Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
The federal government will unveil today a list of nearly 23,000 toxic chemicals, giving the Conservatives their first chance to prove they are serious about fighting pollution.
The government is required to produce the list under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
The toxins list could include a variety of air pollutants as well as carcinogens found in everyday household products such as non-stick pans, water and baby bottles, or even in mattresses and wrinkle-resistant sheets.
“Dealing with the legacy of unassessed chemicals is an issue that all countries are grappling with,” said John Arseneau, director general of science and risk assessment at Environment Canada. “But Canada is the first country, now, to have completed such a systematic review so that we can now have a comprehensive database to those chemicals that were in use.”
While Mr. Arseneau refused to provide detailed results of the analysis, he said scientists from the environment and health departments have already submitted their list for the government to use in an upcoming action plan to be released over the next month.
The government’s response to the list could provide an opening for it to begin rolling out announcements on the environment in the next few weeks.
While the federal Conservatives have been criticized by environmental groups for backing away from Canada’s international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto protocol, a taxpayer-funded study has advised them that they can use environmental policy announcements as a “wedge issue” to boost their popularity.
In briefings held last month for various stakeholders, senior Environment Canada officials revealed the government was focused on developing a clean-air act to deal with air pollution. But they gave no indication about setting strict targets and regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change. The officials said their priority was on measures that promote better health, particularly in children.
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose also indicated last spring that the government would develop a new air-quality health index with other levels of government and partners to help deal with air pollution and smog.
“This health information tool will be the first of its kind in the world,” Ms. Ambrose said in a speech last June.
“It will empower Canadians to protect their health from the negative effects of air pollution, much like the UV Index helps us protect ourselves from the harmful effects of too much sun.”
Ms. Ambrose’s spokesman, Ryan Sparrow, said the minister would also examine the new list of toxins and take action, based on her powers under environmental protection legislation.
Environmentalists argue that the minority Conservative government must act immediately to honour its commitment in the throne speech to deliver “tangible” pollution reduction.
“Tangibility means measurability. It means timely,” said Rick Smith, executive-director of Environmental Defence. “So that is the yardstick that the government has invited Canadians to hold it to, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Mr. Smith said Canada is falling behind other jurisdictions that already have regulations when it comes to some of the toxic substances in question.
“There are bans in place in many parts of the U.S. and most of the European Union,” said Mr. Smith. “So Canada is falling farther behind with the rest of the world when it comes to dealing with this kind of pollution.”
© The Ottawa Citizen 2006