Speaking points: the Environment

November 16, 2006

That is why the new Government of Canada recently introduced a Clean Air Bill that provides for immediate action to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases.

For the first time in this country, a federal government has set out achievable targets and is demanding real results.

Our political opponents claim that our government is deaf and blind to environmental problems.

I would like to assure you today that, quite the contrary, we are firmly committed to vigorously and efficiently addressing threats to our environment.

The reality is that the previous government did not achieve any tangible results in this area during its 13 years in power.

It was merely content to set out unreachable targets and spend a small fortune on all kinds of ads to mask their inability to take action.

In December 2005, in the midst of the election campaign, we even saw the former Environment Minister, Stéphane Dion, on the other side of the floor acting as though he were the saviour of the environment.

But while he was posing for the cameras from around the world, Mr. Dion knew, based on a report from his own Department, that the proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets were not achievable.

Since then, the Commissioner of the Environment, Johanne Gélinas, has confirmed these facts.

The proposed Clean Air Bill sets out a set of comprehensive measures aimed at reducing smog and greenhouse gases by setting out short, medium and- long-term targets for industry.

Since taking power, our government has already taken tangible action to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gases, including:

• introducing a tax credit for transit users, helping to take the equivalent of 56,000 vehicles off the roads per year;
• setting a target of 5% of renewable fuel content in our gas by 2010, helping to take the equivalent of 1.3 million vehicles off the roads per year; and
• implementing a pollution prevention initiative for base metal smelters that will reduce substances such as sulfur dioxide and metal particles that pollute the air we breathe.
• In the coming days, weeks and months, we will work on introducing bills to reduce air pollution caused by various sources, including: motorcycles; off-road engines and equipment such as those used in construction, mining, logging and agriculture;marine spark-ignition engines and off-road recreational vehicles such as outboards, personal watercraft, snowmobiles and ATVs; and off-road large spark-ignition engines such as forklifts.
  

We will table new regulations requiring diagnostics systems onboard on-road heavy duty vehicles such as heavy trucks and buses.

We have already initiated consultations with the auto industry in order to identify our regulatory limits by the spring.

This is the first time that the auto sector will be regulated and not just left to implement voluntary measures.

We are also introducing tougher new standards on air pollutants, including pollutants from consumer products such as paint, ink and spray cans.

We will monitor polluters and fine those who do not meet their targets.

These fines will be invested in a special environmental protection research fund.

I would like to remind you that the Liberal plan did not set out any measures on air pollution or smog, which is a major concern for Canadians in terms of air quality.

The Liberal plan was based on purchasing emission credits instead of taking concrete steps to work with Canadian businesses to reduce emissions that pollute our environment.

Under our plan, Canadian taxpayers’ money will be spent here in Canada to solve Canadian problems.