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Notes for remarks

by

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

York University Gala Dinner (Toronto)
“The Entrepreneurial Spirit and the Environment - What’s Good for the Environment is Good for Business”

York University
Toronto, ON
Thursday, September 22, 2005

(Check Against Delivery)

Thanks very much, Ron. (Minister introduced by Dr. Ron Dembo)

I feel privileged to follow you on the podium – your environmental commitment with Zero Footprint and your vision for a sustainable future is nothing short of inspiring.

I think we’d all agree that when a person like Ron dedicates his entrepreneurial genius and business acumen to bringing together forward-thinking companies and environmentally aware consumers, we all benefit.

I want to thank our sponsors, as well as Professor David Wheeler and our hosts from York University.

And I’m happy to convey to you the best of wishes of our Premier, Dalton McGuinty, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability.

York has a well-deserved reputation for excellence with its environmental studies program so it’s no surprise that York would also pioneer a business and sustainability program.

In a few minutes you’ll hear from Clive Mather.

People like Clive and Ron Dembo are providing the leadership we need to face our most important challenge – protecting the environment and health of our children, families and communities for today and for generations to come.

They are showing us how sustainable development will lead to a prosperous future without sacrificing our precious air, water and land.

Les personnes comme Clive Mather et Ron Dembo donnent le leadership dont nous avons besoin pour relever le défi le plus important – protéger l’environnement et la santé de nos enfants, des familles et des collectivités aujourd’hui et demain.

Ils nous montrent comment le développement durable mène à la prospérité sans que nous ayons à sacrifier nos précieuses ressources que sont l’air, l’eau et les sols.

When it comes to linking business and the environment, we share a common understanding. You and I both know that government cannot do it alone.

As business leaders seek the competitive advantage for tomorrow. You also understand that your shareholders and business partners, your mentors and customers, your students and my constituents are all the same – Ontarians who deserve nothing less than a future with clean air and clean water.

And you are the people who can put progress into perspective. It requires a broad vision that transcends the narrow focus on short-term profits.

“Build it and they will come”: this is the mantra – and it resonates. People like Clive Mather and Ron Demby are effectively telling companies: ‘if you build your operations on a good business plan that incorporates sustainability, profits will come.’

Our goals are the same. What is good for the environment is also good for business.

New technologies can reduce costs and improve efficiency at the same time as they reduce emissions and waste.

Market-based solutions like emissions trading will favour dynamic, innovative companies over those that stick to the status quo. This dynamic will lead to cleaner air and healthier communities for all of us.

Because at the end of the day we all want to end up in the same place: clean, competitive industries in thriving communities with a high quality of life. And as a result, our planning and our solutions should go hand in hand.

I have been given a mandate by Premier McGuinty: To strengthen our province and improve the health of our people for a strong and prosperous future.

The actions we take to protect the environment are actions to ensure the health, safety and sustainability of our communities…today and for future generations.

We have set tough, new standards for 40 air toxins, the single biggest move on this file in 25 years.

We have capped the largest industrial sources of smog causing emissions.

We are rejuvenating our energy system by phasing out the coal plants and replacing them with energy conservation and cleaner, greener sources.

We are protecting 1.8 million acres of important land through the Greenbelt, a strike against urban sprawl.

And by investing in public transit, giving people a real choice about transportation.

This is great news for our children, our seniors and others who are most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

Future generations will also benefit from the strong safeguards we are developing to protect Ontario’s drinking water from the source to the tap. Later this fall, I’ll introduce legislation that will make those safeguards law. It will give Ontario some of the best protected water in North America.

I’m very encouraged by the high level work being done by Ron Dembo, Clive Mathers and so many others from the business world.

You are helping to create a business culture of social responsibility that can serve as a model for us all.

Here’s to a sustainable future for the great province of Ontario.

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