generations,"
said the Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment
and Conservation. "Collectively, we
have similar objectives regarding climate
change, air quality, water quality, and
various other environmental issues, and
a cohesive voice on these matters will go
far in helping us achieve our long-term
goals."
The memorandum of understanding
will:
create a regional steering
committee of senior officials from Environment
Canada and the environment departments in
the Atlantic provinces, which will allow
for easier and more effective discussion
and collaboration on environmental issues.
facilitate a consistent, efficient and transparent
collaborative approach to environmental
protection and conservation in the Atlantic
provinces;
strengthen federal/provincial co-operation
to address a national environmental priority
(e.g. water quantity and quality) in an
integrated and co-ordinated way; and
provide the foundation for federal/provincial
co-operation to address a broad spectrum
of environmental priorities and could pave
the way for other more detailed multilateral
or bilateral agreements.
Eric Richler
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government of Canada
Announces $5 Million for Weather Station
and Conservation on Sable Island
WOLFVILLE, Nova Scotia.
June 5, 2008. - Canada's Environment Minister,
John Baird, today announced $5 million in
new funding for five years for a weather
station and conservation on Sable Island,
a unique and treasured ecosystem for Nova
Scotians and Canadians. The announcement
is part of the Government of Canada's Action
Plan for Clean Water and its investment
of $61.5 million over 5 years to improve
the health of our oceans.
"We believe that
it is in the best interest of Canadians
to ensure that Sable Island is preserved
for generations to come and we are providing
important funding for its long-term conservation,"
said Minister Baird. "Today's announcement
is further proof of our Government's commitment
to protecting and preserving our environment
in Atlantic Canada."
This initiative includes
a five-year commitment to maintaining four
employees on Sable Island. The funding will
be used to support weather monitoring operations,
including collecting meteorological data
to be used for producing marine and coastal
weather warnings, and providing support
to climate change monitoring research.
The initiative will
also take action to protect the island's
fragile ecosystem, including maintaining
habitat, managing the responsible use of
the island by visitors, and providing a
safe refuge for people during offshore and
other emergency situations. This work will
contribute to the eventual designation of
Sable Island as a National Wildlife Area.
Sable Island is a unique
and fragile ecosystem of sand dunes, grassy
fields, heath and freshwater ponds. The
island has diverse flora and fauna. It is
the only breeding ground of the Ipswich
Sparrow, species of special concern, and
is also home to small breeding numbers of
the endangered species, the Roseate Tern.
Eric Richler
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Takes Action
for Cleaner Air: Air Quality Alert System
Expanded to 5.3 Million People Living in
the Greater Toronto Area
BURLINGTON, ON - June
6, 2008 - Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament
for Burlington, on behalf ofCanada's Environment
Minister John Baird, and Health Minister
Tony Clement, today announced that the world's
first Air Quality Health Index is being
expanded to six communities in the Greater
Toronto Area.
"Canadians are
entitled to clean air, to know the quality
of the air they breathe and what they can
do to reduce harmful impacts of air pollution,"
said Mr. Wallace. "A year ago our Government
announced $30 million to establish an alert
system across the country to provide Canadians
with the tools they need to make the right
decisions for their families. This investment,
combined with our Turning the Corner plan
to cut air pollution from industry by 50
per cent, shows how serious we are about
cleaning up the air we breathe and improving
the health of Canadians."
Canada's Air Quality
Health Index, found at www.airhealth.ca,
provides real time information to Canadians
on the quality of the air they're breathing.
It is a key tool in preventing injury and
illness to those with asthma or other respiratory
illnesses. The project is supported jointly
by the Governments of Canada and Ontario,
along with Toronto Public Health. In July
2007, the Government of Canada announced
the 18-month pilot project for Toronto.
"Ontario
is a world leader when it comes to fighting
air pollution and protecting the health
of its citizens," said Ontario Environment
Minister John Gerretsen. "As a province,
we support the pilot Air Quality Health
Index because we want citizens in the Greater
Toronto Area and other cities to have access
to the most accurate information possible
on the health risks of poor air."
