Latest news with #CanadianEnvironmentalProtectionAct
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Canada advances initiatives to protect the right to a healthy environment and enhance chemicals management Français
GATINEAU, QC, July 23, 2025 /CNW/ - To protect human health and the environment for future generations, the federal government is taking decisive action. Recognizing the deep interconnection between Canadian health and the environment, these sustainable efforts will create a clean and safe environment for all. The Government of Canada is now releasing: the Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) the Plan of Priorities for chemicals management the Strategy to Replace, Reduce or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing under CEPA These publications are key requirements under the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The Implementation Framework sets out the meaning of the right to a healthy environment and provides guidance on how the Government of Canada considers this right in the administration of CEPA. The Framework provides a new lens for decision-making to support and encourage strong protection of both the environment and people who may be disproportionally impacted by pollution, now and in the future. The Plan of Priorities outlines upcoming initiatives to address chemical substances in Canada. It includes a list of substances to be assessed and elaborates on activities that support the assessment, control, and management of risks posed by substances. This Plan builds on Canada's existing strong foundation for chemicals management. Linked to the Plan of Priorities, the Strategy to Replace, Reduce or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing will help guide continued efforts toward the replacement, reduction, or refinement of vertebrate animal testing under CEPA. These initiatives work together to help protect the environment and the health of all people in Canada. Quotes "The Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under CEPA and the Plan of Priorities represent important steps forward in safeguarding the health of people in Canada and the environment. Initiatives like these will allow us to respond effectively to a changing and complex global chemical landscape and ensure that the right to a healthy environment is considered when making decisions under CEPA." – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Quick facts The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 is one of Canada's core environmental laws. On June 13, 2023, Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, received Royal Assent. This was the first set of comprehensive amendments in over 25 years to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. A right to a healthy environment in the CEPA context is recognized in the preamble of the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Canada's Chemicals Management Plan is enabled by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. This Plan helps protect human health and the environment by assessing and managing the risks posed from a wide range of substances. More than 200 risk-management instruments are already in place to manage the risks from substances determined to be harmful under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Contacts Keean Nembhard Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 343-552-2387 [email protected] Media Relations Environment and Climate Change Canada 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free) [email protected] Environment and Climate Change Canada's X page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page Environment and Climate Change Canada's LinkedIn page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Instagram page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
Auto industry says environment minister won't relent despite calls to scrap EV mandate
Article content He says while the government recognizes there is a challenge with EV sales and meeting the current targets, what remains unclear is what it intends to do next. Article content 'Minister Dabrusin and Environment Canada seem to be committed to having an (electric vehicle) mandate in place, and we continue to make the case to them that there are no changes that you could make to this mandate that will solve the current situation that we're in,' he told National Post, on a call while he attended the premiers meeting in Ontario's cottage country. Article content Any changes the government might consider would take time to implement, he said, adding that there was 'deep frustration' within the industry as it must decide how to meet the upcoming targets, with one option being to restrict sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Article content 'This is urgent,' Kingston said. 'This isn't a tomorrow problem.' Article content Article content Under the policy, companies could earn credits either by selling zero-emission vehicles, which include plug-in hybrids or ones powered by hydrogen, purchasing credits from another electric vehicle maker, or spending money on building out charging infrastructure. Article content Should they fail to meet the targets, they could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Article content 'The environment minister does not want to scrap the mandate— that was made very clear to us, and that is extremely problematic for the industry. That option cannot be off the table. It is the most effective and fastest way to address this current problem,' Kingston said. Article content In a statement, a spokesperson for Dabrusin said the policy was implemented to give Canadians access 'to affordable zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change with Canadian innovation.' Article content Article content 'The standard is currently in place, and we are continuing to meaningfully engage with industry and explore flexibility to make sure that our measures reflect (the) times we are in,' spokesperson Jenna Ghassabeh wrote. Article content Flavio Vlope, president of the Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers, who was also at the premiers' gathering, said he had spoken to around half a dozen ministers regarding the mandate and that the government was consulting 'heavily' with industry. Article content With the environment minister not appearing to entertain the question of scrapping the targets, he said the 'pressure is on' Dabrusin's department to make them 'mean something.' Article content 'Because right now, all they mean is a setup for failure,' he said. Article content 'There are lots of ways to help the industry here move along the immutable march to electrification, but as currently configured, all it does is punish them, and nobody needs religion right now.'
