OTTAWA
(Ontario) -- December 10, 2008 -- Canada’s
Environment Minister, Jim Prentice today
issued the following statement upon the
release of the European Union Scientific
Review Group’s decision on Polar Bear imports.
“I was pleased to learn
that the European Union’s Scientific Review
Group has indicated that it is satisfied
with Canada’s management of its polar bear
population. I am encouraged that the EU
interim ruling released today allows for
the continued import into the European Union
of polar bear hides and trophies from Canada,
with the exception of those from declining
bear populations in Kane Basin and Baffin
Bay in northeastern Nunavut.
“The decision follows
the presentation on Canada’s management
approach to conserving polar bears, made
by federal and Nunavut officials last week
to the European Union Scientific Review
Group meeting in Brussels.
“During the meeting,
Canada’s delegation, which included a member
from the Nunavut government, explained the
most recent science findings on polar bear
populations and the current steps underway
by provinces, territories and wildlife management
boards to manage polar bear populations
including the quota system for harvest and
sport hunting.
“The scientific group
indicated that it would review its decision
on Kane Basin and Baffin Bay polar populations
as soon as new actions are taken to protect
them. Canada is working cooperatively with
the Nunavut government and Nunavut Wildlife
Management Board to do this.”
On November 26, Minister
Prentice announced that a national roundtable
on the polar bear will be held on January
16, 2009 in Winnipeg to discuss the path
forward in protecting the polar bear.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Canada Signs Agreement
For The Safe Management Of Harmful Chemicals
In North America
Ottawa -- December 9,
2008 -- Canada’s Environment Minister Jim
Prentice, and his counterparts Stephen Johnson,
Administrator of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, and Environment Minister
Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada of Mexico, have
signed a joint Statement of Intent affirming
their commitment to developing a regional
framework for the safe management of harmful
chemicals.
“Our government has
committed to protecting the health and environment
of Canadians”, said Minister Prentice. “This
agreement is a cost-effective way for all
countries involved to assess harmful chemicals
as quickly as possible by reviewing existing
research and taking action on those chemicals
that need to be regulated.”
The agreement builds
on Canada’s world-leading Chemicals Management
Plan by ensuring that Mexico, Canada, and
the United States have access to consistent
information that can be used to strengthen
chemical management in North America. Canada
is agreeing to share its analysis of over
23,000 chemicals in use today and in turn,
will gain access to critical research and
expertise that is being gathered in the
United States and Mexico to take action
on harmful chemicals.
This announcement builds
on existing cooperative initiatives between
the United States, Mexico and Canada towards
increased capacity building and improved
chemicals management in North America. “By
sharing scientific information and approaches
to chemical testing and risk management,
countries have been able to make significant
progress on initiatives like the United
States’ Chemical Assessment and Management
Program” explained Minister Prentice.
The Ministerial Statement
of Intent on North American Chemicals Cooperation
consolidates and clarifies the nature of
these activities, and reaffirms that the
three countries remain strongly committed
to the sound management of chemicals in
North America.
Fréderic Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Old Fort Seafoods Found
Guilty and Fined a Total of $50,000, Under
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
1999
SEPT-ILES (Quebec) --
December 5, 2008 -- Environment Canada announced
that a Court of Quebec justice today found
4286804 Canada Inc. guilty under Part 7,
Section 3 of the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999. The company operates
the Old Fort Seafoods processing plant in
Vieux-Fort Quebec.
The Court of Quebec
fined the company a total of $50,000, including
a fine of $10,000 and a requirement to contribute
$40,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund
(EDF). This fund, administered by Environment
Canada, is used to promote and fund restoration
projects. The EDF also helps to hold offending
businesses accountable and helps the courts
ensure that the money will be used to improve
the quality of the environment.
The company 4286804
Canada Inc. was found guilty of 16 counts
of having, on 14 occasions, deliberately
loaded fish waste or organic materials from
its industrial fish processing operations
onto a barge and having dumped them into
the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence at
the Baie de Vieux-Fort, without first obtaining
a Canadian ocean disposal permit. Furthermore,
after having obtained a disposal permit,
the company did not comply with the conditions
indicated, thus contravening the Act.
The charges were laid
following an investigation by officers from
the Environmental Enforcement division of
Environment Canada’s Quebec Region. Environment
Canada investigates offences under the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the
pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries
Act. The Department ensures that businesses
and individuals comply with these acts,
which serve to protect the Canada’s environment.
For more information
on Environment Canada’s enforcement program,
visit http://www.ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/Default.asp?lang=En&n=B670A72A-1.
