OTTAWA, Ont. – February
15, 2013 – Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today released
the 2012 Progress Report on the Federal
Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS)
and the 2013-16 draft Strategy for a 120
day period of public consultations.
“The 2012 Progress Report
provides Canadians with a whole-of-government
picture of the Government of Canada’s contributions
to achieving environmental sustainability,”
said Minister Kent. “It demonstrates that
the Harper Government is making concrete
progress in environmental sustainability
and is building on this progress to further
advance the transparency and accountability
of environmental decision-making.”
The report highlights
real results achieved by the Government
of Canada in the areas of climate change,
clean air and conservation:
Canada has begun to
decouple greenhouse gases from economic
growth and has put in place measures needed
to meet about half of its 2020 reductions
target;
Air quality in Canada is among the best
in the world;
The Great Lakes’ Areas of Concern are being
restored;
Since 11000, protected areas in Canada have
nearly doubled; and
The Government has made significant strides
in greening its operations.
“The Government of Canada is making progress
in greening its buildings, fleet, procurement,
and office practices,” said the Honourable
Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and
Government Services and Minister for Status
of Women. “We will continue to demonstrate
leadership by reducing the Government’s
environmental footprint.” PWGSC supports
the greening of the Government's operations
by working closely with other federal departments
and agencies.
The public consultations
process on the 2013-16 draft Strategy provides
Canadians with a key opportunity to comment
on the Government’s progress made on sustainable
development, and its goals and objectives
over the coming years.
“I am inviting Canadians
to take part in the public consultations
process as the draft Strategy aims to improve
the way the federal government plans for
sustainable development. Sustainable development
is a long-term issue. Updating the Strategy
and reporting on results every three years
provide the basis for constant improvement
and innovation over the long term,” said
Minister Kent. “It also reflects a growing
recognition—within Canada and internationally—that
environmental sustainability and economic
prosperity support and reinforce one another.”
Canadians are encouraged
to review the 2013-16 draft Federal Sustainable
Development Strategy and invited to provide
comments by visiting http://www.ec.gc.ca/dd-sd/default.asp?lang=En&n=C2844D2D-1
or the Consulting with Canadians website
by June 14, 2013. Comments will contribute
to establishing a clear and coherent Federal
Sustainable Development Strategy.
+ More
Government of Canada
Invests in a Community Environmental Project
in Quebec
QUÉBEC, Que.
– February 14, 2013 – The Honourable Steven
Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Member of Parliament for Lévis—Bellechasse,
on behalf of Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced
funding from the EcoAction Community Funding
Program for a new environmental project
in Quebec. The Association québécoise
de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique
will receive $88,000 in federal funding
to support action across Quebec to promote
best practices regarding energy efficiency.
“The EcoAction Community
Funding Program shows that it is possible
to mobilize resources and people to benefit
environmental initiatives like the Chantier
québécois en efficacité
énergétique,” stated Minister
Blaney. “With this funding, we are highlighting
the fact that field activities aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions across
Quebec are essential and that they help
preserve our natural resources and our environment.”
“Our government is taking
real action to address the environmental
priorities of Canadians and ensure we have
clean air, clean water, and biologically
diverse land for generations to come,” said
Minister Kent. “EcoAction Community Funding
supports community groups across the country
willing to take concrete action through
on-the-ground environmental projects. We
are proud to partner with these organizations
that are committed to conserving Canada’s
natural legacy.”
The Chantier québécois
en efficacité énergétique
aims to educate more than 25 000 people
regarding energy issues and to promote best
practices. This project will allow for the
creation of some 30 regional committees
that will work in several regions of Quebec
to launch initiatives aimed at reducing
CO2emissions by 3000 tonnes and other pollutants
by 2000 tonnes, and generating 10 000 kWh
in energy savings.
“The Association québécoise
de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique
(AQLPA), the founder of the Chantier québécois
en efficacité énergétique,
is grateful for this financial support,”
noted the association’s president, André
Bélisle. “Through the EcoAction Community
Funding Program, the AQLPA will be able
to encourage better energy consumption habits
on the part of both individuals and participating
groups.”
The EcoAction Community
Funding Program supports projects that rehabilitate,
protect or enhance the natural environment,
and builds the capacity of communities and
individuals to ensure future protection.
This year, the Government of Canada is providing
over $4 million for over 100 new projects
under this program.
More information about
the EcoAction Community Funding Program
is available on Environment Canada’s website,
at http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.
+ More
Canada Continues to
Align Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measures
with the United States
“New measures will
allow fuel savings of up to $8000 per year,
per vehicle, by 2018.”
Mississauga, Ont. –
February 25, 2013 – Today the Honourable
Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister,
announced final regulations to improve fuel
efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles
and engines. This is another step in our
plan to align our environmental regulations
with the United States.
“With these tough new
measures, GHG emissions from 2018 model-year
heavy-duty vehicles will be reduced by up
to 23 per cent,” said Minister Kent. “The
regulations will also lead to improved fuel
efficiency. For example, a semi-truck operator
driving a 2018 model-year vehicle will save
up to $8,000 per year in fuel.”
The Regulations will
establish progressively more stringent standards
for 2014 to 2018 model-year heavy-duty vehicles
such as full-size pick-ups, semi-trucks,
garbage trucks and buses. The Regulations
will remain in full effect for all subsequent
model-year vehicles, which will be required
to adhere to the 2018 standard, and will
result in GHG reductions of 19.1 megatonnes
over the lifetime of the 2014-2018 model-year
vehicles.
“Our Government continues
to align our measures with the United States,”
said Minister Kent.” Since 2005, Canada
has reduced its overall GHG emissions by
6.5%.”
These regulations are
another example of the success the Government
of Canada is having working collaboratively
with its partners in the United States to
harmonize standards and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
The Government of Canada
is committed to reducing Canada’s GHG emissions,
and has backed up that commitment by taking
a number of measures. For example, we are:
Implementing regulations
to reduce GHGs from coal fired electricity
plants, which will reduce GHGs by 214 megatonnes
over the period 2015–2035. We expect that
every coal fired plant in Canada that uses
traditional technology will eventually be
closed, with the first plants closing in
the next few years.
Consulting on regulations for cars and light
trucks for model years 2017 to 2025. Our
action to date will see GHGs from cars and
light trucks fall by up to 50% by 2025 compared
to 2008 models.
Implementing regulations requiring 5% renewable
fuel in gasoline.
Related Information:
Canada Continues to
Align Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measures
with the United States (Backgrounder)
Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse
Gas Emissions Regulations (PDF version This
PDF will be available in HTML version in
the coming weeks on the Canada Gazette’s
Web Site.)
Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (PDF
version This PDF will be available in HTML
version in the coming weeks on the Canada
Gazette’s Web Site.)
