June 25, 2007

OTTAWA, Ontario - The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment will work with the U.S. and Mexico to take further steps on issues of common environmental concern, including air pollution, at a meeting this week (June 26-27) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) in Morelia, Mexico.

"We have taken great strides on improving air quality with the introduction of a new regulatory package in Canada," Mr. Baird said.  "We are hoping to enhance our cooperation with the U.S. and Mexico to deal effectively with pollution at the continental level."

In April, the Minister announced a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that  imposes limits on industrial emitters, regulates the fuel efficiency of vehicles and imposes efficiency standards on consumer products like light bulbs, among other things.

Canada's New Government will impose mandatory targets on industry, so that greenhouse gases come down and we achieve our goal of an absolute reduction of 150 megatonnes by 2020. As well, it will impose targets on industry so that air pollution from industry is cut in half by 2015.

At the Commission meeting this week, Minister Baird will hold discussions with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, and Mexican Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada.  Their talks will focus on issues  such as harmonizing air quality data between the three countries and strengthening Mexico's pollutant monitoring and reporting ability.  This work could set the stage for the development of a  North American emissions trading regime, a move Canada supports.

At the end of this meeting, Canada will assume the chair of the CEC for a period of one year.

"We are all partners in caring for this continent," Mr. Baird added.  "We share a lot of responsibility.  So, it is important that we work together to protect the North American environment."

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was created by Canada, Mexico and the United States in 1994 to work together on issues of common environmental concern.