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House Statement

by

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

Environment Industry Day, 2006

Queen’s Park, Ontario
Toronto, ON
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

(Check against delivery)

 

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today is Environment Industry Day at Queen’s Park.

It’s a prime opportunity for each of us in this house to get up to speed about this rapidly-growing sector in Ontario — and to meet with some of the dynamic men and women who are leading its growth.

As Minister of the Environment, I am a steward of the environment for the people of Ontario. My job is to protect our air, land and water.

I’m also proud to be part of a government that is committed to leaving a cleaner, greener Ontario to our children.

Ontario’s Environment Industry is helping us realize that vision.

Speaker, it is striking to note that close to half of all the environmental businesses in Canada — as many as 2,400 companies — are based right here in Ontario.

Companies like Waterloo Biofilter Systems … a leading supplier of residential and commercial-scale wastewater treatment … and Feel Good Cars … which is developing low-speed zero-emission electric cars.

Clearly, there is a growing demand for products and services that sustain and protect our environment — here at home and around the world.

The people and businesses that make up Ontario’s environment industry are helping to answer that demand.

They are contributing to our province’s growth and future prosperity by generating close to $7 billion dollars a year in revenue … and by employing 62,000 highly-skilled and well-educated Ontarians.

We only have to look at Ontario’s Environmental Leaders — companies like Teknion, Steelcase, Cargill, Rohm and Haas, and institutions like the Trillium Health Centre — to see how environmental performance is inevitably linked to excellence.

They prove that going beyond environmental regulatory compliance can boost an organization’s results too.

Notre gouvernement compte sur l’innovation et les qualités entrepreneuriales du secteur de l’environnement pour aider l’Ontario à réaliser le programme ambitieux de protection de l’environnement.

Nous encourageons une culture d’innovation au gouvernement, et nous appuyons des solutions créatives de la part des entreprises, des établissements et des particuliers.

De plus, nous investissons dans nos gens — la ressource la plus importante de l’Ontario.

Our government counts on the innovation and entrepreneurial skills of our environmental sector to help achieve Ontario’s ambitious environmental agenda.

We are fostering a culture of innovation within government, and supporting creative solutions by businesses, institutions and individuals.

We are also investing in our people — Ontario’s most important resource.

Speaker — this is “Take Your Kids to Work” Day. It’s a great opportunity to inspire our grade nine students to reach higher and follow their own dreams for success.

These are our future innovators and entrepreneurs who will bring new environmental solutions to the world.

This government is passionate about supporting Ontario’s students — our best and our brightest. I want to congratulate all the Ontario Sci-tech award winners who brought home a total of 185 awards at this year’s Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Clearly, Ontario is a training ground for the scientists, researchers and leaders of tomorrow. They are the future success of Ontario’s environment industry.

Each year, the Ontario Environmental Association (ONEIA) partners with us in organizing this day. I’d like to recognize Alex Gill, Executive Director of the Ontario Environment Industry Association, and Jane Pagel, who chaired this year’s Environment Industry Day committee.

Speaker, a strong and vital Environment Industry in Ontario is helping us build a greener, healthier, more prosperous future … for our children and all our communities …

That’s the kind of future we all want to see.

 

Thank you, Speaker.

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