October 26, 2004 OTTAWA -- The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Mr. Pierre Alvarez, President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) speaking on behalf of the members of the National Resource Industry Associations (NRIA), today announced the signing of an important and unique partnership agreement that will result in better protection of fish habitat and more efficient services to Canadians. The agreement was signed this afternoon by Minister Regan and the Presidents of seven of Canada¿s major national resource industry associations: the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Canadian Electricity Association, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, the Canadian Gas Association, the Forest Products Association of Canada, the Mining Association of Canada and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. "DFO is modernizing its environmental processes and making an important contribution to the Government of Canada¿s smart regulations strategy," said Minister Regan. "This includes streamlining regulatory processes, enhancing partnerships and clarifying the rules for dealing with developments impacting fish habitat. We are developing an approach that will ensure a more consistent and effective regulatory review process for industry projects that have the potential to impact on fish and fish habitat in Canada." "This agreement is a win-win situation," said CAPP President Pierre Alvarez. "Industry gains greater certainty, efficiency and clear operating rules in complying with the habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act, and Canadians are assured of better protection of fish habitat." CEA President Hans Konow, who had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DFO on fish habitat added: "I am pleased with the collaboration shown by industry sectors and DFO to protect the country¿s fish resources. It builds on the kind of work we have underway with DFO bilaterally with our Memorandum of Understanding. From our perspective, this initiative is particularly valuable as it focuses on the fact that there is a need to balance the multiple uses for our shared water resource, including electricity generation. Our association is very interested in the work of the NRIA to define mechanisms that protect fish and fish habitat and simultaneously encourage efficient operation of the resource industries that provide jobs and essential services to all Canadians." Under the agreement, each organization has appointed a representative to a steering committee responsible for developing and implementing work plans to achieve common objectives and to report on results. This year, the focus of the work is on developing clear guidelines and adjusting best management practices to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fish habitat regulatory processes. Minister Regan noted that a key element in DFO¿s environmental process modernization plan, and in the success of this agreement, is to establish fish habitat cooperation agreements with provinces and territories. This will reduce duplication of effort and project processing times. These agreements are also well advanced. "I would like to praise these associations for being leaders in this initiative," added Minister Regan. "By partnering with seven associations from different resource industries who have recognized that many of their activities and projects that may impact fish habitat are common, we better enable ourselves to anticipate and solve problems before they get built into a project." Backgrounder Terms of Reference for Cooperation between National Resource Industry Associations (NRIA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada The agreement, entitled Terms of Reference for Cooperation between National Resource Industry Associations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is available on the DFO web site at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan/infocentre/publications/index_e.asp . -30- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Christiane Parcigneau Media Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 998-1530 Brian Underhill Director of Communications Office of the Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 992-3474
