Mr. Speaker, the protection and conservation of our environment require collaboration between all levels of government. We need to streamline environmental regulatory processes and harmonize federal and provincial policies and programs.
To this end yesterday in New Brunswick the federal environment minister and her colleagues from the Atlantic provinces entered into a federal-provincial framework agreement for the environmental co-operation in Atlantic Canada.
This agreement is the first of its kind in the environmental field in terms of both its breadth and scope. It set out principles to cover compliance with regulations, environmental assessment, environmental monitoring and data management, water programs and public awareness.
The agreement will lead to the elimination of overlap and duplication of program delivery and provide a single window for pursuing regulatory matters. It illustrates this government's commitment to environmental protection and conservation and to co-operation and harmonization with the provinces.