Infrastructure Canada failing...funding new projects
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:03 pmEnvironment Commissioner reveals Infrastructure Canada failing to consider extreme weather when funding new projects
[ https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-rele ... g-consider ]
May 31, 2016
(OTTAWA) - The Green Party of Canada notes today’s alarming report from the federal Environmental Commissioner that shows Infrastructure Canada is failing to consider the environmental and financial risks of severe weather when funding new projects. [ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41399.html ]
“Increasing severe weather events like extreme rainfall, storms and flooding should be factored into all new major infrastructure spending. Instead, Commissioner Gelfand’s report shows the federal government is downloading the future cost of climate change onto municipalities, who are left to pick up the pieces when extreme weather hits,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
“New public infrastructure projects should be designed to minimize environmental effects and withstand the impacts of future weather events. It’s also disturbing that the Gas Tax Fund has paid out $13 billion to municipalities since 2005, but there are no measurements to show this spending actually resulted in cleaner air and water or in lower greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms. May said.
“I urge Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi to act swiftly to ensure billions of taxpayer dollars aren’t being spent on projects that can’t withstand severe weather events linked to climate change,” Ms. May concluded.
The Environmental Commissioner’s audit also showed Health Canada does not regularly test cosmetic products to verify the accuracy of product labels or check to see if they contain heavy metals or contaminants.
“Canadians rely on Health Canada to keep harmful chemicals out of our cosmetics, but Commissioner Gelfand has revealed loopholes that let toxic substances slip through under the label of ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum,’” said Daniel Green, Green Party Health Critic. “These hazardous, harmful chemicals need to be stopped at the source and banned. I call on Health Minister Jane Philpott to act on this alarming audit to ensure Canadian consumers are protected.” - 30 -
For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Dan Palmer
Press Secretary | Attaché de presse
dan.palmer@greenparty.ca
m: (613) 614-4916
= = = = =
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development releases 2016 Spring Reports
[ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41399.html ]
Ottawa, 31 May 2016—In her 2016 Spring Reports tabled today in Parliament, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Julie Gelfand, presents the results of three audits completed since last winter. The Commissioner’s Perspective is also included in the 2016 Spring Reports.
These reports focused on federal programs that are intended to support the sustainability of Canadian communities, on what the federal government is doing to support long-term efforts to mitigate the effects of severe weather, and on how Health Canada manages risks to human health and safety posed by chemical substances used in cosmetics and household consumer products.
“Whether it’s about consumers deciding which product to buy or municipal planners determining where to build hospitals and schools, the federal government directly and indirectly provides many different stakeholders with funding, programs and tools to support them in the decisions they must make,“ said Ms. Gelfand.
“With significant and ongoing investments in infrastructure across the country, resilience means a focus not just on building or rebuilding, but on building and rebuilding better. When resiliency is built into infrastructure, it is built into communities,” added Ms. Gelfand.
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development will be holding a news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at 11:30 a.m. - 30 -
The 2016 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development are available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site: [ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41373.html ]
For more information, please click here:
[ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... _e_45.html ]
[ https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-rele ... g-consider ]
May 31, 2016
(OTTAWA) - The Green Party of Canada notes today’s alarming report from the federal Environmental Commissioner that shows Infrastructure Canada is failing to consider the environmental and financial risks of severe weather when funding new projects. [ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41399.html ]
“Increasing severe weather events like extreme rainfall, storms and flooding should be factored into all new major infrastructure spending. Instead, Commissioner Gelfand’s report shows the federal government is downloading the future cost of climate change onto municipalities, who are left to pick up the pieces when extreme weather hits,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
“New public infrastructure projects should be designed to minimize environmental effects and withstand the impacts of future weather events. It’s also disturbing that the Gas Tax Fund has paid out $13 billion to municipalities since 2005, but there are no measurements to show this spending actually resulted in cleaner air and water or in lower greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms. May said.
“I urge Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi to act swiftly to ensure billions of taxpayer dollars aren’t being spent on projects that can’t withstand severe weather events linked to climate change,” Ms. May concluded.
The Environmental Commissioner’s audit also showed Health Canada does not regularly test cosmetic products to verify the accuracy of product labels or check to see if they contain heavy metals or contaminants.
“Canadians rely on Health Canada to keep harmful chemicals out of our cosmetics, but Commissioner Gelfand has revealed loopholes that let toxic substances slip through under the label of ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum,’” said Daniel Green, Green Party Health Critic. “These hazardous, harmful chemicals need to be stopped at the source and banned. I call on Health Minister Jane Philpott to act on this alarming audit to ensure Canadian consumers are protected.” - 30 -
For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Dan Palmer
Press Secretary | Attaché de presse
dan.palmer@greenparty.ca
m: (613) 614-4916
= = = = =
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development releases 2016 Spring Reports
[ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41399.html ]
Ottawa, 31 May 2016—In her 2016 Spring Reports tabled today in Parliament, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Julie Gelfand, presents the results of three audits completed since last winter. The Commissioner’s Perspective is also included in the 2016 Spring Reports.
These reports focused on federal programs that are intended to support the sustainability of Canadian communities, on what the federal government is doing to support long-term efforts to mitigate the effects of severe weather, and on how Health Canada manages risks to human health and safety posed by chemical substances used in cosmetics and household consumer products.
“Whether it’s about consumers deciding which product to buy or municipal planners determining where to build hospitals and schools, the federal government directly and indirectly provides many different stakeholders with funding, programs and tools to support them in the decisions they must make,“ said Ms. Gelfand.
“With significant and ongoing investments in infrastructure across the country, resilience means a focus not just on building or rebuilding, but on building and rebuilding better. When resiliency is built into infrastructure, it is built into communities,” added Ms. Gelfand.
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development will be holding a news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa at 11:30 a.m. - 30 -
The 2016 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development are available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site: [ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... 41373.html ]
For more information, please click here:
[ http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Engli ... _e_45.html ]