Table Of Content

-^^t 'p/B/^ OS MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT 2001-2002 Business Plan Ontario As Ministerofthe Environment, Iampleased tosharewith you our2001-2002 businessplan. Itoutlinesthe ministry's achievementsoverthepastyearandourcommitmentsand targets forthecomingyear,to furtherstrengthenthehealthof ourenvironmentandourcommunities. OnFebruar>' 7 ofthisyear, whentheOntarioGovernment accepted thereport fromValerieGibbonsentitledManaging theEnvironment:A ReviewofBestPractices, itsignalleda shifttowardanewand forward-lookingvisionforprotecting Hon. Elizabeth Witmer theenvironment. Wewillbuild strongerpartnerships,bothacrossministriesandwiththebusinesses, communit>'groupsandcitizenswhomakeconser\'ationandpollutionpreventionadaily concern. We will inviteparticipation ineverystageofenvironmentalprotection, from planningandmanagementtomonitoringand enforcement. Whileourstrategicapproachtomanagingtheenvironmentcontinuestoevolve,our primaryconcernremainsthe same: protectingourair,water, landandthehealthofour citizens. Inthecomingyear,weproposetomodernizeand strengthenthe lawsthat protectthequalit>'ofourenvironment. ImprovingOntario's airqualit)'and meetingourcommitmentsto reduceemissions will continuetobeamajorfocus. We willbuildonthecomprehensi\eenvironmental protection frameworkthatweproposed forOntario's electricitymarketandwill moveto make additional sectorspartofourAirQualityandClimateChange Strategy. Inthepastyear, we haveworkedhardtoensurethatOntario'sdrinkingwateristhebest and safestdrinkingwaterinCanada. WewillcontinueOperationCleanWaterandmove forwardona comprehensive strategytoprotectOntario'sgroundwater. Wewillworkto increasetheamountofwastediverted from landfillsanddevelopa frameworkfor cleaningupcontaminated lands. Asournewvisionofenvironmental managementtakes shape,wewillrelyon contributionsfromallOntarianstomakethischallengingtransitionasuccess. TheHonourable ElizabethWitmer MinisteroftheEnvironment BusinessPlan 2001-2002 Ministryofthe Environment Ministry Vision OurvisionisanOntariowherehuman heahh,ecosystems, recreation,commerceand industryaresustainedbyclean air, waterand land. To fulfil thisvision,theministrysetsclearpolicies, standardsandrulestoprotectthe environmentandtoencourageconservationactivities. Alongwith monitoringthe environmentandenforcingtheserules, the ministry looksforinnovativeapproachesto complement legislationandregulations. These includeworkingwithcommunities, industriesandorganizationstowards finding flexible,practical,cost-effectivewaysto strengthenenvironmental protectionandconservationefforts. Inthe fiature,wewillbroadenenvironmental responsibility acrossall ministriesand beyond, toinvolvecommunitygroups,businesses,academics,andthepublic,all withina climateoiopenness, accountabilityandcontinuousimprovement. Ahealthy,naturalenvironmentis vital tothewell-beingofourfamilies. Wecontinueto playan importantrole inmakingthisprovinceoneofthebestjurisdictions inNorth Americainwhich tolive,workandraisea familybyprovidingbetter, strongerand clearerenvironmentalprotection. WeinviteallOntarioresidents,communityrepresentatives,expertsandconcerned citizenstojoinusinshapingandrealizingabold,new21"centuryvisionof environmental healthand safety. Business Plan2001-2002 Ministryofthe Environment Core Businesses Environmental Protection TheministiTisi?i thebusinessofsafeguardingourenvironmentbyworkingtoensure cleanerair. waterandland, andhealthierecosystemsforthehealth andwelfareofall Ontarians. GuidedbytheManagingtheEnvironmentReport, wewill move forwardwithanew visionthatwillenabletheMinistryofthe Environmenttocarryoutitscorebusinessof environmentalprotectionmoreeffectively. Westartfromastrongfoundationofclear