Speaking
Notes for an Address by the Honourable Rona Ambrose,
Minister of the Environment of Canada
Globe 2006
Vancouver, BC, March 31, 2006
Check against delivery
Thank you for your kind words, Mr Kelly. I want
to thank the Globe Foundation for the invitation
to speak here today. This is my first formal address
since being appointed Minister of the Environment.
I am honoured to share the stage with Charles Kelly,
Mayor Daley of Chicago, and Ken Melamed who, as
Mayor of Whistler, will be hosting the world for
the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
In my first few weeks as Minister I have been able
to see first hand some of the challenges we are
facing and to talk to Canadians about their priorities
for a cleaner Canada.
I have seen some of the challenges we face both
globally and locally. I was in Bonn in my capacity
as President of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change and engaged in high level discussions
on how to address the global need to reduce greenhouse
gases.
I was in Saint John, New Brunswick and had sobering
discussions with provincial and municipal officials
on the urgent need to clean up the harbour where
some 55 outlets are presently dumping raw sewage
into the ocean.
You can imagine how proud I was when Prime Minister
Harper went to Saint-John, New Brunswick last week
to fulfil a commitment to clean up the Harbour and
resolve a longstanding local environmental priority
for the citizens of New Brunswick.
And you can imagine how proud I was when our new
government showed the political will to act to ensure
that the 79 aboriginal communities under boil water
advisories will have access to clean and safe drinking
water.
Both in Canada and abroad, I have noted that our
Government is looked to as a leader on environmental
sustainability issues, and as a strong promoter
of sustainable development opportunities.
However, I have also noted the magnitude and range
of environmental issues that we, in this government,
have to deal with. And I have noted many areas where
our success in preserving our natural capital and
protecting the health and well-being of Canadian
families and communities has not been up to par
with this great reputation of ours.
In my travels abroad, I have come to understand
that Canada is seen as the boy scout of the world.
The question is: have we earned all our badges?
I for one, do not believe we have. When I compare
our lack of a national water stragegy and our performance
on reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
with that of the United States or the European Union,
I am concerned….
Since ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, our greenhouse
gas emissions are up by 24% – a far cry from the
previous government's commitment to meet a target
of 6% below the 11000 levels.
The 2005 report, "The Maple Leaf in the OECD:
Comparing progress towardsustainability", showed
that out of the 30 OECD countries, Canada ranked
28th overall, based on 29 environmental indicators;
26th in GHG emissions, 29th in water consumption,27th
in pollution from sulphur oxides, 26th on species
at risk….
I am concerned, our government is concerned, our
Prime Minister is concerned and Canadians are concerned.
And that is why we are taking action to clean up
our own backyard right here within our borders –
local action for global change.
Clean Air
We will clean up the air Canadians breathe. Because
it is clear to me – and to this Government – that
while some progress has been made over the years,
air pollution is still a serious threat to our health,
our environment and our economy.
Why must we act?
In 2004, British Columbia's Provincial Officer for
Health reported that premature deaths resulting
from air pollution in the province are between 140
and 400 per year. He also said that air pollution
may be responsible for between 700 to 2,100 hospital
stays and between 900 and 2,700 emergency room visits
each year.
The direct and indirect costs of air pollution on
the health of Canadians are estimated to be in the
billions of dollars. In Ontario alone, in 2005,
the damages were estimated at:
• $374 million in lost productivity and work time;
• $507 million in direct health care costs;
• $537 million in pain and suffering due to non-fatal
illness; and
• $6.4 billion in social welfare loss due to premature
death.
Last year, there were a record 53 smog advisory
days in Ontario, 24 in Quebec and three in Atlantic
Canada. For the first time ever in our history,
ten winter smog advisories were issued in Quebec
and five in Ontario. It is unacceptable that such
days happen, when children with asthma and elderly
people with respiratory conditions can't even leave
their home.
The Minister of Health and I are committed to cleaning
up the air that Canadians breathe. No longer can
we separate the issues of greenhouse gas reductions
and pollution. Every solution we propose must address
both challenges… to ensure that we protect the health
of Canadians and fight global warming.
Our Government is going to deliver on its domestic
responsibilities. We will do that by focussing our
efforts where concrete results can be achieved,
demonstrably so.
That is why our Government will develop, in conjunction
with the provinces and territories, municipalities
and aboriginal communities, a new Canadian Clean
Air Act.
We will clean up the air that Canadians breathe
by encouraging them to get out of their cars and
onto public transit, by providing a federal tax
credit to offset part of the cost of monthly transit
passes. Increasing the use of public transit will
help reduce traffic congestion in Canadian cities,
reduce greenhouse gases and fight pollution.
I do understand though that we will not get everyone
out of their cars. For many Canadians, public transportation
may not be an option. But I also know that these
same Canadians want to find ways to contribute to
a cleaner Canada. This is why we will help Canadians
make cleaner fuel choices by increasing the average
renewable fuel content in gasoline and diesel fuel
to 5% by 2010.
By offering these cleaner choices we are inviting
Canadians to work with us and to participate in
made in Canada solutions for a cleaner Canada.
And a cleaner Canada will lead to a cleaner world.
We know that air and water pollution know no political
boundaries. This is why the Government of Canada
will continue collaborating with our international
partners to resolve those issues that require global
thinking and coordinated responses.
Prime Minister Harper is meeting President Fox and
President Bush in Cancún, Mexico, to examine
the progress of the Security and Prosperity Partnership
between Canada, Mexico and the United States. The
Environment Work Plan under the Partnership is advancing
well. It has the potential to build a North American
approach on priority environmental issues.
I questioned earlier whether or not we have earned
our badges; but one thing is clear to me – that
if we hope to have credibility on the international
stage we must clean up our own backyard first.
Canadians want to help reduce pollution. They want
to contribute to the common effort. This is why
we are going to act to address the environmental
challenges facing the health and well-being of Canadian
families, the prosperity of Canadian businesses
and the sustainability of Canada's ecosystems.
Tangible results! This is the mark I want to put
on Environment Canada's actions to preserve our
country's natural capital and to protect the health
and security of Canadian families. It is a question
of accountability.
It will take all of us working together to build
our Made in Canada Plan for a cleaner Canada. We
need Made in Canada solutions for clean air and
clean water, so we can all be a part of preserving
and protecting the natural beauty that surrounds
us.
Thank you.
