OTTAWA
- April 25, 2008 - Canada's Environment
Minister, John Baird, commented today onthe
assessment by theCommittee on the Status
of Endangered Wildlife in Canada(COSEWIC)
on the Polar Bear. The Committee announced
a status assessment of "special concern",
much as it did in 1991, 1999, and 2002.
"Our Government
believes that the polar bear is an iconic
symbol of Canada," said Baird. "As
such, we also believe we have a responsibility
to ensure its population is strong and its
future is certain."
" Today's assessment
by COSEWIC is a first step towards learning
all we can about the polar bear," said
Baird. "By August of this year, we
will learn much more after receiving complete
scientific data of all the work of the Committee."
After COSEWIC's official
report is received in August, the Minister
will issue a statement outlining how the
Government of Canada will proceed in order
to come to a decision on Polar Bear listing.
"As Minister of
the Environment, I will be launching an
immediate dialogue with a number of groups,
from environmentalists, to scientists, and
wildlife management boards to get their
feedback and advice on this issue as we
go forward," said Baird.
"Most importantly,
as Minister, I have an obligation to work
directly with the Inuit, not only out of
a constitutional responsibility, but because
so much of their history, culture and way
of life are affected by this majestic animal,"
said Baird. "This Government cares
about the future of the polar bear and as
Minister of the Environment, I am committed
to action."
Management of the approximately
15,000 Polar Bears in Canada falls under
the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories.
Environment Canada plays an important role
by providing scientific expertise on Polar
Bears.
COSEWIC is an independent
scientific committee comprised of experts
from federal, provincial and territorial
governments, as well as other scientists
and Aboriginal experts. COSEWIC assesses
the status of the wildlife in Canada, based
on the best scientific, community and Aboriginal
knowledge available. Certain Environment
Canada scientists are members of COSEWIC
and provide science expertise for the development
of these assessments.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government of Canada
Brings in Tough new Emission Standards on
Smog-Producing Chemicals
OTTAWA, April 26, 2008
-- Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird,
today announced the Government of Canada
is taking action to reduce emissions from
chemicals that contribute to smog in consumer
and commercial products such as paints,
varnishes, adhesives and vehicle repair
cleaners.
"Our Government
has a strong record of taking action to
protect the environment for all Canadians,"
said Minister Baird. "As part of our
Turning the Corner Action Plan, which includes
action on air pollutants, we are moving
forward to clean the air and protect the
health and environment of Canadians by proposing
limits on smog-producing chemicals in everyday
products."
Volatile Organic Compounds
can be identified by their strong smell
and are found in solid or liquid forms that
evaporate very quickly, becoming a gas.
They are the second largest contributor
to smog in Canada, impacting millions of
Canadians and the environment every day.
"These new measures,
taken together with other initiatives under
our Turning the Corner Action Plan, will
reduce the environmental impact of many
of the products we use everyday in our homes
and workplaces, and reduce emissions which
cause smog," said Minister Baird. "These
new regulations, which will be amongst the
toughest standards available, are another
example of our Government's continued commitment
to protect the environment and Canadian
consumers."
The Government will
be taking action in three areas:
introducing concentration
limits of volatile organic compounds in
98 categories of consumer products, such
as personal care items like nail polish,
adhesives and adhesive removers, sealants
and caulking and other miscellaneous products;
establishing concentration limits for 49
categories of architectural coatings such
as paints, stains and varnishes, and;
establishing concentration limits for 14
categories of coatings and surface cleaners
used for refinishing or repairing the painted
surfaces of worn or damaged automobiles,
trucks, and other mobile equipment.
Just last week, the Government took action
on bisphenol A, a chemical of concern, and
has also recently introduced tougher food
and product safety legislation.
For more information
on the proposed regulations to reduce smog-producing
emissions in consumer and commercial products,
or to join the email list for notification
when the final Regulations are published,
go to our website at www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/voc.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Plans to
Allow a Limited Exemption for the Use of
Leaded Gasoline in Competition Vehicles
Ottawa, ON -- April
28, 2008 -- Canada 's Environment Minister,
John Baird, today announced that the Government
intends to support the racing industry in
Canada by granting an exemption from the
Gasoline Regulations until January 1, 2010.
The Government received
a great deal of feedback from Canadians
on the issue of leaded fuel for the racing
industry. This feedback was virtually unanimous
in its support for an extension to allow
the industry more time to adapt.
The Gasoline Regulations,
passed in 11000, essentially eliminated
lead in gasoline. Many race categories have
already converted to unleaded gasoline.
However, alternatives to leaded racing fuels
are not used by all race-sanctioning associations
for all types of competition vehicles. Many
foreign sanctioning bodies continue to use
leaded racing gasoline.
The amount of leaded
gasoline used by the racing industry represents
less than 2% of the total leaded fuel use
in Canada. The remaining volume is used
under a permanent exemption provided to
aviation because there is currently no suitable
non-leaded replacement fuel available for
some aircraft.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Commits to
Clean-up St. Lawrence Seaway Contaminated
Site
MP Dykstra Delivers
Largest Environmental Clean-up in St. Catharines
History
St. Catharines, Ontario, April 24, 2008
- Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for
St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable
John Baird, Minister of the Environment,
today announced the Government of Canada's
intention to clean-up the contaminated Surplus
St. Lawrence Seaway property in St. Catharines.
The full cost of cleanup is estimated at
$7 million.
"Our natural environment
is one of our country's greatest assets
and our Government is strongly committed
to protecting it," said Mr. Dykstra.
"Today, after years of neglect from
the previous government, we are making the
single largest environmental clean-up in
St. Catharines history a reality which will
also leave a lasting legacy for future generations
of Canadians. This is an important initiative
that will be of great benefit to our children,
our community and our environment."
"By investing $7
million in this site our Government hopes
to turn this land into a productive residential
development that will push our community
into the next step of development,"
said Mr. Dykstra. "In doing so we will
pay back this investment from Canadian taxpayers
and add badly needed residential developments
for our great city."
The clean-up will be
a part of the 2008 round of the Federal
Contaminated Sites Action Plan which provides
assistance to federal departments, agencies,
and consolidated Crown corporations that
are custodians of known or suspected contaminated
sites. The program assists in evaluating
these sites and deals with the environmental
and health risks they may pose. It also
contributes to employment and promoting
innovative technologies to clean up or deal
with contaminated sites. Projects will receive
funding once the necessary due diligence
has been completed and all federal requirements
have been met.
You can view the federal
contaminated sites inventory at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dfrp-rbif/cs-sc/.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
