Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take part in the report stage debate on Bill C-32, legislation that proposes renewal of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
The 10 minutes available to me in this part of the debate are not enough to describe fully the many advantages of the legislation. They do provide, however, sufficient time to outline 20 ways in which the bill is a significant improvement over the existing act, 20 ways in which the legislation will mean better protection of the environment and the health of Canadians.
(1) the bill makes pollution prevention the cornerstone of the new act and provides authority to require pollution prevention plans for toxic substances.
(2) under the legislation all 23,000 substances in Canada will be examined to determine if they are toxic.
(3) Bill C-32 puts in place deadlines for taking action to prevent pollution from toxic substances.
(4) the most dangerous toxic substances will be virtually eliminated.
(5) the bill will provide the environment minister with the power to require industry to prepare and implement emergency preparedness plans for toxic substances.
(6) the legislation requires that the government conduct research on hormone disrupting substances, something that the ministers of environment and health already acted on last week with investments under the toxic substances research initiative.
(7) it expands the minister's information gathering powers to support scientific research on environmental problems.
(8) it will promote greater public participation through a new Internet based environmental registry of CEPA information.
(9) citizens will also have a new right to sue if government fails to enforce CEPA and it results in significant harm to the environment.
(10) the bill requires the establishment of the national pollutants release inventory and guarantees that Canadians will be able to get information about pollution in their communities.
(11) in recognition of aboriginal self-government aboriginal governments will have representatives on the national advisory committee alongside provinces and territories.
(12) the bill expands the authority to require cleaner fuels, meaning cleaner air in Canadian cities.
(13) the legislation transfers authority to set engine emission standards for new motor vehicles from the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and expands it to cover other types of engines such as those in off-road vehicles and lawn mowers.
(14) protecting the environment is a global issue. It is therefore essential for Canada to meets its international environmental commitments. The bill provides authority to implement our obligations under the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
(15) it will allow Canada to put in place a more stringent regime for ocean disposal in accordance with the 1996 protocol to the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by the dumping of wastes and other matter.
(16) Bill C-32 contains authority to implement the convention on prior informed consent for hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade.
(17) it also provides new authority to require pollution prevention plans for Canadian sources of international air and water pollution where another Canadian government is unwilling or unable to deal with the pollution source.
(18) to ensure that the law is obeyed, Bill C-32 provides peace officer status for our enforcement officers.
(19) it also gives enforcement officers the power to issue on the spot orders to stop violations and prevent pollution.
(20) the bill contains an innovative alternative dispute resolution mechanism to avoid costly court procedures.
These are 20 good reasons why I support Bill C-32. They are 20 reasons why all members should support the bill. Most important, this list of improvements outlines 20 ways in which the environment and health of Canadians will be better protected under Bill C-32.