laws, stringentregulationsandtough standards. Buildingonthisfoundation,wewill encourageallpolluterstomovebeyondwhatisrequiredby law, adoptinganethic of continuousimprovement. Workingwithstakeholders, theministrywilldevelopa full set ofregulator)'andnon-regulatorytoolsand incentivestoensureeffectiveenvironmental protection inthe21"century. Conservation and Stewardship Theministiyisalso in thebusinessofencouragingandprovidingguidanceon environmentallysustainableuseofwater, landandresources. Thismeansmaximizing efficientuseofresourcematerialsandbecomingbetterstewardsoftheenvironment. The recommendationscontained intheManagingtheEnvironment reportconfirmand enhancethe importanceofthe ministr\''s roleasachampion ofconservationand stewardship. Raisingenvironmental awarenessand instillingaprovince-wideethicof continuousimprovement, pollutionpreventionand resourceconservation is ftindamental toeffectivemanagementoftheenvironment. Theministry willputrenewedemphasison beingoneoftheleadersinthemonitoringanddisseminationofenvironmental informationandknowledge,butalsoreachouttoall levelsofgovernment, to industry, municipalities, communities, organizations, universitiesand individualsthroughabroad rangeofenvironmental partnerships. Morethanever,wecanreducepollutantsand waste, saveenergyandconserveresourcesbyworkingtogether. BusinessPlan2001-2002 Ministr>'ofthe Environment Annual Report on Key Achievements for 2000-2001 Protecting Air Quality TheOntariogovernmenthasdevelopedoneofNorthAmerica'smostcomprehensive strategiesto fight smogandotherformsofairpollution. Although morethanhalfof Ontario'ssmogdriftsovertheborder from the United States,theprovincehastaken strongactionathometoreduceemissions from itsownsources. Real progresswasmade thispastyearandmoreactionsareon theway. Theministryannouncedtoughnew measures, targeteddirectlyatsmog, acidrainand climatechange,tostrengthenouralreadyaggressivecampaignto improveairquality in OntarioandmeetourcommitmentsundertheAnti-SmogAction Plan (ASAP). ASAP's target is toreducesmog-causingemissionsby45 percent(from 1990baseyear)by2015. InMay2000, thegovernmentplaceda moratorium onthe saleofall coal-firedelectricity plantswhileit reviewedenvironmental protectionmeasures. The review,completed in thespringof2001,proposeda frameworkofactionsthatwillallowthegovernment to lift themoratorium. Proposedactions includestrictemissionslimits forthesix fossil-fuel plantscurrently ownedbyOntario PowerGeneration. When fully implemented in 2007, thecurrent limit onsmog-causingnitrogeno.xides would bereducedby 53 percent,while thecaponacid rain-causingsulphurdioxide wouldbecutby 25 percent. Theproposed capswouldbe extended toall electricitygenerators intheprovinceby2004. Theministryalsoproposed aregulation requiringtheLakeviewGenerating Station in Mississaugatoceaseburning coalbyApril 2005. Adiscussionpaperwasreleasedonemissionsreductiontrading-an innovativeprogram thatwouldmakepolluterspay,whilerewardingbusinessesthatareabletoreducetheirair emissions. Theministrywill use the feedbackgeneratedbythediscussionpaperfor developingaregulationthatwouldgovernOntario'ssystemofemissionsreduction trading. Theproposedsystem would includespecial safeguardstoverifyandmonitor tradesinanopen,transparentmarket. InMay2000, aregulationwas implementedrequiringtheelectricitysectortomonitorand publiclyreporton 28 substances, includingkeysmog,acidrainandclimatechange causingpollutants. Thisregulation(Ontario Regulation 129/01)wasexpandedon May2, 2001 toincludeatotal of358 airpollutants, andnowcoversotherlarge industrial facilities- suchas ironand steel manufacturersandpetroleumrefiners. Ontario isthe firstjurisdiction intheworldtorequiremonitoringandreportingofthe full suiteof Business Plan2001-2002 Ministryofthe Environment Annual Report on Key Achievements for 2000-2001 (cont'd) greenhousegases. Morethan halfofoursmogoriginates from U.S. sources. TheOntarioGovernment continuedasan interxenorbeforetheU.S. SupremeCourttosupporttheU.