OTTAWA, August 3, 2007 –The
Honorable John Baird, Minister of the Environment,
announced today the appointment of Mr. David
McLaughlin as President of the National Round
Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE).
Mr. McLaughlin’s appointment is effective
August 8, 2007.
“David McLaughlin’s unique combination of
senior management experience and public policy
expertise will contribute greatly to the work
of the National Round Table on the Environment
and the Economy,” said Minister Baird. “He
has distinguished himself as a public policy
manager in several areas, and he will give
excellent leadership to the Round Table.”
NRTEE is dedicated to exploring new opportunities
to integrate environmental conservation and
economic development in order to sustain Canada’s
prosperity and secure its future. Its mandate
has recently been enhanced to provide advice
to Canada’s New Government on Turning the
Corner: An Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse
Gases and Air Pollution.
NRTEE was created in October 1988 by then-Prime
Minister Brian Mulroney, and its independent
role and mandate were enshrined in the National
Round Table on the Environment and Economy
Act. Its members are drawn from distinguished
leaders in business and labour, universities,
environmental organizations, Aboriginal communities
and municipalities.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Charges Laid Against Canadian National Railway
in Relation to August 2005 Sodium Hydroxide
Spill into the Cheakamus River
North Vancouver, British Columbia – August
3, 2007 - Environment Canada has, as a result
of a joint investigation with the British
Columbia (B.C.) Conservation Officer Service,
Ministry of Environment, laid charges under
the Fisheries Act and the B.C. Environmental
Management Act against the Canadian National
Railway.
The company has been charged with a total
of five counts: one count of depositing a
deleterious substance into waters frequented
by fish pursuant to subsection 36(3) of the
federal Fisheries Act, one count of depositing
a deleterious substance under conditions where
it may enter water frequented by fish pursuant
to subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act,
one count of introducing a business waste
pursuant to subsection 6(2) of the British
Columbia Environmental Management Act, one
count of introducing waste produced by a prescribed
industry pursuant to subsection 6(3) of the
B.C. Environmental Management Act and one
count under subsection 6(4) of the Environmental
Management Act for introducing waste and causing
pollution.
The charges stem from the August 5, 2005
train derailment near Squamish, B.C. which
resulted insodium hydroxide (caustic soda),
a deleterious substance, being spilled into
the Cheakamus River.
A date for first appearance in Provincial
Court has been set for October 3, 2007 in
North Vancouver, B.C.
First offences under subsection 36(3) of
the Fisheries Act are punishable on summary
conviction by a fine of up to $300,000. Indictable
offences can result in a maximum $1,000,000
fine. Upon conviction, a variety of discretionary
Court Orders are also available.
The British Columbia Environmental Management
Act provides for maximum penalties of up to
$1,000,000 per count.
Environment Canada’s Environmental Enforcement
officers investigate alleged offences under
a number of Acts and Regulations including
the federal Fisheries Act and the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Environment
Canada works with its partner agencies, such
as the B.C. Ministry of Environment, to ensure
efficient and effective enforcement of Canada’s
pollution prevention laws and to ensure that
companies and their officials, government
departments and their officials and the general
public comply with legislation and regulations
that protect Canada’s environment.
Micheline Brodeur
Regional Communications Advisor
Environment Canada
