CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 092 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Friday, April 24, 1998 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire'' at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 6065 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, April 24, 1998 The House met at 10 a.m. Similar provisions are internationally and domestically becom- ing more common in environmental legislation. In fact over the _______________ past 10 years environmental science and law have evolved consid- erably. We have much greater insight into the stresses that humans Prayers place on the environment. We know more about what must be done to reduce and remedy these stresses. We also have a strong and _______________ growing public concern for the environment and related impacts on human health. GOVERNMENT ORDERS Environmental protection is a core value for Canadians. More than 90% of surveyed Canadians are concerned about toxic chemi- cals, air pollution and water quality. Legislation must reflect the D (1000) growth and change of society. CEPA must reflect the awareness [English] and concern of Canadians. CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1998 I was a member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development when it undertook the year-long review Hon. David M. Collenette (for the Minister of the Environ- of CEPA in 1994. Our review, the government response to it and ment) moved that Bill C-32, an act respecting pollution prevention further talks with stakeholders including provinces, territories, and the protection of the environment and human health in order to aboriginal people, industry, environmental and other groups were contribute to sustainable development, be read the second time and included in the development of the bill. The new Canadian referred to a committee. Environmental Protection Act must serve as a tool to help Cana- D (1005 ) dians as we move into the 21st century. Mrs. Karen Kraft Sloan (Parliamentary Secretary to Minis- Overall, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act covers ter of the Environment, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on March 12, 1998, pollution prevention, managing toxic substances, clean air and the Minister of the Environment introduced Bill C-32, an act water, controlling pollution and waste. The act is further comprised respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environ- of parts including public participation, environmental matters ment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable related to emergencies, biotechnology, federal government opera- development. tions and federal aboriginal lands, enforcement and information gathering, objectives, guidelines and codes of practice. More Today the minister is in Toronto for the first joint meeting of important, Bill C-32 incorporates a number of policy directions or energy and environment ministers since Kyoto. The minister will objectives. be taking part in a CEPA debate on Monday. Some important goals of environmental management are noted I am pleased to begin the second reading of the Canadian in the preamble and these include an ecosystem approach, the Environmental Protection Act. precautionary principle and the principle of pollution prevention. In 1988, only 10 years ago, the Canadian Environment Protec- tion Act, or CEPA, became law. When first introduced CEPA was a I would like to address the following goals of environmental significant shift in environmental law and in the way the federal management: the ecosystem approach, the precautionary principle, government protected Canada’s environment and human health. user/producer responsibility, pollution prevention, the management of toxic substances, enforcement, and public participation. The original CEPA contained several important measures in- cluding various approaches to the management of toxic substances, Our environment is dependent on countless complex interactions provisions for citizens to request an investigation and parliamenta- among air, land, water and all living creatures. Ecosystem is ry scrutiny and review of the act after five years. defined under the act as a dynamic complex of plant, animal and 6066 COMMONS DEBATES April 24, 1998 Government Orders micro-organism communities and their non-living environment I would like to briefly talk about the concept of user/producer interacting as a functional unit. responsibility which has also been included in the preamble to Bill C-32. User/producer responsibility means placing a greater onus on An ecosystem approach to environmental management recog- the producer, user or importer of a substance to ensure that it is nizes the fact that all of these components are interdependent. safe. These interactions are key to our continued health and existence. We cannot, for example, protect our air by removing contaminants This is consistent with current regulations under CEPA that from smoke stacks only to dump them into our waterways. We require information and data to allow for an assessment of these cannot protect our waterways by removing pollutants from dis- products before they are introduced into the marketplace. The charge pipes and sending them to landfills. bottom line is that individuals who profit from a substance should ensure that it does not pose a risk to the environment or to human An ecosystem approach to managing our environment requires health. the consideration of the complete picture and all its interdependen- cies, not just specific pieces of it. The concept of the comprehen- The pollution prevention approach demonstrates that govern- sive, integrated whole must underpin all our research activities and ment must identify toxic substances, work with others who are in the way we make decisions. positions to devise effective solutions to change specific processes and reduce or eliminate pollutants and waste and, where necessary, The earth is an existing single reality and it can survive—we can aggressively control these substances. survive—only in its integral functioning. An ecosystem approach is an integrative, transdisciplinary approach. It recognizes the interplay and interdependence of various domains such as biophys- Pollution prevention is a much better approach than trying to ical, socioeconomic, human health, political and ethical domains control or clean pollution up after it has been created. The pollution that make life possible on our planet. Protection and amelioration prevention approach benefits the environment, improves the health of the environment demands this integrative and transdisciplinary of Canadians and saves money. Good environmental practices approach. make good business sense. They lower operating costs, increase value for customers and build loyalty. D (1010 ) Canadians are particularly concerned about the risks that toxic substances pose to their health, their children’s health, as well as An essential component of the current CEPA is the minister’s the long term sustainability of their environment. authority to carry out monitoring and research on environmental quality. Monitoring and research allows us to understand and respond to environmental challenges. Knowledge is a critical It has been recognized that stricter management action is precursor to informed decision making. The new CEPA specifies required for toxics if they result primarily from human activity, if that ecosystem health is included in the concept of environmental they persist in the environment for long periods of time and if they quality and provides authority to conduct studies to detect the state bioaccumulate, that is, the toxins are stored in the tissues of living of and damage to ecosystems. creatures. Bill C-32 also allows for the publication of a state of the Minute quantities of these substances can build up over time. environment report for Canada and the development of ecosystem When they do, they can reach levels that cause serious, long term objectives, guidelines, codes of practice and inventories. Efforts adverse effects to the environment or to human health. Once in the will be focused on maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and not environment, these substances will damage our health and our just individual components. ecosystem over many generations through subtle effects to the endocrine, immune, reproductive and other sensitive biological In the preamble of the new Canadian Environmental Protection systems. Act the government is committed to the implementation of the precautionary principle which is now clearly recognized as a A virtual elimination approach for these substances is required fundamental tenet of international environmental law. to protect our health and that of the environment. Precautionary principle means that we act to prevent environ- mental damage rather than react after the damage has occurred. Bill C-32 allows the government to completely prohibit the importation and manufacture of these substances. Under the precautionary principle science is an essential compo- nent of what is done under CEPA. We must act when the weight of Environmental protection compliance orders are a powerful new evidence suggests that a potential threat to the environment and tool that work like injunctions. Our inspectors will be able to issue human health exists. The costs of inaction are simply too high. orders on the spot to stop illegal activity and, if necessary, require April 24, 1998 COMMONS DEBATES 6067 Government Orders an