Edmonton Journal
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Edmonton Journal
Auto industry says environment minister won't relent despite calls to scrap EV mandate
Article content He says while the government recognizes there is a challenge with EV sales and meeting the current targets, what remains unclear is what it intends to do next. Article content 'Minister Dabrusin and Environment Canada seem to be committed to having an (electric vehicle) mandate in place, and we continue to make the case to them that there are no changes that you could make to this mandate that will solve the current situation that we're in,' he told National Post, on a call while he attended the premiers meeting in Ontario's cottage country. Article content Any changes the government might consider would take time to implement, he said, adding that there was 'deep frustration' within the industry as it must decide how to meet the upcoming targets, with one option being to restrict sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Article content 'This is urgent,' Kingston said. 'This isn't a tomorrow problem.' Article content Article content Under the policy, companies could earn credits either by selling zero-emission vehicles, which include plug-in hybrids or ones powered by hydrogen, purchasing credits from another electric vehicle maker, or spending money on building out charging infrastructure. Article content Should they fail to meet the targets, they could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Article content 'The environment minister does not want to scrap the mandate— that was made very clear to us, and that is extremely problematic for the industry. That option cannot be off the table. It is the most effective and fastest way to address this current problem,' Kingston said. Article content In a statement, a spokesperson for Dabrusin said the policy was implemented to give Canadians access 'to affordable zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change with Canadian innovation.' Article content Article content 'The standard is currently in place, and we are continuing to meaningfully engage with industry and explore flexibility to make sure that our measures reflect (the) times we are in,' spokesperson Jenna Ghassabeh wrote. Article content Flavio Vlope, president of the Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers, who was also at the premiers' gathering, said he had spoken to around half a dozen ministers regarding the mandate and that the government was consulting 'heavily' with industry. Article content With the environment minister not appearing to entertain the question of scrapping the targets, he said the 'pressure is on' Dabrusin's department to make them 'mean something.' Article content 'Because right now, all they mean is a setup for failure,' he said. Article content 'There are lots of ways to help the industry here move along the immutable march to electrification, but as currently configured, all it does is punish them, and nobody needs religion right now.'
Edmonton Journal
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Edmonton Journal
Electric vehicle mandate risks being next carbon tax without 'adjustments,' EV industry warns
Article content OTTAWA — The head of a national association representing the electric transportation industry says the federal government, and provinces with a zero-emission vehicle sales mandate, should make 'short-term adjustments' to their programs at the risk of the policy going the way of the now-cancelled consumer carbon tax. Electric Mobility Canada President Daniel Breton's comments come as auto-makers and others in the industry express a fresh round of concerns about the Liberals' sales mandate, which has set a target of reaching 100-per-cent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, beginning with initial targets of hitting 60 per cent by 2030 and at least 20 per cent by 2026. Article content 'We believe that B.C, Quebec, and the federal government should make short-term adjustments, because between now and 2030 we don't know yet what's going to happen south of the border. We don't know yet what's going to happen between Canada and the U.S.,' Breton told National Post in an interview Thursday. 'Lowering the targets between now and 2030 would be a reasonable path.' With Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ratcheting up his efforts in demanding that the mandate be scrapped, arguing it removes 'choice' from consumers, Breton, a former Quebec environment minister, says the risk of not making short-term adjustments at the federal level is that, 'this is going to become a political hot potato.' 'Like the carbon tax was.' The consumer carbon tax was a signature climate policy of the Liberals until March, when Prime Minister Mark Carney cancelled it, saying it had become 'too divisive.' That followed a years-long campaign by Poilievre, who criss-crossed the country, promising to 'axe the tax,' blaming it for forcing consumers to pay additional costs amid a cost-of-living crisis. Article content Breton, whose association represents 180 members in the electric transportation industry, including those who sell electric cars, says 'we have to find a pathway' that will allow people and those in the traditional automotive industry to buy credits and 'ease into this regulation.' A credit system is at the heart of the federal policy, which the Liberals finalized in 2023 as part of their plan to reduce Canada's overall greenhouse gas emissions, taking aim at the transportation sector, one of the top emitters. The government says manufacturers can earn credits by either selling or making zero-emission vehicles, which Ottawa defines as either a battery-powered vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, or by purchasing credits from an electric vehicle maker, or putting money towards building out charging infrastructure. