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Notes for remarks

by

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

Government of Ontario’s Response to
US Environmental Protection Agency’s NSR3
“Challenging the U.S. to Protect Air Quality”

Toronto, ON
Friday, February 17, 2006

(Check against delivery)

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for coming. A special thanks to Dr. Flynn, the president of the Ontario Medical Association, for supporting us today.

I asked you to join us here today so that I can let you know about an undertaking of our government that I am hugely proud of.

This morning, on behalf of the province of Ontario, I filed comments with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

My comments take the form of a lengthy and – I believe, very persuasive – submission detailing Ontario’s objections to the EPA’s retrogressive plan to allow higher emissions from coal-burning plants.

In so doing, Ontario takes its place, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other jurisdictions in the United States, objecting to trans-boundary air pollution.

Let me be clear: air pollution knows no boundaries. Today, Ontario joins Pennsylvania, New York and others to say: enough.

In simple terms, the United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to relax its rule governing air emissions. This rule, known as “New Source Review”, has been a valuable tool in the past for reducing air emissions from some of the oldest and dirtiest coal-burning plants in the United States.

Right now, the EPA is considering amendments to this program that could weaken its effectiveness.

Our government is challenging this direction. It is our view that this is a backward step that will constitute a direct hit – with a costly impact – on the health of our citizens, our environment and our economy.

That is why we have filed official comments on the US EPA’s proposal.

Ontarians – especially those who live in cities like Windsor and Sarnia – know all too well that pollution respects no jurisdictional boundaries. Failure to effectively control emissions south of the border, particularly in the Midwest, has a serious impact on air quality in Ontario and in our neighbouring provinces and states.

Si l’on ne contrôle pas efficacement les émissions polluantes aux États-Unis, notamment dans le Midwest, il y aura des répercussions sur l’Ontario et sur les provinces et les États voisins.

We believe that real efforts to address air pollution must be advanced – not reversed.

These proposed amendments are bad news for the health of people living anywhere in our shared airshed – no matter whether you’ve got a postal code or a zip code.

Now more than ever, we need to work with other states and provinces to address this common threat.

The McGuinty government’s first priority lies in protecting the health of our citizens.

We are committed to a clean, healthy province and an excellent quality of life.

We have taken aggressive steps to curb air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions within our province.

Ontario is the first jurisdiction in North America to put the environment and the health of our citizens first by saying “no” to coal. All coal-fired electricity generation in this province will be eliminated by early 2009.

As we replace coal, we’re increasing our supply of clean, renewable energy.
To date, the province has contracted for a total of 1,370 megawatts of clean sources such as waterpower, biogas and wind – enough to power 350,000 homes.

We‘ve improved the Drive Clean program, which now focuses on older vehicles that are at higher risk of polluting.

And cars will soon be operating with cleaner fuel. By the first of next year, all gasoline sold in Ontario will contain an average of five per cent ethanol.

We set strict air emission caps for seven industrial sectors. And we’re proud to have set new, tough standards for 40 harmful air pollutants. This is the first time in 25 years these standards have been strengthened.

Clearly, Ontario is taking a leadership role in reducing air pollution. And perhaps this is the right moment for me to say that it was Dalton McGuinty, our Premier, who initiated this strategic intervention on American air pollution.

It was the Premier who had the foresight to realize the magnitude of this issue. And it was the Premier who introduced the concept of addressing this alongside our neighbours to the south.

Ultimately, these actions will have benefits to the common airshed beyond our borders. We are reducing our impact on the air quality in states and provinces downwind of us.

But the proposed NSR changes could undermine our good work.

Ontario’s air quality is affected by emissions from US sources that fall outside of our control.

On a poor air quality day, more than half of the smog-causing pollutants hovering over Ontario originates in the U.S. Midwest and Ohio Valley.

In Windsor, that figure can exceed 90 per cent.

We could reduce our province’s emissions to zero, and airborne pollutants from the U.S. carried in on prevailing winds would still trigger smog days.

Our own research shows that every year in Ontario, transboundary air pollution causes more than 2,700 premature deaths…

Puts almost 12,000 people in hospital…

Leads to 60,000 emergency room visits…

And is responsible for an estimated $5.2 billion in damage to our people, environment and economy.

We cannot afford to let this situation, which is already alarming, grow worse.

And on this note, I would like to invite Dr. Flynn to say a few words about the health impacts of transboundary air pollution.
(Dr. Flynn speaks for approx. 2 minutes, elaborates on health aspects)

(Minister resumes)

Thank you. As you have just heard, the motive for acting now is clear.

Our government is calling on the United States Environmental Protection Agency to vigorously enforce its existing rules to protect air quality.

Instead, they are proposing to make changes that would do the opposite.

Our government strongly objects to the detrimental effect this would have on our province.

And today we have asked the EPA to reconsider its approach…

reverse its course…

and take strong and immediate action to reduce transboundary air pollution.

Shared air is a shared responsibility.

Many of our neighbours are dedicated to cutting air emissions. For example, New York and Pennsylvania have both recently taken action to reduce emissions from their power sectors.

Last year, we brought together experts from across North America to discuss how our province and neighbouring states could work together to clean up the air we share.

This June, we will host the 2006 Shared Air Summit to continue this campaign. I would like to use this opportunity to invite the political, scientific and health leaders from our neighbouring states to come to the Summit, share solutions and learn more about why Ontario is leading the fight for cleaner air and better health.

Our government is committed to building partnerships, sharing knowledge, and finding tangible cross-border solutions to sustained air quality improvement.

Notre gouvernement est résolu à nouer des partenariats, à partager ses connaissances et à trouver des solutions permettant d’améliorer la qualité de l’air de manière tangible des deux côtés de la frontière.

We urge all jurisdictions – particularly those with whom we share this airshed – to work collaboratively with us in support of this goal.

It is critical to the good health and quality of life of our citizens today – and our children tomorrow.

Thank you.

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