Debates of Feb. 11th, 1999

Criminal Code

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I must inform the hon. member that points of order are out of order during adjournment proceedings. This is where we are. These proceedings have started. The hon. member is welcome to raise the matter tomorrow.

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question was as follows:

For the second time since 1996, the auditor general concludes in a report that the federal government still does not have a complete picture of the various environmental hazards posed by the 5,000 contaminated federal sites.

It is a very important issue. The environmental liabilities related to contaminated sites exceed $2 billion, excluding radioactive waste management costs. The government must take action now.

These pollutants come from government laboratories, military bases, harbours and ports, airports, training facilities and reserve lands. The diversity and number of contaminated federal sites—more than 5,000—show the scope and severity of the problem.

These sites contain PCBs, hydrocarbons, mine tailings, heavy metals, other waste materials and chemicals. The presence of numerous toxic substances reminds us of the urgent need to take action. We must avoid spreading contaminants that could be harmful to our health and our environment, which would mean additional costs.

In his 1996, 1997 and December 1998 reports, the auditor general reiterates that it is an important problem to which the government seems totally oblivious.

In this context, I would like to know what the Minister of the Environment has to say on this issue. When will she be able to convince her cabinet colleagues that this is a priority and that the government must act as soon as possible, provide us with a complete list of environmental hazards, adopt an environmental policy and announce that it is providing the responsible departments with the necessary resources to address the problem of contaminated sites?

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, let me say I agree with the hon. member that federal contaminated sites is an issue which must be taken seriously.

Like my colleague in the House, I concur with the auditor general's environmental representative, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, that there is a need for central leadership and a consistent framework to enable the federal government to address its contaminated sites.

To this end Environment Canada officials in co-operation with Treasury Board are currently working toward future options and will be advising the environment minister in the future. In addition I point out that we also agree with the auditor general's assessment that although a management framework is conspicuously absent progress has been made in dealing with the legacy of contaminated sites.

For example, we introduced a pollution prevention approach to environmental management right across the board to prevent further contamination. Over 4,000 federal sites have undergone some form of environmental assessment and 300 more are currently being assessed. To date over $130 million have been spent on the assessment and remediation of federal sites.

We have worked closely with other governments testing new technologies and developing management tools such as the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment national classification system. We have encouraged and supported the work of the interdepartmental committee dealing with federal contaminated sites and progress has been made by Environment Canada in addressing sites in its portfolio.

In addition to carrying out a comprehensive site inventory Environment Canada has completed phase 1 and phase 2 environmental site assessments at Environment Canada sites across the country. Clean up at two high priority sites has been concluded and remediation is under way at another four. Such work is integrated with Environment Canada's environment management system which underpins the department's sustainable development strategy.

I thank the member for her interest and encourage her to maintain a watchful eye on our progress. Improvements of this magnitude will not occur overnight. We are committed to developing a long term solution to what has been a long term problem. The minister will be happy to report back further.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please. The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6.35 p.m.)