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Article content While manufacturers have long expressed opposition to the government mandating the sale of electric vehicles, Ford Canada CEO Bev Goodman recently called for the regulation to be scrapped in light of falling sales of these vehicles. Back in March, Statistics Canada reported a nearly 45-per-cent drop in the sale of new zero-emission vehicles from the same month the year before. The agency reported in April that the sales of these vehicles fell to around 7.6 per cent. Leading automotive associations have pointed to these decreases as evidence that hitting the 20 per cent sales target is unrealistic and creates additional burden on Canada's auto-sector at a time when it is dealing with a trade war with the U.S., which under President Donald Trump has dropped the electrification goals introduced by former president Joe Biden. A spokesperson for Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli called on the federal government to respond to the concerns from automakers. Article content 'We are meeting regularly with auto companies, industry leaders, and workers as they navigate unprecedented global economic uncertainty,' wrote Jennifer Cunliffe. 'We need the federal government to do the same and address the concerns raised by industry partners about the impact that their net-zero vehicle mandates will have on investment, jobs, and supply chains.' Breton attributes the 'crash' in electric vehicle sales to the way the federal government suddenly ended the $5,000 rebate program for consumers in January, which it first introduced in 2019. He said the way Ottawa did so was the 'worst-case scenario' as compared to phasing it out more slowly and decreasing the value over time. What made matters worse, he says, was that at the same time, Quebec, which has its own zero-emission sales mandate, paused its rebate, which it has since reintroduced. Article content Since doing so, he says, Quebec dealers have been telling him sales have been going back up. A presentation to industry by B.C.'s Energy Ministry, which was obtained by reporters, also showed the province was considering changes to its own program amid falling sales. The Liberals campaigned on reintroducing the federal rebate, which Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin's office confirmed it was working on, but has not stipulated when it will be announced. Breton said people are now waiting to see when the federal rebate will return before purchasing an electric vehicle. 'In the past two weeks, I've been getting phone calls from dealers that I know who told me, 'well, (electric vehicle) sales are stopping again because people are waiting for the federal rebate to come back.'' Breton says if it were up to him, the country would reach its overall target of having 100-per-cent new vehicle sales be zero-emission but 2030, 'but it's not me.' Article content He declined to speculate on what lower targets should be, saying he wants to have further discussions with the government and industry. 'We have to make sure that people see a reasonable pathway, meaning some kind of compromise between some traditional automakers' issues or challenges,' he said. 'But also we need enough market certainty so that private companies will see that as more electric cars come to market, we will need more infrastructure, and then those companies want to invest in infrastructure charging.' In a recent interview, Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association, said the government has the option of either abandoning its mandate or taking a look at the policy to 'have them reflect reality.' He said the government will have to adjust its program. 'Sure, you should have stretch goals, but stretch goals might be 10-per-cent (by 2026) or you can stick to what you think your ultimate goal is, 100-per-cent by 2035, and the first compliance date out to 2028.' -With files from The Canadian Press Latest National Stories
Cision Canada
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
We don't have to tear down nature to 'Build Canada'
TORONTO, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The federal government's proposed Build Canada Act, a plan to fast-track "nation-building" development projects, from critical minerals mines and oil and gas pipelines to habitat-fragmenting highways and Arctic deep-water ports, risks damaging the nature that is at the core of Canada's economy and identity — threatening the wealth of the nation it is supposed to defend. World Wildlife Fund Canada is deeply concerned about the bill, which would allow Cabinet to override key environmental protections, such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, for projects deemed in the national interest. We are also concerned that this legislation could undermine the federal government's obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), including the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Development decisions that bypass Indigenous consultation risk perpetuating the very harms that reconciliation is meant to address. Canada is already falling behind on its biodiversity commitments. It has yet to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, adopted in 2010, and recently agreed to new targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Meanwhile, the data tell a troubling story: populations of species listed as at risk nationally by COSEWIC have declined by 59 per cent on average from 1970 to 2016. Species of global conservation concern — those assessed as "threatened" on the IUCN Red List — have declined by 42 per cent on average in Canada over the same time period. We understand the need to build infrastructure and support economic growth, particularly considering uncertain geopolitical times. But nature must be part of that future, not a casualty of it. Our wetlands, forests and grasslands are not obstacles — they are assets. They store carbon, filter water, and act as natural firebreaks. Undermining the laws that protect them risks repeating the mistakes of the past, when unchecked development led to widespread habitat loss, degraded water systems, and long-term costs to both people and wildlife. If we've learned anything from recent years of wildfire smoke-filled skies, mega storms and floods, it's that a healthy environment isn't a luxury, it's a line of defence. Now is the time to invest in nature-based solutions, creating conservation economies that strengthen communities, create jobs and help safeguard us from the impacts of climate change. We urge Parliament to take a more balanced path, one that ensures development does not come at the expense of the nature that defines and protects us. About World Wildlife Fund Canada WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information visit
