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Ottawa, May 25, 2001
2001-054

Development of Environmental Indicators a Priority, Says Finance Minister

Related document: 

• Speech by the Honourable Paul Martin, Minister of Finance, at a Breakfast Organized by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (News Release 2001-053).

Finance Minister Paul Martin today emphasized that new environmental indicators must be developed to promote sustainable policy decisions in the future. 

Speaking at a breakfast meeting hosted by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, Minister Martin expressed support for the environmental indicators initiative – a co-ordinated effort to advance the science of measuring progress towards a more environmentally sustainable economy. This initiative received funding in Budget 2000.

"Environmental indicators will provide us with the hard, quantitative data to ensure a sound basis for both environmental and economic policy in the future," said Minister Martin. "In effect, these indicators can serve as a continuous call to arms – an ongoing protection against environmental complacency."

Minister Martin praised the Round Table, Environment Canada and Statistics Canada for their work on the indicators initiative and urged business leaders and academics to be supportive as well. In particular, the Minister highlighted that environmental indicators – similar to existing gross domestic product, unemployment and consumer price index data – hold the potential to focus attention and forge consensus in favour of more environmentally sustainable policy choices.

"It is incumbent upon us to show all Canadians not only that we are meeting our bottom-line financial targets, but that we are clearly focused on preserving and enhancing our natural heritage," said Minister Martin.

The environmental indicators initiative received $9 million in funding in the 2000 budget. It was part of a $1.4-billion package of measures aimed at promoting environmental technologies and practices over the next five years.

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