Speech

 

Good morning.

Our country’s thousands of lakes and rivers are a vital part of Canada’s natural heritage — from supporting biodiversity and healthy aquatic ecosystems… to opening up countless possibilities for recreation….to sustaining our drinking water. And, frankly, those examples are only a drop in the bucket.

That is why we are announcing today that we will strengthen regulations for water protection.

Canadians expect and deserve water that is clean, safe and plentiful — not just for themselves, but also for the generations who will follow us. That’s why I’m proud that we have set Canada’s first national standards for wastewater treatment.

The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, which were developed with the provinces, municipalities and other stakeholders, will go a long way towards protecting Canada’s water quality. Ultimately, better effluent quality will improve fish and aquatic ecosystems health.

Industry, too, stands to benefit. Cleaner water will boost tourism in waterfront communities. And it should help reduce closures in the shellfish industry related to contaminants, as well as boost exports of seafood from Eastern Canada.

About three-quarters of existing wastewater systems already meet the new standards. The remainder will need time to plan and budget for upgrades, which is why the Regulations are being phased-in over nearly 30 years. Systems representing the highest risks, however, will be expected to move faster, and have until 2020 to meet the new quality standards.

I’m proud the Harper Government has committed $2.3 billion to wastewater infrastructure through various programs since 2006. The Gas Tax Fund now provides $2 billion every year, and municipalities can spend 100% of their allocation to upgrade wastewater infrastructure. Our next step together is to develop a long-term plan for infrastructure beyond 2014.

For today, however, I just want to celebrate the arrival of our first national standards for wastewater treatment. Our water is precious, and these Regulations will help us address the largest source of pollution to our lakes and rivers. In so doing, we will help protect Canadians and their environment.

Thank you.