Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to stand in the House to address members who are here on the issue of second reading of Bill C-403, which seeks to eliminate the use of lead sinkers and jigs in fishing.
Bill C-403 proposes that the Canada Environmental Protection Act, known as the CEPA, be amended to prohibit the import, manufacture, sale and use of lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing 50 grams or less because species have died from lead poisoning through ingestion of these sinkers and jigs.
I support the intent of this initiative and I am pleased that attention is being drawn to the impact which lead sinkers and jigs have on our wildlife. Parliamentarians and the Canadian public have reason to be concerned. All of us need to pay attention to the effect our activities as anglers or hunters, hikers or bird watchers have on our cherished wildlife.
Lead, as many people have mentioned, has long been acknowledged as an environmental and health problem for humans and wildlife and is listed as a toxic substance under the current CEPA. The federal government, along with other levels of government, has been successful in reducing lead from our environment through initiatives like those which remove lead from gasoline and household products such as paint.
Bill C-403 focuses our attention on the fact that the recreational use of lead has become one of the leading sources of lead in the environment.
This bill raises the profile of the problem of lead fishing sinkers and jigs and their impact on wildlife, particularly, as members have mentioned, the loon.
As we have heard from a very detailed discussion by several members, the problem occurs when water birds ingest fishing sinkers and jigs during feeding, either when they mistake them for food or grit or when they consume lost bait fish with lines still attached. The ingestion of a single lead sinker or a lead-headed jig is sufficient to expose a loon or other bird to a lethal dose of lead. Ingestion of lead sinkers and jigs has been found to cause mortality in common loons, swans and other waterfowl.
The current CEPA has the authority to make a regulation that would accomplish the objective which Bill C-403 sets out. Success in achieving the results advocated in Bill C-403 depends first on obtaining the support of those Canadians on whom the proposed legislation would have the greatest impact. As such, consultations are needed to build consensus on the appropriate ways to prevent the death of birds caused by these sinkers.
We need to ensure that Canadians have an appreciation for the scope of the problem and an idea of the possible solutions. It is important that people understand what science is telling us and agree on the appropriate course of action. Let me be clear: this approach has never failed this government. Consulting Canadians, building consensus and taking action, developing the support of anglers who use lead sinkers and jigs, of manufacturers, distributors and retailers who make lead sinkers and jigs available, and of the provinces and territories who manage recreational fishing are essential to the effective implementation of the action. Non-toxic types of fishing sinkers and jigs must become the norm.
Action is needed. To that end, the Minister of the Environment is planning to write to her provincial colleagues and will raise this issue with them at the next Wildlife Ministers' Council of Canada. The meeting is scheduled for this fall. Her objective is to work with our partners to establish a voluntary co-operative program founded on education and building public awareness on the needless destruction caused by these products. By including education and awareness activities in partnership with the provinces and territories, angling organizations, manufacturers and retailers, we truly will have a positive effect over the long term.
Lead shot used in hunting has also been shown to be hazardous to wildlife, particularly waterfowl. That is why the federal government phased in a ban on lead shot used for hunting. Beginning in 1991 Canada banned the use of lead shot in hot spots across the country, places where lead shot poisoning of waterfowl was known to be a problem. These areas were mostly in eastern Canada. In addition, a province-wide ban was introduced in British Columbia.
In the intervening years the Minister of the Environment banned the use of lead shot for hunting in national wildlife areas and for hunting most migratory birds in and around wetlands. A full national ban comes into effect this fall.
This phased-in approach is working well and is a solid model for the reduction of lead fishing sinkers and jigs.
I should emphasize an earlier point. It is the government's position that these phased-in regulatory approaches have been most effective when coupled with education and awareness activities.
In addition, all members will be pleased to know that we have already made some headway in reducing the use of lead fishing sinkers and jigs. In 1997, under the Canada Wildlife Act, the current Minister of the Environment banned possession of lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing less than 50 grams in national wildlife areas. In the same year, under the National Parks Act, Heritage Canada prohibited the use or possession of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than 50 grams while fishing in national parks. Together these restrictions are estimated to have reduced lead sinkers and jigs deposited by 4 tonnes to 5 tonnes annually.
Environment Canada has also actively supported independent collection programs for lead sinkers and jigs that have been instituted by several organizations in Ontario, including the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan and the Hamilton Regional Conservation Authority. To date these programs have netted more than 770 kilograms of lead sinkers and jigs from anglers participating in exchanges around the Great Lakes.
These volunteer organizations and individuals have been highly successful and are deserving of our praise and thanks. The success of their programs can be attributed to the dedicated volunteers and the inclusion of anglers themselves in the design and implementation of the plan.
In addition to the efforts of Environment Canada, Parks Canada has initiated education programs and collection sites at many of Canada's national parks. Collection program co-ordinators report that the education exchange approach is an effective model to raising public awareness of the issue and is very well received by the angling community.
The success of this type of initiative has allowed the government to move ahead on reducing lead in the environment. The government intends to continue to be active in addressing the harm done by these lead sinkers and jigs. As always, we are using scientific research as the basis for our actions.
We know that an estimated 388 to 559 tonnes of lead in the form of lead sinkers and jigs may be lost in Canadian waters annually by the approximately 5.5 million anglers who participate in recreational fishing each year. This represents about 12% of all lead releases to the environment.
With regard to Canada's loon population, it has been estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 common loons are breeding in Canada and that overall the loon population is not in decline. A variety of environmental contaminants including acid rain, mercury and lead have had an impact on the common loon. However, the relative influence of these and other stressors such as disease, predation and severe weather on the health of loon populations is still unclear.
We do know that lead poisoning has an impact on wildlife, particularly water birds like loons. We do know that in locations where recreational angling occurs, lead sinker or jig ingestion causes adult loon mortality and is one of the leading causes of death for loons in these areas. In fact, 59 of the 217 dead birds examined over the past 10 years died from lead poisoning.
Individual Canadians have helped Environment Canada in developing the science in this field. Data currently available depended largely on the volunteer co-operation of cottagers, anglers and boaters who came across a carcass and notified the appropriate provincial and federal wildlife agency. We will continue to rely on their help in gathering evidence that will help us refine our understanding of the various threats to our water birds. Canadians play an important role.
Help from the Canadian public, and anglers and industry specifically, is also needed if we are to eliminate the use of lead sinkers and jigs. Education and awareness building programs backed up by good science will ensure Canadians support our actions in preserving the environment for all.
It is the government's intention to consult with manufacturers and retailers of fishing sinkers and jigs to help ensure that alternative products are available which are comparable in price and performance to those made of lead. We will consult with the anglers on the effectiveness of non-lead sinkers and jigs for fishing. We always have the possibility of regulation when it is appropriate. The government believes this course of action will in the end achieve the objective of Bill C-403 by building support for key stakeholders.
In closing, the member for Simcoe—Grey has brought the attention of all members of the House to the lead fishing sinker and jig problem. His interest and continued action in the environment are most commendable. I am sure his constituents must be very proud of his accomplishments.