Canadian Environmental Protection Act annual report for April 1994 to March 1995
Table of contents
- Minister's message
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
- CEPA Part I: environmental quality
- CEPA Part II: toxic xubstances
- CEPA Part III: nutrients
- CEPA Part IV: controls on government organizations
- CEPA Part V: international air pollution
- CEPA Part VI: controlling the disposal of substances at sea
- CEPA Part VII: general information
- Health Canada's contributions under CEPA
- CEPA across Canada
- Appendix A: publications related to CEPA
I am pleased to present the 1994-95 annual report on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to Parliament. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many individuals at both Environment Canada and Health Canada who are working to ensure that CEPA offers the environmental protection Canadians have a right to expect. A number of achievements were realized during the last year, among them:
- The establishment of the Priority Substances List II Ministerial Expert Advisory Panel to provide Ministers with a recommended list of substances by the end of September 1995;
- Publication of the first National Pollutant Release Inventory which included a total of 5,248 substance reports for the year 1993;
- Amendments to the Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations, the Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulations and the Gasoline Regulations;
- New Substances Notification Regulations were also introduced; and
- The launch of the CEPA Review by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
CEPA is broad legislation based on sound science. Research, technology development and promotion, regulations and enforcement, public education and shared decision-making are key tools to implementing good environmental practices. This government is committed towards building a Canada based on the principles of sustainable development and CEPA can contribute to that goal.
The CEPA Review will determine how best to improve the administration and effectiveness of this major piece of legislation. The Review is timely given that much has changed in the field of environmental protection since CEPA became law in 1988. Likewise, experience with the Act provides ample opportunity to revisit that law, examine why it succeeded in some areas and was less effective in others. The aim of the review is to keep what was best in the Act and to strengthen the preventative capabilities of CEPA.
The year ahead will be important as we go forward in responding to the Standing Committee's recommendations. I intend to see to it that CEPA is revitalized to fully meet the challenges of the coming century.
Honourable Sergio Marchi
Minister of the Environment