Environment and Conservation A Green Investment: Budget 2009 Invests in the Environment Protecting the environment remains a priority for the Williams Government, and Budget 2009 has made significant investments to ensure that the environmental footprint on the province is limited. Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, assess environmental impacts, and support climate change adaptation efforts are part of the Provincial Government�s ongoing focus on the sustainability of Newfoundland and Labrador. "Adopting sustainable principles is fundamental to good environmental management," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "We recognize the need for development that meets the needs of the current generation, without compromising the ability of our future generations to meet their needs. What we do today will build a better environment and a brighter future for our children, and we are making every effort to be a green, environmentally-responsible government." Respecting the province�s natural heritage and building upon existing environmental initiatives, Budget 2009 outlines support for remediation of contaminated sites in the province, development of mechanisms and standards to deal with climate change impacts, assessment of large-scale projects and abandoned mines, programs to promote energy efficiency, and a number of other efforts aimed at sustaining the environment and maintaining healthy ecosystems. "It is imperative that we recognize that our natural environment is one of our most important economic assets," said Minister Johnson. "We are working diligently to reduce the adverse impacts of our activities on climate change and the environment overall, so as to safeguard and improve the health of our province�s ecosystems. We are making sound management decisions that will assist us with our conservation and protection agenda." Protecting the Environment "With our abundance of clean energy resources, the province is well positioned to pursue sustainable resource developments that reduce our environmental footprint," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources. "These developments will not only create significant opportunities in our communities, but will establish us as environmental leaders in a world hungry for clean energy." Advancing the Provincial Waste Management Strategy "We are committed to an aggressive, long-term waste management solution that will benefit our environment, our communities and our future generations," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "When the strategy is completed, the number of landfill sites will be greatly reduced, we will divert more of the waste actually going for disposal and our waste management sites will meet modern standards." Budget 2009 will invest $9.5 million to advance the Provincial Waste Management Strategy with the following investments: The Provincial Government has committed to advancing the strategy with full province-wide modern waste management implementation by 2020. It aims to reduce the number of landfill sites and the amount of waste going into landfills in the province by 50 per cent, supported by the use of disposal bans and development of new waste diversion programs. Commitment to Safe, Clean Drinking Water The Provincial Government will continue its commitment to quality drinking water in the province in 2009-10 with an investment of $7 million in the Departments of Environment and Conservation, and Municipal Affairs for the Drinking Water Safety Initiative. This includes $6 million for infrastructure to provide clean, safe drinking water, including potable water dispensing systems. This infrastructure investment is part of the Provincial Government�s $800 million infrastructure package announced on February 18. Energy Efficient Alternatives Budget 2009 also includes a number of initiatives totalling $5.8 million aimed at making homes and buildings in the province more energy efficient, including a continued focus on health and education infrastructure. "The creation of a culture of conservation in Newfoundland and Labrador is an important factor in helping us achieve our environmental goals," said Minister Johnson. "As a government, we are also working toward greener alternatives and energy efficient options that will help us achieve our aim." "Our investment in the environment speaks to our dedication to a clean, green, sustainable future in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Johnson. "Conservation efforts and a long-term plan for the protection of our province are vital and are overarching principles in all of our decision-making. We owe it to the people of the province to develop good policies and programs that reflect our level of commitment to the environment, and this budget speaks to that level of commitment." Additional environmental investments in Budget 2009 include: - 30 - Media contacts:
2009 03 26 2:10 p.m. |
|
All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server. Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement |