Val-d'Or, Quebec, October 2, 2007 Acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, Luc Harvey, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, today launched Abitibi-Témiscamingue's first Enviroclub in the presence of Dominique Boudreau, Enviroclub Coordinator at the Centre québécois de développement durable (CQDD).
Enviroclub is an initiative of Canada Economic Development, Environment Canada and the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program. Enviroclubs are aimed at increasing the productivity of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) through pollution prevention, eco-efficiency and better environmental management in a perspective of profitability and enhanced competitiveness. To date, 168 SMEs have taken part in the Enviroclubs in various regions of Quebec.
"The project execution phase is now under way and should be completed by the end of 2007. Based on the experience of our other Enviroclubs, there is every reason to believe that the results will be just as positive," commented Dominique Boudreau of the CQDD.
"By adopting environmentally-responsible business practices, small and medium-sized enterprises save money and increase their business and market opportunities. That is why Canada Economic Development is so proud to support the establishment of Enviroclubs, which can help businesses in the region not only optimize their productivity, but also become more competitive," Luc Harvey noted.
"Today's announcement fully respects the $4.5-billion investment committed in Budget 2007 to provide for clean air and water, the reduction of greenhouse gases, the fight against climate change and the protection of our natural environment," said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, and Minister responsible for NRC. "This initiative reinforces Canada's New Government's commitment to support the environment," he added.
By taking part in this Enviroclub, the SMEs will carry out made-to-measure pollution prevention projects. These in-plant projects will involve initiatives aimed at, for example, optimizing processes, cutting back on energy consumption and resource use and improving operating practices.
The Centre québécois de développement durable, which has its head office in Alma and employs 15 people, is dedicated to developing tools that will enable companies, organizations, institutions, municipalities and government departments and agencies to adopt concrete sustainable development practices within their organizations.
For further information on the Enviroclub initiative, visit: www.enviroclub.ca.
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Sources:
François Bélisle
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-825-5260
E-mail: francois.belisle@dec-ced.gc.ca
Yan Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-953-5646
E-mail: yan.plante@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
Dominique Boudreau
Enviroclub Coordinator
Centre québécois de développement durable
Cell.: 418-564-6866
Website: www.cqdd.qc.ca