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency(USEPA)transboundarysmogrule. Ontariowelcomed theU.S. SupremeCourt'srecentdecisiontoupholdtherule. Thepeopleofthisprovince canexpect tobenefit from cleanerairasaresult. InJanuan.'2001.Ontario'sDri\eCleanprogramoff'iciall>'expanded intoitsPhase2area- urbancentresfromPeterboroughtoSamiaandtheNiagara Region. DriveClean facilities havetestedabout2.5 millionlight-dut\'xehiclesand200,000heavy-dutytrucksandbuses since 1999. Initsfirstyear, Dri\eCleanproduced anestimated6.7percentreductionin smog-causingpollutants fromtheprogramarea. WTienfrillyimplementedin 2004.the program isexpectedtoreducesmog-causingemissionsfromvehiclesintheprogramarea by22percent(or62.000tonnes),whilealsocutting 100,000tonnesofgreenhousegases- theequivalentoftaking23,000carsofftheroad. InMarch2001,theministryannounced publicconsultationsonimprovementstotheDriveCleanprogram. Onclimatechange, weworkedwiththe federal governmentandotherprovincesand territoriestoexaminenational optionsandtheconsequencesoftheKyotoProtocol. At home, theministr}'workedwithotherministries totakeactionandplan forthe investmentofOntario's SIO millionClimateChange Fund. InFebruary2001, theministryposteddecisionstostrengthenairstandards for 14 substancesaspartofthe firstmajoroverhaulofenvironmental standardsinmorethan20 years. Wealsoreleasedtwodiscussionpapersrelatedtoimplementingnewairquality standards forpublic comment. Protecting Water Quality Cleandrinkingwatercannotbe taken forgranted. The recentevents inNorth Battleford, Saskatchewanserve asreminders oftheneed forvigilanceand strongactionsacrossall Canadiancommunities inordertoprotectthe qualityofourwater. Here inOntario,thegovernmentlaunchedOperafionCleanWaterinAugust2000-a groundbreakingcomprehensiveactionplantoensureOntarioresidentshavethebest, safestdrinkingwaterinCanada. Thecornerstoneofthiscomprehensiveactionplanisthe Drinking WaterProtectionRegulation (OntarioRegulation459/00), whichappliesto municipal waterworksandotherlarge systems. Keyrequirementsofthenewregulation include: regularand frequentsamplingandtesting; stringenttreatmentrequirements; public reporting; clearrulesonreportingadverseresults; andthe required useof accredited laboratories. The ministry launchedconsultationsontestingandreportingrequirements forsmall waterworksandworkedwithotherministriesonestablishingRoundOneoftheOntario Business Plan 2001-2002 Ministryofthe Environment Annual Report on Key Achievements for 2000-2001 (cont'd) Small Townand Rural development initiative. Underthis firstround, theprovincewill commita minimum of$240 milliontoaddresspublic healthand safety infrastructure priorities, includingcompliancewiththe new DrinkingWaterProtection Regulation (DWPR). Lastyear, theMinistrycompletedthe inspectionof645 municipal watertreatmentplants, 169municipal sewage treatment facilitiesand 277 industrial waste-waterfacilitiesin Ontario. Municipal waterworks inspectionswill now takeplaceannuallyatall facilities. Inresponsetotheevents in Walkerton, we tookdecisiveactiontorestorea safe supply of drinkingwatertoresidents. Walkerton'swatersupply hasundergone one ofthemost extensiveremediationandmonitoringprogramseverundertakenonacommunal water systeminOntario. Thiswasanextraordinary situationthatdemanded-andreceived- extraordinary action. The MinistryoftheEnvironmentoversawtheOntarioCleanWaterAgency's(OCWA) effortstocleananddisinfectthewaterdistributionsystem,which