Speech

Check against Delivery

Good morning.

Minister Blaney.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It’s a great pleasure to be here at the Museum of Nature today.

I admit it’s a little bit bittersweet, because I suddenly find myself at an awkward age: my daughter is all grown up and we don’t have any grandchildren... yet. That means I don’t get quite as many chances to regularly wander through these wonderful exhibits as I once did... although I’m sure my daughter would say that I should actually be on display along with all the other fossils and dinosaurs.

Whether it’s museum visits, smart-mouthed daughters or something else, that’s the way it is with families... their size, shape and activities are constantly shifting.

But there are some fundamental things that never change... for example, the need for clean air to breathe. That’s true whether you are new born... a senior citizen... or somewhere in the middle.

As you know, the top priority of the Harper Government remains our continued economic recovery. As Environment Minister, I’m ensuring that this country’s economic growth is properly balanced with the environmental and public health needs of Canadian families.

For example, we are working together with Canadians to achieve results for both our economy and the environment through many initiatives including the Eco-Energy Home Retrofit Program.

We are also dedicated to the expansion of our National Parks System which generates billions in tourism revenue for our economy while preserving iconic Canadian landscapes for future generations.

That same balanced approach is required when developing and enforcing air quality standards and solutions. Because air flows don’t stop at any borders, it’s critical to work with a wide range of stakeholders and agendas... national and international, private and public sector... profit and not-for-profit.

The Acid Rain Treaty between Canada and the United States--which marked its 20^th anniversary earlier this year--is one example of the success that can be achieved that way. We reduced industrial air emissions in Canada that had a material benefit for us and, equally, for our neighbors to the south.

And speaking of milestones, we are approaching the sixth anniversary of the successful Clean Air Regulatory Agenda. The Harper Government developed this program in 2006 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we want this work to continue. And this is why I am pleased to announce that over the next five years, our Government will invest $600.8 million to continue.

This funding will sustain our Clean Air agenda’s considerable momentum, providing the scientific research, monitoring, modeling, regulation and enforcement required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.

Our additional investment in our Clean Air agenda will help us to identify emerging air quality issues... measure and monitor the status of existing ones... and evaluate solutions. It ensures that Canadians will--literally--breathe easier.

We are already coordinating those measures with provinces and territories--with whom we share jurisdiction--to co-ordinate clean air initiatives and implement the nation-wide Air Quality Health Index. This includes working with them, industry and non-governmental organizations, to finalize and implement a new national air quality management system that will include new ambient air quality standards, industrial emissions standards and active management of local air quality.

If we want to make it easy and efficient for our businesses and employers to comply with air quality regulations... and to make the necessary investments in state-of-the art clean air technology... this is the way to go.

That same practical focus is reflected in our formal commitment to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to 607 megatonnes by 2020. To do this, we’re using a sector-by-sector regulatory approach aligned with that of the United States. We are making progress.

But don’t just take my word on this. The International Institute for Sustainable Development recently said that significant progress is being made in Canada on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. It confirmed what we already know--that the Government’s regulatory approach is delivering results and contributing to a national effort to reduce emissions toward Canada’s 2020 target.

Along with the United States, we’ve already introduced more stringent vehicle emission standards for cars and trucks--as well as mandating the use of ethanol and biodiesel to green the fuel used for transportation.

With the new Clean Air agenda funding, we’ll also further strengthen our commitment to address trans-boundary air pollution under the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement.

Our recently-tabled draft regulations to address emissions from coal fired electrical generation in Canada is another important step forward to eliminating mercury and other airborne toxins.

I’ll be travelling by the end of the week to attend the United Nations’ annual climate change summit, COP17. At this meeting in South Africa, I will be advancing Canada’s position that the world needs a comprehensive climate change agreement with binding commitments for emissions reductions by all major emitters.

Canada is also working closely with the United Nations Environment Program--which met in Mexico in September--to improve air quality by addressing short-lived climate forcers.

These are pollutants like methane, black carbon and ozone that stay in the atmosphere for a relatively short period, but contribute significantly to global warming of the planet and respiratory problems for its inhabitants.

In closing, I would like to add that air quality is a global... a national... a local... and a family issue.

Given that we equally share the challenge, we must equally support the solution.

I very much look forward to bringing my grandchildren to this museum some day... and I fully intend to ensure that the exhibits here will be the only thing to take their breath away.

Thank you.