Clean Air Day and Canadian Environment Week

June 02, 2010

OTTAWA, Ont. - Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, today issued the following statement to mark the Canadian Environment Week (May 30 to June 5, 2010) as well as the Clean Air Day.

"Canadians take great pride in the natural beauty of this country. This week is an ideal opportunity to celebrate Canada's natural heritage. Yet with privilege comes responsibility and we must also ensure that we can take as much pride in our efforts to preserve our great land as we take in the land itself.

"Our Government is taking a leadership role in balancing stewardship of Canada's economy with protection of Canada's environment. Over the last six months, we started the work to expand the national parks system in Labrador, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. We have forged important partnerships with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and with Ducks Unlimited to protect wilderness habitats and wetlands. We are protecting vulnerable arctic wildlife through a new agreement with Greenland. And to help ensure out waters remain as unpolluted as possible, we are developing the first-ever national guidelines to prevent untreated waste from being dumped directly into our rivers, lakes and oceans.

"We are also working to combat climate change and safeguard Canada's air quality. Action on this includes harmonization of greenhouse gas emission standards with the United States, such as our tough new emission regulations for passenger cars and trucks and similar regulations for heavy trucks are also in the works. Of course, there is more to do and our Government will continue acting to deliver on our national and global commitments on climate change.

"While our Government continues working to ensure that future generations of Canadians can also enjoy Canada's natural environment, the real momentum behind such measures comes from individuals and the choices Canadians make every day. And if you need inspiration, you don't have to go far to visit one of our 42 national parks."