OTTAWA,
December 8, 2006 – The Honorable Rona Ambrose,
Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce
the appointments of Janet Benjamin and Pauline
Browes to the National Round Table on the Environment
and the Economy (NRTEE). Their appointments have
been confirmed by the Governor in Council and
are effective immediately.
"Canada's New Government
will continue to look to the NRTEE for environmental
and economic advice on our priority environmental
issues." said Minister Ambrose. "The
appointments of Ms. Benjamin and Ms. Browes will
bring valuable insight and experience to the NRTEE
and its efforts to generate and promote innovative
ways to advance both Canada's environmental and
economic interests."
The NRTEE is dedicated to exploring
new opportunities to integrate environmental conservation
and economic development, in order to sustain
Canada's prosperity and secure its future. It
has recently been asked to provide advice on Canada's
New Government's ambitious Clean Air Regulatory
Agenda.
The NRTEE was created in October
1988 and its independent role and mandate were
enshrined in the National Round Table on the Environment
and Economy Act. Its 24 members are drawn from
distinguished leaders in business and labour,
universities, environmental organizations, Aboriginal
communities and municipalities.
Robert Klager
Minister Ambrose Announces Greater Action and
Accountability on Sustainable Environment
OTTAWA, December 14, 2006 –
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment,
tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate
the sustainable development strategies of 28 federal
departments and agencies.
Minister Ambrose tabled the
customary Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-2009
in Parliament this week. However, she warned that
simply improving on governments' inaction of the
past must not be the measure by which Canadians
build sustainability for the future.
In 2005, the Commissioner of
the Environment and Sustainable Development said
that the failure to develop a National Sustainable
Development Strategy "will leave Canadians
and parliamentarians without a clear idea of the
government's overall plan for sustainable development,
how it will get there, and what progress it has
made."
"While this latest round
of strategies represents a step forward from the
previous government's work, our government agrees
with the Commissioner that more needs to be done
to improve sustainable development reporting,"
said Minister Ambrose. "This government is
committed to action and greater accountability,
and to showing Canadians real results for our
environment."
To ensure that Canada becomes
a leader in sustainable development, the minister
said she will start looking at a range of options,
including legislation around national sustainable
development, reviewing global best practices as
Canada makes further progress toward putting sustainability
at the heart of the government's activities.
"We understand that protecting
and sustaining our natural environment is central
to our quality of life, our prosperity, and the
health and well-being of Canadians," the
minister said. "And we believe that environmental,
economic and social integration in an accountable
government and in society at large is really the
foundation for longer-term sustainable development."
Canada's Auditor General Act
was amended in December 1995, creating the position
of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable
Development, and imposing a new onus on federal
departments and agencies to prepare and table
a "sustainable development strategy"
(SDS) in the House of Commons every three years.
Robert Klager
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose
to Unveil Action on Mercury
OTTAWA, December 13, 2006 –
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment,
today confirmed that Canada's New Government will
require vehicle manufacturers and steel mills
to implement pollution prevention plans to ensure
mercury switches are removed from automobiles
before the vehicles are recycled.
This action is expected to prevent
the release of as much as ten tonnes of mercury
into the environment, especially into the air,
over the next ten years. Mercury is a highly toxic
substance that can have serious effects on human
health and the environment, particularly because
it can travel through the atmosphere and be deposited
far from its origins. It can bioaccumulate in
living organisms, especially fish, and is responsible
for 98% of fish consumption advisories for Canadian
water bodies.
"By taking firm action
to address this harmful pollutant before it gets
into the environment, we are once again showing
Canadians that we are serious about cleaning up
the environment and protecting human health,"
Minister Ambrose said. "Recovering switches
is an effective and relatively inexpensive way
to significantly reduce mercury emissions. By
working with industry, other orders of government
and non-governmental organizations, we are showing
that it is possible to achieve tangible, sustainable
results."