Today's announcement
is part of a clean air initiative across
Canada where Member of Parliament Ed Fast
announced that the British Columbian pilot
project is moving from a pilot program to
full implementation. British Columbians
in 14 communities across the province will
now have access to the most up to date air
quality information available.
With federal funding
of $30 million over four years, the Air
Quality Health Index will be rolled out
to other mid- and large-sized communities
across the country. Federal partnerships
with municipal and provincial and governments
and non-governmental organizations partnerships
are key to the program's success In Ontario,
essential air quality monitoring data and
assistance with forecasting the health index
is provided by the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment.
This announcement compliments
the Governments other clean air initiatives
including the launch of a national vehicle
scrapage program to get smog-producing cars
off the road, tough new emissions standards
to reduce air pollution from cars and limits
on smog-producing chemicals in everyday
products.
For more information about the Government
of Canada's environmental initiatives, please
visit: http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca
Laryssa Waler
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health
June 7, 2008 (1:45 p.m.
EDT)
No. 135
+ More
Canada Concludes Negotiations
for Free Trade, Labour Cooperation and Environment
Agreements with Colombia
The Honourable David
Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, and Minister for the
Pacific Gateway and Vancouver-Whistler Olympics,
today announced the conclusion of free trade
negotiations between Canada and Colombia.
Agreement has also been reached on labour
and environmental issues. The conclusion
of negotiations with Colombia, along with
the signing of similar agreements with Peru,
delivers on Canada’s commitment to become
a more active economic and social partner
throughout the Americas.
“The Government of Canada
is delivering on its commitment to open
up opportunities for Canadian business in
the Americas and around the world,” stated
Minister Emerson. “The free trade agreement
will expand Canada-Colombia trade and investment,
and will help solidify ongoing efforts by
the Government of Colombia to create a more
prosperous, equitable and secure democracy.”
Once implemented, this
comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA)
will improve market access for agricultural
products, industrial goods and services
trade between Canada and Colombia, and will
provide a more secure environment for investment.
The FTA will also ensure that Canadian exporters
are not put at a disadvantage vis-à-vis
trading partners that have or are seeking
preferential access to Colombia’s market.
The parallel labour and environment agreements
will ensure that progress on labour rights
and environmental protection goes hand in
hand with economic progress.
“This agreement, like
the one that was signed by our government
in Peru last week, contains some of the
most comprehensive labour provisions to
be found in any agreement anywhere in the
world,” said the Honourable Jean-Pierre
Blackburn, Minister of Labour. “As the Colombian
government moves forward to strengthen labour
rights after a difficult past, Canada will
be there to help. We believe that agreements
for free trade and labour cooperation are
powerful tools that can bring prosperity
to workers.”
The Labour Cooperation
Agreement (LCA) contains strong, enforceable
provisions for labour rights. Through this
agreement, both countries commit to respecting
the core labour standards set out by the
International Labour Organization, such
as the elimination of child labour, forced
labour and workplace discrimination, as
well as respect for freedom of association
and the right to bargain collectively. The
LCA also includes an open and transparent
dispute resolution mechanism. If obligations
are not respected, the offending country
may have to pay up to $15 million in any
one year into a cooperation fund, which
will be used to resolve issues identified
through the dispute resolution process.
Labour, along with environmental and human
rights issues, has been a focus of the Standing
Committee on International Trade’s ongoing
hearings on Canada’s negotiations with Colombia.
“The Canada-Colombia
Agreement on the Environment is yet another
example of how we are collaborating with
our trade partners to protect the environment,”
said the Honourable John Baird, Minister
of the Environment. “We look forward to
working with our Colombian partners to continuously
improve our respective environmental laws
and policies to ensure the highest levels
of environmental protection.”
The Agreement on the
Environment will commit both countries to
pursue high levels of environmental protection.
The agreement includes key obligations that
will require Canada and Colombia to comply
with and effectively enforce their domestic
environmental laws and refrain from relaxing
these laws to encourage trade or investment.
