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Remarks for:

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

Shared Air Summit 2006
Morning keynote – after John Kerry address via satellite

June 26, 2006

(Check against delivery)

Senator Kerry, on behalf of all of us here at the summit, I want to thank you for joining us today.

It’s inspiring to hear of the obvious deep personal commitment you have to making our planet greener and healthier. 

Clearly, we share many of the same challenges on both sides of the border, so it’s very interesting to hear your perspective on these issues.  It’s also encouraging to learn about the progress that’s being made by our like-minded friends and neighbours in the United States.

The very nature of transboundary air pollution means that any initiative to fight it demands partnership.

On a typical bad air day more than 50 per cent of the smog hovering over Ontario originates in the U.S. Midwest and the Ohio Valley.

But because of the prevailing winds, Ontario can also be contributing to smog over New York State, New Hampshire, Vermont, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

In short: we’re all in this together.

That’s why I am really encouraged to see such determination on both sides of the border to find solutions and to collaboratively improve our shared air. 

Our neighbours in the U.S. are just as serious as we are about tackling the critical issues of air pollution and climate change.  

The U.S. is introducing new regulations through the Clean Air Interstate rule (CAIR) that would result in reductions of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide by 70 per cent and 60 per respectively by 2020.  It’s also introducing regulations on mercury and on the sulphur content of diesel fuel.

In New York State they are making progress on air quality standards and mercury emissions.  Wisconsin is working on investing in renewable forms of energy.  Those examples are just two from our own airshed.  The State of California has long been setting the pace on air pollution, emission controls and energy conservation.

Just as air pollution knows no jurisdictional boundaries, our partnerships too span borders. 

Last month, I went to Washington at the request of New York State’s Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to join with several other states in the fight to uphold a court decision that would help protect our shared air.

Many different voices, both American and Canadian, are speaking up to ensure Duke Energy’s six coal-fired plants — which are some of the largest emitters of air pollution in the U.S. — are equipped with modern pollution control technology.

I can tell you that Ontario is a fervent party to this protest.

We will always find ways to cooperate when we can cooperate.

But we will challenge when we believe we need to challenge.

The success of our approach to air pollution and global warming will depend, I believe,  on people taking action and demanding action.

And we are making progress.

The very fact that we’re all here today, from different jurisdictions, from different interests and organizations, all committed to clean air — is evidence of that.

Pour relever les défis posés par la pollution de l’air et le réchauffement climatique, il faut que les gens agissent et exigent des actions concrètes.

Nous faisons des progrès.

Le fait que nous soyons tous et toutes réunis ici aujourd’hui, en provenance de diverses compétences et divers secteurs et organisations, tous résolus à combattre la pollution de l’air – le prouve.

Over the past year, our government has battled air pollution and smog on several fronts.  

We’ve set new and updated standards for 40 harmful air pollutants and set strict limits on seven industrial sectors to reduce smog-causing emissions.

This marks the strongest stand on air pollution taken by any government in our province in 25 years.  Ontario now has some of the strictest air emissions laws in North America.

We’re working to preserve green space and curb urban sprawl in this province.  By limiting sprawl, people will be able to spend more time in their communities with family and friends and less time in their cars commuting great distances to go to work or to school.

Making our cities more green and livable, the quality of our air and the quality of our lives will be that much better.

As you just heard the Premier say, we’re investing billions of dollars in public transit, which means ─ 

Toronto’s subway system will be extended into York Region …

Brampton will be able to build its AcceleRide project …

Ottawa will expand its O-Train light rail system …

Our commitment to transit includes cleaner vehicles — and a few months ago I was on hand as the TTC unveiled its brand new fleet of 150 hybrid buses.

By strengthening transit systems all across Ontario we’re giving people more options for travel and greater impetus to leave their cars at home.

And that’s how we make change happen.  By giving people the opportunity to make the right choice for our environment.
 
Speaking of right choices, we are committed to closing the coal-fired plants in this province – that is the right choice. The Premier has spoken eloquently about this. I share his passion …

We have introduced a regulation that requires all gasoline in our province to contain five per cent ethanol, on average, beginning in 2007.  This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 800,000 tonnes, and as you just heard from Premier McGuinty, that’s like taking 200,000 cars off the road.

Our Drive Clean program now focuses on older cars that are more likely to pollute.

We’ve exempted hybrids from Drive Clean testing and offer owners of qualified hybrids a $2,000 tax break.

Today, I’m pleased to tell you of further steps our government is taking to reduce greenhouse gases that lead to climate change and help combat smog and air pollution.

We will actively pursue a dialogue with our neighbouring jurisdictions in Canada and the Northeast US to explore joint efforts to tackle climate change.

We will expand our air scientific and policy network to include leading edge researchers in Ontario’s university network

I myself will work with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health to build working partnerships between health professionals and the health community across both sides of our shared borders. We must address the health impacts of air pollution.

We will take our air agreements with our neighbouring jurisdictions such as Michigan and New York to the next step, developing pacts to address airshed-wide smog and air pollution issues.

And today, the provinces of Ontario and Quebec will sign an important agreement pledging to work together to find solutions to air quality and environmental issues in Eastern Canada. This five-year agreement marks the beginning of a formal information exchange and joint cooperation protocol between our provinces on transboundary pollution issues.
Et j’aimerai ajouter que je suis tres fiere d’etre la ministre qui va signer cette entente…

Our government is taking positive and progressive steps to clean our air.

But we know there’s no magic bullet.  The critical issues of air pollution, smog and climate change are not going to be solved quickly. 

Like many problems — finding a solution requires a great deal of work.

And it requires that people — from policy-makers to corporate citizens to you, your parents, your children, your friends and neighbours — all recognize the need to make changes.

Some of these changes will require a whole new perspective.

They will require rethinking how we live, how we plan and build our communities, how we protect greenspace for the future.

We are on the right path.  We’re moving forward with passion and with purpose.

We are working with all our partners to make the changes that need to happen … that must happen … to ensure we get where we need to be.

To improve the air we breathe … to build stronger, healthier communities … and make the future better for us all.

Thank you.

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