New Canadian Environmental Protection Act now in force: better information for Canadians with an emphasis on pollution prevention

HULL - April 4, 2000 - New rules for reducing the threat of toxic substances to human health and the environment are now in force, Environment Minister David Anderson announced today. The Minister's announcement that the new Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is now law, was made at a public information session in Hull, Quebec.

"The new Canadian Environmental Protection Act is one of the most advanced environmental laws of its kind in the developed world and will be our most important tool in preventing the release of toxic substances into our air and water," Minister Anderson told participants in the information session.

"The new CEPA provides a strengthened framework for protecting Canadians from pollution caused by toxic substances," said Health Minister Allan Rock. "Canadians will be able to continue to enjoy the highest standards of environmental and health protection."

The new Act is designed to provide strong protection for the environment and for human health through science-based pollution prevention strategies. It incorporates current scientific understanding about the impact of toxic substances and pollutants on the environment and health, and places a new emphasis on public accountability and transparency. The new CEPA was approved by Parliament in September 1999 and gives the Government of Canada stronger powers and new tools.

Minister Anderson also unveiled the new CEPA Environmental Registry, an on-line database that includes a wide range of information about the Act. The Registry is available on the Green Lane, Environment Canada's Internet site at http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry.

"Canadians can use the Registry to access up-to-date information on regulations, orders, permits and thousands of other documents related to CEPA," said Minister Anderson. "I believe this new registry will be a powerful new tool in helping to engage more and more Canadians in the day to day work of pollution prevention."

The new law emphasizes the importance of preventing pollution rather than cleaning it up after the fact. It explicitly acknowledges that the protection of the environment is essential to the well-being of Canadians and that the primary purpose of this Act is to contribute to sustainable development through pollution prevention. For example, under the new Act, the Minister of the Environment can request the development and implementation of pollution prevention plans by facilities that manufacture or use substances that are "toxic" under the Act.

CEPA 1999 is significantly improved over the former Act in five priority areas: promoting cleaner air and water; managing toxic substances; better tools for public participation; preventing and responding to environmental emergencies; and enforcement.

Today's Information Session in Hull was the fifth in a series of 11 sessions being held across the country. "These sessions put information directly in the hands of Canadians on how we manage environmental issues," said Minister Anderson. "We want to ensure that Canadians are made aware of the new Act, and understand how to use it so that we all benefit from cleaner air and cleaner water."

Additional information on the new CEPA is available on the Green Lane, Environment Canada's Internet site at http://www.ec.gc.ca/cepa.

Some provisions in the Act will come into force later. Provisions in the Act related to compliance orders will be proclaimed on September 1^st, 2000. These orders can be used to put an immediate stop to a CEPA violation, to prevent a violation from occurring in the first place, or to require action to correct a violation. The Government's authority to determine if other federal Acts meet the CEPA requirements for notice and assessment of toxicity of new substances and biotechnology products will be proclaimed on September 13, 2001. This will allow time for the assessment of other federal Acts and regulations to ensure they are consistent with the new standards required by Parliament.

Copies of an Information Kit on the new CEPA can be obtained by calling Environment Canada's Inquiry Centre at 1-800-668-6767, or by contacting the Inquiry Centre by e-mail at enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca.

Related documents:

• The new Canadian Environmental Protection Act: a renewed framework for environmental protection [backgrounder, 2000-04-04]
• The CEPA Environmental Registry [backgrounder, 2000-04-04]
• The new Canadian Environmental Protection Act Website [information collection]
• The CEPA Environmental Registry Website [information collection]