The FTA represents a
significant step toward strengthening Canada’s
comprehensive bilateral partnership with
Colombia. Canada’s is committed to deepening
its engagement in the Americas so as to
promote increased prosperity, greater security
and strengthened freedom, democracy, human
rights and the rule of law. Canada actively
engages both multilaterally and bilaterally
to address the human rights situation in
Colombia.
Colombia is a significant
market for Canadian companies, with a population
of over 44 million and a total GDP of $154
billion. In 2007, two-way merchandise trade
between Canada and Colombia totalled $1.14
billion. Canada’s direct investment stock
in Colombia totalled $739 million in 2007.
Before signing the agreements
and making them public, Canada and Colombia
will undertake a detailed legal review of
the texts in English, French and Spanish.
In Canada, the treaties will then be tabled
in the House of Commons for a period of
21 sitting days. During that time, members
of parliament will be able to review, debate,
vote on a motion, or send the agreements
to committee for further review. Following
the 21-day period, the Government plans
to introduce draft legislation to implement
the agreements.
The negotiations began
in July 2007, during the visit of Prime
Minister Harper to Colombia and other Latin
American countries.
Under Canada’s Global
Commerce Strategy, the government is working
to advance Canada’s trade interests in key
markets by opening up new opportunities
for Canadian exporters, investors and innovators.
The Strategy includes an aggressive trade
negotiation agenda that aims to secure competitive
terms of access in markets that offer significant
potential for our products and expertise.
Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade and Minister for
the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler
Olympics
+ More
Governments Take Action
for Cleaner Air: Air Quality Alert System
Now Permanent for British Columbians
Vancouver, June 6, 2008
- Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford,
on behalf of Canada's Environment Minister
John Baird and Health Minister Tony Clement,
today announced that the National Air Quality
Health Index pilot is moving from a pilot
program to full implementation. This air
quality alert system will now be available
in 14 locations across the province.
The Air Quality Health
Index is now available in Victoria / Saanich,
Nanaimo / Parksville, Metro Vancouver, the
Central and Eastern Fraser Valley, Kamloops,
Okanagan, Prince George and Quesnel.
"Canadians are
entitled to clean air, to know the quality
of the air they breathe and what they can
do to reduce harmful impacts of air pollution,"
said Mr. Fast. "By making British Columbia's
Air Quality Health Index permanent, our
Government is demonstrating that we are
serious about cleaning up the air we breathe
and improving the health of Canadians. This
investment, combined with our Turning the
Corner plan to cut air pollution from industry
by 50 per cent, is what Canadians want and
what we are delivering."
Canada's Air Quality
Health Index, found at www.airhealth.ca,
provides real time information to Canadians
on the quality of the air they're breathing
so they can make the right decisions for
their families. It is a key tool in preventing
injury and illness to those with asthma
or other respiratory illnesses. The project
is supported jointly by the Governments
of Canada, British Colombia and the Greater
Vancouver Regional District. The full implementation
of the program is part of the Government
of Canada's $30 million investment to establish
an air quality warning system across the
country.
"Moving from the
pilot phase to become fully operational
is a significant milestone for the Air Quality
Health Index," said B.C. Environment
Minister Barry Penner. "While I'm encouraged
by data showing improved air quality in
recent years in British Columbia, it's still
important that both levels of government
provide funding to help the B.C. Lung Association
increase awareness that air quality affects
peoples' health, and increase understanding
of what the AQHI means and how to use it."
Today's announcement
is part of a clean air initiative across
Canada where Member of Parliament Mike Wallace
announced the expansion of the Toronto air
quality alert system to include the 5.3
million Canadians living in the six municipalities
that make up the Greater Toronto Area.
This announcement compliments
the Governments other clean air initiatives
including the launch of a national vehicle
scrappage program to get smog-producing
cars off the road, tough new emissions standards
to reduce air pollution from cars and limits
on smog-producing chemicals in everyday
products.
For more information
about the Federal Government of Canada's
environmental initiatives, please visit:
http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
