Speech

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, announce the renewal of Canada's world-leading Chemicals Management Plan.

Today I want to tell you about important work being undertaken by our Government: work that has real impact on the health of all Canadians and the environment in which we live.

I’m talking about funding for the next phase of Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan…we have committed to spend more than $506 million over the next 5 years to ensure the significant work on chemicals – which we began in 2006 – continues at full speed.

Since 2006, about $300 million has been spent by Environment Canada and Health Canada to ensure that the health of Canadians and their environment is protected–which is a key priority.

We are determined to ensure that existing chemicals used in our homes, businesses and public spaces are properly managed and that the risks to Canadians are minimized. We are equally determined to keep close tabs on any and all new chemicals that enter the market.

Together over the past five years, Environment Canada and Health Canada have made great strides in a wide range of chemical risk assessments, regulatory activities, monitoring and research. That work must – and will – proceed.

This government understands that fiscal restraint has to be a strategic tool – not a blunt instrument. Yes, budget priorities have to be carefully set and closely watched. But when it comes to human health and the environment, the course is clear.

That clarity of intent and direction is also important to the chemicals industry – with which we’ve also worked closely. It provides the sector with the certainty and stability to invest in the research and development of new solutions to issues we’ve identified and red-flagged.

We have made solid progress under the Chemicals Management Plan in addressing a significant portion of the chemicals that are believed to be in commerce and that have been identified as having potential risks to human health or the environment. We’ve now worked through the assessment of about 1,100 chemicals on that list and will tackle close to 1,500 in the next 5 years. We will also ensure that new, harmful chemicals don’t enter the Canadian market.

Another aspect of the CMP that will be further reinforced by the renewed funding is the regulatory and enforcement framework.

(Anyone who knows anything about Environment Canada knows we take pride in our role as a world-class regulator and are serious about enforcement.)

As regulators, we understand the strategic importance of process. As a result, the process for assessing chemical risks has been streamlined, to ensure that action – when required – is swift and meaningful.

There is no question that protecting the health of Canadians and their environment is a key priority. This priority is clearly reflected through the funding of the next phase of the Chemicals Management Plan.

Along with our colleagues at Health Canada, we at Environment Canada will ensure that when it comes to the chemicals to which we are exposed, Canadians and their environment are fully protected and informed for generations to come.