OTTAWA, March 2, 2005 -- At a meeting of the Toronto Board of Trade today, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment, declared that the Goodale Budget launches the country well on the road to competitiveness within a sustainable economy. Minister Dion invited Toronto’s business community - and their colleagues throughout Canada - to support the government in its efforts to transform the Canadian economy, outlining the competitive advantages provided by an environment-friendly economy. The Minister outlined Budget 2005’s initiatives to clean up the environment, protect wildlife and natural habitats, improve our National Parks and conserve our resources, but also to foster the development of environmental technologies as well as the use of greener practices and technologies such as renewable energies. He invited the business community to take advantage of these opportunities to modernize their operations and ensure their long term competitiveness. Mr. Dion insisted on the importance that Budget 2005 assigns to the issues of climate change and the reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions. The Minister confirmed that the improved plan to meet our Kyoto objectives will be made public soon. “This plan will ask each of us to do our share. It will assign targets to the large companies that produce high levels of emissions. But these targets will be realistic and designed to generate greater energy efficiency. The Government of Canada will also do its share. Between now and 2012, the plan will provide for the injection of billions of dollars into sustainable development and economic productivity”. The Minister pointed out an innovative measure that was announced in the Budget and that will greatly help Canada meet its Kyoto target: “But it seems to me that the Goodale Budget’s greatest innovation is the creation of a new kind of fund, with an initial contribution of $one billion”, he explained. “This will be a climate fund; and from now on, this is what it will be called. Acting as a sort of investment bank, it will purchase reductions in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from concrete projects. For Canadians, opportunities will be available in all sectors of the economy”. M. Dion recalled that Minister Goodale, in his Budget speech, compared the Government of Canada’s determination to win the sustainable economy challenge and meet its climate change objectives with that demonstrated by the Prime Minister when, as Minister of Finance, he won the battle against budget deficits.“It’s quite something when, as Paul Martin’s Finance Minister, you refer to the battle we fought and won against the deficit”, the Minister declared. “Yes, Canada commits itself - more than ever - to the fight so that we can also bequeath to our children a healthier environment and a more prosperous economy. It will take more than one budget to win this battle. It will require a truly long-term effort”, Mr. Dion concluded. For more information, please contact: - 30 - André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of the Environment (819) 997-1441
