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September 27, 1996
(Environment and Labour)

 

The following is being distributed at the request of the Environment Committee of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers:

On September 25 and 26, 1996, Quebec hosted a meeting of Environment Commissioners of the New England States, Environment Ministers of the Eastern Canadian provinces and other officials from the environment departments. This ministerial level meeting of the Environment Committee, co-chaired by the Quebec Minister of Environment and Wildlife, David Cliche, and by the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Sidney Holbrook, was held under the auspices of the Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers.

The objective pursued was to establish a partnership between the New England States and Eastern Canadian provinces to improve knowledge and direct American and Canadian national strategies towards greater protection of ecosystems and human life.

At the close of the meeting, participants expressed great satisfaction at the quality of discussions, exchanges and consensus arrived at during work sessions, which greatly contributed to the attainment of their objectives. The meeting's host, Quebec Minister David Cliche, declared the meeting had been a profitable one "since the consensus reached will result in joint actions that are concrete and realistic."

A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE SITUATION AND AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

With the aim to boost cooperation, the participants agreed to increase data exchange on clearly identified problems: acid precipitation, tropospheric ozone, and contamination by toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium and particulate matter. The contaminants which raised the concern of participants are those likely to be transported across the borders of respective jurisdictions.

THE WILL TO ACT

Aware of the environmental adverse effects of deregulation in the electrical power sector, delegates discussed current and possible future actions. They promoted the adoption of measures to curb the impacts of acid precipitation and ground level ozone (smog). Even though acid precipitation has been a growing concern since the late 1970s and programs to reduce SO2 emissions have been implemented, the inevitable conclusion is that forests and lakes will continue to be impacted by acidic deposition if additional actions are not taken. Ozone has a direct effect on health, crops, vegetation and forests.

As part of the discussions, the members of the committee were made aware of the plight of the Northern Right Whale, the most threatened marine mammal species worldwide. In fact, only 300 of these whales are left roaming the waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, from Florida to Iceland. The members therefore agreed, in a joint resolution, to request that their respective governments implement measures aimed at protecting and restoring the Northern Right Whale and its habitat.

CONCLUSIONS OF MEETING

The provincial and state committee members agreed to undertake joint action in the following areas:

  • exchange and share information on the impacts of acid rain on forest health and productivity;
  • monitor the environmental effects on the Northeast Region of the deregulation of the electric power industry in the United States and consider appropriate actions for the states and provinces;
  • share data, research and strategies on dealing with the effects of such pollutants as ground-level ozone, acid rain, and mercury;
  • harmonize monitoring systems and data collection on transboundary pollution within the region.

The members have agreed to meet in early 1997, prior to the next meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. "You will all agree that there is still much to do," Minister David Cliche stated at the close of the meeting. Sidney Holbrook concluded by stating: "This meeting will have enabled us to take stock of the situation and develop common strategies that will guide our actions throughout the coming year."

Contact:

  • Kim Thomson, Information Officer
    Conference of Atlantic Premiers
    P.O. Box 2044
    Halifax, NS B3J 2Z1
    Tel: (902) 424-5905
    Fax: (902) 424-8976
1996 09 27 4:10 p.m.

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