OTTAWA, Ont. - April
19, 2010 -- Canada's Environment Minister
Jim Prentice announced today the start of
a public consultation period that begins
the process of updating Canada's regulatory
framework for the transboundary movement
of waste and hazardous recyclable materials.
Environment Canada posted a discussion paper
online that interested stakeholders and
Canadians can comment on until June 14,
2010.
"I am very pleased
that Environment Canada is set to strengthen
its regulatory framework for the export
and import of all waste, including e-waste,
and hazardous recyclable materials,"
said Minister Prentice. "This consultation
process is the first step in streamlining
some of Canada's regulations and ensuring
that our practices are harmonized with international
standards and agreements."
The Government of Canada
is updating three existing regulations under
the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
1999 (CEPA 1999), to ensure greater protection
of the health and environment of Canadians
and of other countries, improve policy alignment
with international agreements, and add clarity
to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness
of the regulations.
The regulations to be
updated are the Export and Import of Hazardous
Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material
Regulations, 2005, the Interprovincial Movement
of Hazardous Waste Regulations, 2002, and
the. The new regulatory framework will ensure
that electrical and electronic equipment
(commonly referred to as e-waste), being
exported or imported for disposal, recycling
or reuse is managed in an environmentally
sound manner. It will strengthen the implementation
of Canada's international commitments to
control the movement of waste, particularly
under the Basel Convention on the Control
of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal (1989), ratified
by Canada in 1992. The regulatory update
will also improve the enforceability of
the regulations while reducing administrative
and paperwork burden on stakeholders.
The Discussion Paper
is posted for public comment on the Environment
Canada's web site, at http://www.ec.gc.ca/gdd-mw/default.asp?lang=En&n=C6D17E79-1
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
BC Company Pleads Guilty
to Illegal Importation of Protected Plant
VANCOUVER, BC. - April
19, 2010 -- 2010,Topwin Trading Co Ltd.
was ordered, on April 12th, to pay a $10,000
penalty after pleading guilty to contravening
subsection 6(2) of the Wild Animal and Plant
Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act. Topwin Trading
Co Ltd. is one of the largest importers
of traditional Chinese medicines in British
Columbia.
In April 2008, Environment
Canada's Enforcement Branch intercepted
a commercial shipment of medicinal herbs
suspected to contain plant material derived
from endangered or threatened wildlife species.
The shipment contained one carton of the
plant species Nardostachys grandiflora,
which is commonly used in dried form as
a medicinal herb.
Environment Canada is
the lead agency responsible for implementing
the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna
and Flora on behalf of the Government of
Canada.
This plant is a protected species of flora
listed under CITES. CITES sets controls,
through a permit system, on the international
trade and movement of animal and plant species
that are endangered, or have been, or may
be, threatened due to excessive commercial
exploitation. A permit is required to import
Nardostachys grandiflora into Canada.
A total of $9,000 of
this penalty will be directed to the British
Columbia Institute of Technology Integrative
BioScience Research Cluster, which conducts
research into areas of herbal medicine,
including the identification of plants and
authentication of plants.
Media Relations
Environment Canada
+ More
Government of Canada
Taking the Lead in International Efforts
to Phase Down HFCs
OTTAWA, Ont. -- April
29, 2010 -- The Government of Canada is
pursuing its commitment to work with the
Governments of the United States and Mexico
to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
under the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a very successful
global environmental treaty. Following the
commitment made at the North American Leaders'
Summit in August 2009, the three countries
have jointly re-tabled a proposal to phase
down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. HFCs
are greenhouse gases with high global warming
potential that are being used as alternatives
to ozone-depleting substances being phased
out under the Protocol.
"Canada and its
partners are demonstrating global leadership
and commitment to proactively avert a potential
threat to the climate system," said
the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of
the Environment. "Having played a key
role in the negotiation and evolution of
the Montreal Protocol, the Government of
Canada is eager to build on its achievements
and recognizes the significant impact this
amendment would have on global climate change
mitigation."
The contribution of
HFC emissions to the total share of global
greenhouse gas emissions is expected to
grow significantly if action is not taken
now. As HFCs do not affect the ozone layer,
they have not, to date, been regulated under
the Montreal Protocol. However, the Government
of Canada and its North American partners
recognize the Montreal Protocol as the most
effective regulatory body for HFCs, given
it already has the infrastructure and expertise
in controlling substances in the relevant
industries.
When the North American
proposal was first tabled at the last meeting
of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
in November 2009, it generated significant
interest. Although not adopted, over 40
Parties at the meeting produced a declaration
that recognizes the need to review the possibility
of amending the Protocol to include substances
such as HFCs. Since then, the Government
of Canada has continued to cooperate with
its North American partners to address concerns
raised by some of the Parties to the Montreal
Protocol so that the proposal can be successfully
adopted.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Appoints
Members to the National Round Table on the
Environment and the Economy
OTTAWA, Ont. - April
28 2010 -The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister
of the Environment, is pleased to announce
the appointment of Robert Kulhawy and re-appointments
of Robert Slater and Christopher Hilkene
to the National Round Table on the Environment
and the Economy (NRTEE). The appointment
for Mr. Kulhawy commenced April 22, 2010,
and re-appointments for Mr. Hilkene and
Mr. Slater are effective April 22, 2010
and May 11, 2010, respectively.
"The Government
of Canada continues to look to the NRTEE
for environmental and economic advice on
our priority environmental issues,"
said Minister Prentice. "These individuals
bring valuable insight and experience to
the NRTEE and its efforts to generate and
promote innovative ways to advance Canada's
environmental and economic interests."
NRTEE members are drawn
from distinguished leaders in business and
labour, universities, environmental organizations,
Aboriginal communities and municipalities.
Members are appointed by the government
of Canada for a mandate of up to three years.
Since its creation in
1988, the NRTEE undertakes research based
on sound knowledge, advises governments
and stakeholders on key issues, and promotes
practices on sustainable development.
