BEIJING, China – December
14, 2012 – Today, Canada's Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, serving as the
International Executive Vice Chair for the
China Council, concluded three days of co-chairing
the Annual General Meeting of the China
Council for International Cooperation on
Environment and Development with China’s
Minister of Environmental Protection, Minister
Zhou Shengxian.
“Canada is proud of
the leadership role it has played in the
China Council for over two decades, tackling
critical environment and development issues,”
said Minister Kent. “The research undertaken
by the China Council has influenced important
changes in Chinese policies, including the
development of China’s environmental impact
assessment legislation and adoption of measures
to reduce soil, water and air pollution.”
The Council’s 2012 Annual
General Meeting resulted in key recommendations
to strengthen marine environmental protection,
address regional air pollution challenges,
and establish a balanced and green regional
development strategy across the various
regions of China.
The China Council is
a high-level international advisory body
that provides China’s State Council with
research-based policy recommendations on
a wide range of environment and development
issues. It consists of 32 Chinese and 25
international members from various countries
and organisations who have significant expertise
in the fields of environment and development.
Canada helped to establish
the China Council in 1992, and is the lead
international partner of the Council serving
as the vice chair at the China Council’s
annual general meeting. Since the founding
of the China Council, China has experienced
continued and rapid economic growth which
has brought about increasing pressure on
its environment and natural resources. Combined
with a number of global environmental challenges
such as climate change and loss of biodiversity,
the work of the China Council plays an ever
important role in facilitating high quality
research and providing advice on specific
policy measures to Chinese decision-makers.
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Harper Government Announces
Funding to Clean Up Randle Reef in Hamilton
Harbour
HAMILTON, Ont. – December
18, 2012 – The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister
of the Environment, today confirmed the
Government of Canada’s funding to clean
up contaminated sediment at Randle Reef
in Hamilton Harbour. Environment Canada
will lead the Randle Reef Contaminated Sediment
Remediation Project in partnership with
the Province of Ontario, the City of Hamilton,
the Hamilton Port Authority, U. S. Steel
Canada, the City of Burlington, and the
Regional Municipality of Halton.
“The Harper Government
is strongly committed to ensuring clean,
safe, sustainable water quality for present
and future generations,” said Minister Kent.
“Cleaning up Randle Reef is vital for Hamilton
and the region. This initiative will deliver
environmental, health, and economic benefits
to the local community over the eight year
life of the project, including the creation
of approximately 60 jobs.”
The Randle Reef site
contains sediment contaminated with persistent
toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which
were deposited over a long period of time
from industrial operations that are no longer
active. In 1985, Hamilton Harbour was identified
as an Area of Concern under the Canada–United
States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
due to significant water quality impairments.
While many improvements have been made to
reduce pollution in the harbour, the contaminated
sediment at Randle Reef remained a principal
environmental challenge.
“The Province is looking
forward to working with our partners to
improve Burlington Bay’s environment for
the benefit of the people of Hamilton, Burlington,
and indeed all of Ontario,” said Jim Bradley,
Ontario’s Minister of the Environment.
"When those in
the future look back, this is the time and
the event that they will say presented a
new face for Hamilton to the world. The
water that provided us with our identity
will now be restored to the standards of
civilization. For this we will be forever
grateful to our partners in the federal
and provincial governments,” said Hamilton
Mayor Bob Bratina.
“The City of Burlington
is fortunate to include Lake Ontario and
the Niagara Escarpment, both of which are
natural assets worthy of protection by all
levels of government,” said Mayor Rick Goldring.
“The City of Burlington is pleased to contribute
to the remediation of Randle Reef. Burlington
will benefit as we share the watershed and
shoreline of Burlington Bay, protecting
this waterway for future generations.”
"As part of U.
S. Steel Canada's ongoing commitment to
environmental sustainability, we are pleased
to contribute to a remediation project that
will benefit the entire Hamilton community,"
said Anton Jura, President and General Manager
of U. S. Steel Canada. "The new port
facilities and green space added to the
harbour front will improve the viability
of the harbour to move our city forward."
The estimated cost of
the Randle Reef sediment remediation project
is $138.9 million. In addition to the $46.3
million in funding from the federal government,
the Province of Ontario has committed to
provide $46.3 million, and $14 million is
being contributed by the City of Hamilton,
$14 million by U. S. Steel Canada and $14
million by the Hamilton Port Authority,
as well as $2.3 million from the City of
Burlington and $2 million from Halton Region.
As with any project,
and keeping with the requirements of the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, funding
for the implementation is contingent on
completion of the Environmental Assessment
process.
Cleaning
up Randle Reef will be the last major step
in the process to restore Hamilton Harbour
and remove it from the list of Areas of
Concern. This initiative will improve water
quality, making it safer to consume fish
caught in the harbour. When completed, it
will also remove current restrictions on
navigation and generate economic returns
through the creation of valuable port lands.
The Randle Reef clean-up is part of the
Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Clean
Water.
