Energy and Environment Ministers show strong commitment to reduce air pollution

Halifax - October 19, 1998 - As part of national efforts to reduce harmful air emissions, federal, provincial, and territorial Energy and Environment Ministers meeting in Halifax today achieved significant progress in their fight against air pollution by signing the Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000.

"This is a major step in our on-going fight against acid rain", said Federal EnvironmentMinister Christine Stewart. "This national strategy builds on the successful efforts of the last decade to reduce pollutants which cause acid rain, but new challenges confront us for the year 2000 and beyond. Today's signature by all governments is a formal commitment that we in Canada will do our share to solve the acid rain problem," the Minister added.

"Acid rain remains a very serious problem in some regions of the country, despite all the progress we have made since our first national agreement in 1985. Today we have once again shown that by working together we can meet the challenge of protecting our environment while maintaining a vibrant economy, "added Federal Minister of Natural Resources Ralph Goodale.

"In 1997, sulphur dioxide (SO₂ ) emissions in eastern Canada were less than half of their 1980 levels, and 24% below the 2.3 million tonne SO₂ cap in the Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program," said the Honourable Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development, Government of Prince Edward Island. "The latest scientific reports and monitoring have clearly indicated that there is a need to further reduce emissions. I am pleased to see support across the country and encourage the provinces to move forward in reducing acid rain," concluded Mr. MacKinnon.

The Honourable Steven Kakfwi, Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, also said: "I am pleased with all jurisdictions signing off this acid rain strategy. I would also like to note that Canada will ratify, before the end of December, the international Protocols on Persistent Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals. As a northern Canadian, I take considerable satisfaction in this ratification, as it is an important milestone in eliminating the threat to the north from these airborne transport of these toxic substances," the Minister added.

Last June, in Denmark, Canada signed these agreements with European countries, the United States, and countries of the former Soviet Union, committing to reduce atmospheric emissions of 16 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and three Heavy Metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium). These agreements were negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The POPs and Heavy Metals Protocols are the first major multinational, legally-binding agreements to place controls on emissions of these hazardous air pollutants which particularly affect northern Canadians.