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Notes for remarks

by

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

Ontario Recycler Workshop (Toronto)
“Launching the Shared Knowledge Network”

November 3, 2005

Good morning, everyone.

I’m pleased to join you this morning and to participate in this inaugural “Ontario Recycler Workshop.”

It’s wonderful to know that so many of you – municipal councillors, recycling managers, as well as representatives from the private sector—are attending both in person and through the on-line webcast.

And I am particularly delighted to hear that this will become a regular event.

After learning more about the projects that have been described this morning, it is clear to me that the mandate of the Effectiveness and Efficiency Fund is being well met -- and even surpassed.

This fund has created, for the first time, a great deal of important, practical work that is taking place at the grassroots, operational level. The aim, as I understand it, is to provide opportunities to explore and define best practices in all aspects of recycling. It is also intended to develop innovative and cutting edge applications that will return Ontario to the forefront of recycling diversion.

This afternoon promises to be equally informative with respect to how municipalities can optimize funding for Blue Box programs.

I believe that, as we move forward with the Blue Box Wastes component of the Act, the agreement between municipalities and stewards on “reasonable cost bands” will mutually benefit each partner.

As Minister of the Environment, I am proud to belong to a government that believes strongly in recycling and waste diversion.

As you know, our government is committed to giving municipalities the tools they need to make responsible waste management decisions. We see the three “Rs” – reduce, re-use, recycle – as integral components of managing waste in our province for years to come.

Today, you are also building resources for the future. I am impressed with the “What-If” tool which allows municipalities to examine their recycling program options and determine how to improve performance and maximize funding allocations. I think that municipal councils as well as staff will very quickly see the fiscal benefit of such a tool.

And, of course, one of the most exciting projects under the Effectiveness & Efficiency Fund is this on-line Knowledge Network, which – thanks to technology -- I am helping to launch today.

With the Knowledge Network, we’ll have instant, on-line access to best practices and leading edge information on literally dozens of the most important and timely residential recycling topics. What this resource represents is an opportunity to join in dialogue, a chance to break through common barriers and enter into a dynamic, multi-participant, real-time experience of sharing and learning.

I am delighted to be able to help officially launch the Knowledge Network today.

I commend Waste Diversion Ontario, Stewardship Ontario and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for joining forces to host this workshop and for putting together such a comprehensive agenda. All of this signals to me that by working co-operatively, we will achieve our common goal. I know all Ontarians will join me in welcoming these new initiatives.

Congratulations to everyone involved and have a great workshop.

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