Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 annual report for April 2000 to March 2001
Table of contents
- Minister's message
- Foreword
- 1. Administration
- 2. Public participation
- 3. Information gathering, objectives, guidelines, and codes of practice
- 4. Pollution prevention
- 5. Controlling toxic substances
- 6. Animate products of biotechnology
- 7. Controlling pollution snd managing wastes
- 8. Environmental emergencies
- 9. Government operations, federal and Aboriginal land
- 10. Enforcement
- 11. Miscellaneous matters
- Acronyms
- Contacts
- Research facilities
- National Library of Canada cataloguing in publication data
December 2001
I am pleased to provide all Canadians with the Government of Canada's first annual report on the administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which came into force on March 31, 2000, gives the government stronger powers and new tools to protect the environment and human health. The act emphasizes pollution prevention as the preferred approach to environmental protection, imposes tough new deadlines for action on toxic substances, and places a new emphasis on public accountability and transparency.
This report focuses on the key actions and accomplishments achieved under the act from April 2000 to March 2001. It highlights the early successes in implementing CEPA's powerful new tools, such as providing cleaner air to Canadians through an agenda on vehicles and fuels and improved international commitments. It also describes the efforts to develop new policies and establish new processes that will enable Environment Canada to access the full range of CEPA tools, such as pollution prevention plans, environmental emergency plans, and new enforcement powers. All of these actions will provide industry and the public with a clear understanding of when and how these tools will be used in the coming years.
CEPA 1999 also provides greater opportunities for citizen participation in decision making on environmental issues and improved access to environmental information. I encourage readers to visit CEPA's Environmental Registry, an online tool that provides a comprehensive source of public information on the Act, and become involved in the decisions that affect the Canadian environment.
I am proud of the environmental achievements we have made this year. This first year has been challenging, not only for government, but for industry and the public alike, as we implement the new provisions of this act. But we have demonstrated that CEPA 1999 is a powerful and effective law. These early successes have laid the foundation for the exciting years ahead, when we will continue to take advantage of CEPA's stronger tools and implement actions to improve the health of Canadians and our environment.
David Anderson, M.P., P.C.
Minister of the Environment