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Annual Reports

2002-2003   2003-2004

Ministry of the Environment

This document includes:

• Ministry Overview
• Annual Report 2002-2003
• Annual Report 2003-2004

MINISTRY OVERVIEW

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) leads in preventing pollution and protecting and restoring the environment. The ministry works with all communities to protect our land, air and water and has built a strong foundation of clear laws, stringent regulations, tough standards and rigorous permits and approvals.

MOE has three core areas of responsibility:

• Improving the air that Ontarians breathe
• Protecting the water that Ontarians drink
• Reducing, reusing and recycling waste that Ontarians generate.

Key ministry activities include:

• developing policies, legislation, regulations and standards to protect the environment and human health;
• investing in science to provide a solid foundation for developing programs to protect the environment and human health;
• undertaking compliance and enforcement actions to ensure environmental laws are met;
• promoting public education and awareness through partnerships;
• undertaking environmental monitoring and reporting to track progress over time and inform the public on environmental quality.

MOE works closely with partner ministries such as Natural Resources (source protection, water quantity), Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (nutrient management), Municipal Affairs and Housing (land-use planning; brownfields; water and sewer infrastructure), Public Infrastructure Renewal (water and sewer infrastructure), and Health and Long-Term Care (safe drinking water, West Nile virus) to ensure a consistent approach to environmental protection.

ANNUAL REPORT 2003-2004

CLEANER AIR

MOE continued to implement actions aimed at reducing smog and other forms of air pollution. Public access to air quality information was further improved by opening a new air-quality monitoring station and increasing the number of times a day the Air Quality Index is reported from six to seven. New, tougher emissions test standards for large diesel trucks and buses were implemented. MOE continued consultations on a regulation to extend emissions trading and tough nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) caps to seven industry sectors.

CLEANER WATER

MOE continued to work to safeguard drinking water. Ontario became the first province to make mandatory the licensing of laboratories that test drinking water. A Chief Drinking Water Inspector was appointed. The number of drinking water inspectors was increased by 25 per cent. All municipal drinking water quality is good; 99.66 per cent of water quality tests met the Ontario drinking water standards.

The spreading of untreated toilet waste on fields was banned.

Work continued on developing source protection legislation. A White Paper was released to begin discussions on a framework for source protection plans. Two expert committees were formed to advise on the technical and implementation aspects of source protection planning.

MOE imposed a one-year moratorium on new and expanded water-takings that remove water from watersheds. At the same time, MOE developed new, stronger rules for water takings.

REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING WASTE

Industry was directed to pay 50 per cent of municipal blue box costs as part of the government’s commitment to increase support for waste diversion programs.

EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

MOE began overseeing compliance with nutrient management requirements. The Environmental SWAT Team began an inspection sweep of industries in the Sarnia area and also concluded an inspection blitz of tire sites.

District staff, the Environmental SWAT Team and the Smog Patrol used a range of enforcement tools to achieve compliance, protect human health and increase environmental protection.

	Ministry Expenditures ($ millions)
	2003-2004 Actual
Operating	252
Capital	4
Staff Strength (as of Mar. 31, 2004)	2,671.6*

NOTE: Starting in 2002-2003, major tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries (land, buildings and transportation infrastructure) are accounted for on a full accrual accounting basis. Other tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries will continue to be accounted for as expenses in the year of acquisition or construction. All capital assets owned by consolidated government organizations are accounted for on a full accrual basis.

* Includes 707.4 staff from Ontario Clean Water Agency

ANNUAL REPORT 2003-2004

CLEANER AIR

MOE continued to fight smog and other forms of air pollution. The Drive Clean program was expanded to cover the entire southern Ontario smog zone and emissions standards for light duty vehicles were tightened by 11.5 per cent.

OnAir was launched to provide emissions information from major industrial emitters. The fuel industry was required to report sulphur levels in gasoline. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) was added to the Air Quality Index. Stringent standards for mercury, dioxins and furans emissions from incinerators were implemented. MOE began working with industry toward applying tough nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) limits to all major emitters in addition to the electricity sector.

REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING WASTE

MOE implemented legislative and regulatory provisions to encourage municipalities and creditors to take action toward cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield properties.

	Ministry Expenditures ($ millions)
	2002-2003 Actual
Operating	235
Capital	13
Staff Strength (as of Mar. 31, 2003)	2570.4*

NOTE: Starting in 2002-2003, major tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries (land, buildings and transportation infrastructure) are accounted for on a full accrual accounting basis. Other tangible capital assets owned by provincial ministries will continue to be accounted for as expenses in the year of acquisition or construction. All capital assets owned by consolidated government organizations are accounted for on a full accrual basis.

* Includes 683.6 staff from Ontario Clean Water Agency.

For further information about the Ministry of the Environment, visit our Internet site at www.ene.gov.on.ca.

You can find annual reports for other Ontario government ministries online at www.gov.on.ca under “About Government”.

© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2006
ISBN 0-1-4249-0521-4 (HTML)
ISBN 0-1-4249-0522-2 (PDF)
ISBN 0-1-4249-0520-6 (Print)

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