OTTAWA,
Ont. -- April 9, 2009 -- Canada's Transport
Minister, John Baird, and the Honourable
Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment,
today announced federal government support
for a joint Canada-U.S. proposal to the
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
to establish an Emission Control Area (ECA)
in North American coastal waters.
The proposal will help
reduce air pollution, smog and acid rain
and benefit human health in coastal areas
and further inland.
The proposed Canada-US
ECA will subject large ships operating in
the designated areas to stringent standards.
Specifically, the measures will reduce their
nitrogen oxides emissions by 80 per cent
and sulphur oxides by 96 per cent. Emissions
of fine particles will also be reduced.
"Since we share
waterways, economic ties and an environment,
it just makes sense that Canada and the
United States work together to reduce pollution
from shipping and keep people healthy,"
said Minister Baird.
"This proposal
is of particular importance to Canada-U.S.
cooperative efforts to reduce transboundary
air pollution and its effects on the health
of Canadians and our ecosystems," said
Minister Prentice. "An Emission Control
Area will significantly reduce air pollution
levels on our coasts, which means cleaner
air to breathe and fewer pollutants deposited
in our forests, wetlands, lakes and rivers."
An IMO committee will
review the proposed ECA this July, with
formal adoption expected in March 2010.
Once approved, Transport Canada will develop
supporting regulations under the Canada
Shipping Act, 2001. The Government of Canada
is confident that these stringent emission
standards will improve the environment and
the health of Canadians.
The government has consulted
with stakeholders in the marine industry,
provincial governments, environmental groups
and community groups in both countries over
the last three years. Stakeholders can also
provide comments as the proposal makes it
way through the international approval process
at the IMO.
Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Transport Minister
John Baird, Ottawa
+ More
Canada's Economic Action
Plan Makes Major Investment in Oshawa Harbour
Oshawa, Ontario, April
8, 2009 - The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister
of Finance along with Colin Carrie, Member
of Parliament for Oshawa today announced
the Government of Canada's intention to
provide funding from the accelerated Federal
Contaminated Sites Action Plan to clean-up
the Oshawa Harbour.
"Our Government
is investing in our environment and our
communities." said the Honourable Jim
Flaherty. "Across Canada there are
shovel-ready projects that have been assessed
and have plans in place to begin work on
cleaning up contaminated sites. The work
on Oshawa Harbour will help stimulate the
local economy and means that the harbour
will continue to be an important part of
the community for future generations."
The Government of Canada
has submitted a remediation proposal to
the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
that requests $9.2 million over two years
to address contamination on Oshawa Harbour
marina lands and the west wharf. The funding
would also support additional assessments
of the sites and their subsequent remediation.
"The Oshawa waterfront
has been a source of great pride and commitment
for me personally ", stated Colin Carrie.
"Today's announcement illustrates our
government's commitment to the people of
Oshawa in establishing a clean green, mixed
use waterfront."
The Oshawa Harbour project
is part of the accelerated funding for federal
contaminated sites that was announced in
Canada's Economic Action Plan. Over the
next two years the federal government aims
to accelerate activities under the existing
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.
The full federal contaminated sites inventory
at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dfrp-rbif/cs-sc/.
Frederic Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Pulp Mill Convicted
In Environmental Enforcement Case
KITIMAT, April 9, 2009
-West Fraser Mills Ltd. (West Fraser) today
received a penalty totalling $130,000 after
pleading guilty in Kitimat Provincial Court
to one count of depositing a deleterious
substance into water frequented by fish,
contrary to subsection 36(3) of the federalFisheries
Act. Crown and defence counsels jointly
filed an agreed statement of facts with
the court.
The $130,000 penalty
to West Fraser includes fines of $5,000,
a payment of $65,000 to the University of
Northern British Columbia for the purposes
of conservation and protection of fish and
fish habitat in north-western British Columbia,
and a payment of $60,000 for deposit into
the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund of British
Columbia.
Environment Canada's
enforcement officers conducted an investigation
with the assistance of members from the
British Columbia Ministry of Environment
Conservation Officer Service of a spill
at the Eurocan mill June 21, 2007. West
Fraser owns and operates the Eurocan pulp
mill located at Kitimat, British Columbia.
The investigation revealed
that West Fraser had not been duly diligent
in the maintenance of the effluent treatment
systems, specifically the main effluent
line, at the Eurocan mill. This resulted
in a spill of untreated pulp mill effluent
into an oxbow (a U-shaped bend in a river)
connected to the Kitimat River, waters frequented
by fish. Untreated pulp mill effluent has
a number of characteristics such as high
pH and resin acids that are lethal to fish
and other aquatic life.
As a result of the investigation,
charges were laid against West Fraser on
June 27, 2008.
Environment Canada enforcement
personnel investigate potential offences
under a number of Acts and Regulations.
These include the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999; theSpecies at Risk
Act (SARA); the pollution provisions of
Canada's Fisheries Act; the Migratory Birds
Convention Act and Regulations; the Canada
Wildlife Act and Regulations; and the Wild
Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade
Act (WAPPRIITA). They help ensure that companies,
government employees and the public comply
with legislation and regulations that protect
Canada's environment.
Brock Bailey
Manager, Central and Northern Division
