Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member for Davenport I would mention that a toxic substances management policy was released on September 27 and given a period of 60 days for consultation and comments from the public and other interested bodies.
This period is going to end on November 30, 1994. Obviously among the comments I expect to be received include the key questions raised by the hon. member such as what really constitutes pollution prevention. Today the minister alluded to pollution prevention in a statement in the House as part of the very basis of our objective in trying to pursue environmental and sustainable development goals.
The question of pollution prevention, the definition of toxicity, the whole concept of reverse onus, the whole question of levels raised by the hon. member are obviously going to come up. These concepts or ideas require co-ordination with existing instruments, as rightly underlined by the member, with CEPA and with the other policies and programs of government.
What I strongly suggest to the hon. member is given the high regard in which he is held by all his colleagues in regard to environmental questions, including by the minister herself, is that he provide his input into the consultation process on these very issues that are so crucial to a reliable toxic substances policy.
I would suggest to the hon. member that between now and November 30 he let the minister have his thoughts and I can assure him they will be taken with very serious and constructive consideration.