Check Against Delivery
I am here today to tell you how our government will be the first to introduce
comprehensive national regulations to clean up the air that Canadians
breathe.
Today, we are introducing Canada’s Clean Air Act which
will give us new and stronger powers to do things we need to do to protect
the health of Canadians and our environment.
Canada’s Clean Air Act will enhance our monitoring, reporting,
enforcement, and auditing powers to ensure industry is reducing their
pollution and show Canadians that we are achieving results in cleaning
up the air we breathe.
It is time that Canada did its part to reduce air pollution and greenhouse
gases. It is time that Canadians feel they can trust their government
to put in place real measures that will reduce smog – measures that
will result in healthier Canadians, suffering less from asthma, chronic
bronchitis, and lung cancer.
Past governments relied on voluntary measures, satisfied that industry
could set their own standards. Those days are over – from now on,
all industry sectors will have mandatory requirements and we will enforce
those requirements. Our plan puts the health of Canadians and the health
of our environment first. Any polluters that go over their targets will
be fined and all money will go towards the Environmental Damages Fund.
We know the key to reducing greenhouse gases is technology. But we will
not use a carbon tax because the only people that end up paying are Canadian
taxpayers – and we think they have paid enough with their health.
Any industry that goes over their greenhouse gas limits will be fined
and will pay into a Canadian Technology Fund. The money paid into the
fund will be reinvested in technology to reduce greenhouse gases.
Everyone will be able to play a part. We will explore an opt-in plan
to cover small and medium size businesses, organizations, co operatives
and municipalities that don’t fall under regulations but also want
to make our environment cleaner and greener.
We will work with provinces, territories and industry to explore opportunities
to encourage early investment and reductions through technology such as
CO2 sequestration.
We will be the first federal government to introduce mandatory regulations
on all industry sectors across Canada to reduce air pollution and greenhouse
gases. We will be the first government to establish national air quality
objectives. We will be accountable to Canadians by reporting on our progress
in a public annual air quality report and we will be HELD accountable
through measurable outcomes linked to the health of Canadians, especially
the more vulnerable in our society, our children and the elderly, who
suffer from childhood asthma and respiratory diseases.
We will also be accountable to Parliament by mandatory annual reporting
to Parliament on our actions and their effectiveness to reduce air pollution
and greenhouse gases.
We want real reductions in pollution and greenhouse gases. We will see
real reductions through regulations that impose mandatory requirements.
We have set an ambitious target of achieving 45-65% of absolute reductions
by 2050. We have set an ambitious agenda over the next few months to negotiate
short terms targets with provinces, territories and industry by spring.
In addition, in the coming weeks and months we will introduce air pollution
regulations from big equipment used in construction, mining, forestry
and agriculture.
New regulations on outboards, seadoos, snowmobiles and ATV’s.
New regulations for heavy trucks, buses and forklifts.
New regulations on consumer products such as paints, cosmetics and cleaning
products.
And new regulations to reduce pollution from the rail, shipping and aviation
industry.
When Canada’s Clean Air Act passes, we will have the power
to:
set fuel efficiency standards in the auto sector
establish national air quality objectives based on health and be
accountable for reaching them
be accountable to Parliament by reporting on annual progress
be accountable to Canadians through an annual report on air quality
be able to regulate products that create emissions such as woodstoves
and gas-powered lawnmowers
be able to blend fuels so we can offer Canadians cleaner fuels like
ethanol and biodiesel and give our farmers opportunity to participate
in the renewable fuels industry
be able to regulate indoor air for radon, which is the leading cause
of lung cancer among non smokers.
be able to issue mandatory reporting notices on products that cause
pollution and require companies to report on their human health and
environmental impacts
be able to issue interim emergency orders to shut down polluters
if we believe immediate action is needed
it will expand the inspection powers of our enforcement officers
companies will no longer be able to voluntarily report to government,
they will have to have independent verification and evaluation of their
pollution information
we will introduce new energy efficiency requirements and labeling
requirements for 20 new consumer products such as washing machines and
dishwashers and electronic products like televisions and DVD players.
And this is only the beginning, today I am here to share with you our
regulatory agenda. Our government will also be introducing educational
and consumer programs in the coming months. But today, we are here to
talk about the most important thing we can do as a federal government
to protect the health of Canadians and the environment - regulate big
industry and find ways for smaller businesses, farmers and municipalities
to be a part of a cleaner, greener Canada.
Our health has suffered long enough and our environment has suffered
long enough. We need Canada’s Clean Air Act to make real
progress for my generation and the generations that come after me.
Thank you.