included-amongother actions-swabbing31 kilometresofpipinganddisinfectingeachofthe 1,816 separate buildingsin Walkerton. Theministryalsomanagedthe Brockton ResponseCentre,which providedemergencyreliefforlocal businessesand individuals forall directwater-related expensesandoverheadcosts. Starting lastyear, theministrybeganimplementingitsthree-year, $6-millionProvincial GroumhvaterMonitoringNenvork. Approximately400monitoringsites in38 key watershedswill provide vital informationon groundwaterconditions inOntario. The Provincial WaterProtection Fundalsohelpedmunicipalitiesundertakecrucial groundwatermanagement studies. Thirty-fourgroundwaterstudiesacrosstheprovmce were initiatedwithaministry fundingcommitmentof$4.3 million. Tough Enforcement and Compliance Tofurtherstrengthenourcommitmenttogettoughonpolluters,the Toughest EnvironmentalPenaltiesActtookeffectinNovember, 2000. TheActintroducedthe toughest finesandlongestjailtermsinallofCanadaformajorenvironmentaloffences, increasingthemaximum fine fora firstconvictionofamajoroffencebyacorporation fi-om$1 millionto $6millionperday,and forasubsequentconviction from $2million to $10millionperday. Maximumjail terms forapersonconvictedofamajoroffence increasedfi-omtwoyearsto fiveyears. Thegovernmentalsolaunchedanenvironmental SWATTeamtocrackdownondeliberateandrepeatpolluterstoensurecompliancewith Ontario'senvironmental laws. Todate,over 130 inspectionshavebeenconductedand haveresultedinthe issuingoffickets, summonsesandprovincial officerorders. To ftirtherassistthegovernment in fulfillingitscommitmenttogettoughonpolluters, theministry establishedatoll-ft-ee. 24 hourpublic hotline forthepublic toreportactsof pollufion. Business Plan2001-2002 MinistryoftheEnvironment Annual Report on Key Achievements for 2000-2001 (cont'd) Protecting Ecosystems Lastyearthe toughesthazardouswaste regulation inOntario'shistorywasannounced. Thenewregulationmakestheprovincial law morecompatiblewithU.S. hazardouswaste regulations. Theministry inspected611 hazardouswastegeneratorsandconducted 347 PCB site inspections. Actionstodestroyhigh level PCBsinstoragealsocontinued. Asof April, 2001, over9,300 tonnesofhigh le\el PCBshad beendestroyed (from the 1994 baselineof18,600tonnes). By December2001,o\er 11,200tonneswillhavebeen destroyed. Thegovernmentachieved itstargetofa41 percentreduction(from 1987baseyear) in theamountofnon-hazardouswastegoingtodisposal lastyear. Preventing Pollution Ontario'spollutionpreventioninitiativeshavepreventedtheproductionandreleaseof over460,000tonnesofpollutantssince 1992. Lastyear, pollutionpreventionprograms resultedinanover60.000tonne reduction. TheagreementwiththeCanadianVehicle ManufacturersAssociation (CVMA)alone resulted inthepreventionof58,000tonnesof pollutants from beingproduced, earningtheCVMAanawardofrecognition fromthe Canadian Council ofMinistersofthe Environment. Theministry iscommitted to buildingonthesesuccessesandmakingpollutionpreventionincreasinglycentral to managingtheenvironment. Key Commitments and Strategies for 2001-2002 A \e>v Vision and a Commitment to Continuous Improvement TheMinistryoftheEnvironment'skeystrategiesandcommitmentsfor2001-2002will beshapedbya fundamental shiftfromatraditionalcommand-and-controlfocus, towarda newwaytoprotectOntario'senvironment. TheFebruary 7reportbymanagementexpert ValerieGibbons-titledManagingtheEnvironment:A ReviewofBestPractices-serves asthevisionandguide forthisambitious newcourseofaction. Thechangeprocesshasalreadybegun. The Ministerofthe Environment Elizabeth WitmernowchairsaCabinetCommittee ontheenvironment, andanassociatedeputy Business Plan2001-2002 Ministryofthe Environment