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-^ fof 4- "5h ^Z &H d MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT 2000-2001 Business Plan ® Ontario Message from the Minister AcleanOntario isastrong, healthyOntario. AttheMinistryofthe Environmentourjobisto ensurestrongenvironmentalprotectionandto promotetheconservationandstewardshipofourair, waterand land. EffectivelycarryingoutthesecorebusinesseshelpsmakeOntariothebest NorthAmericanjurisdictioninwhichto live,workandraiseafamily. As MinisteroftheEnvironment, I ampleasedto sharewithyouour2000-2001 businessplan. Theplanoutlines someofourachievements fromthepastyear andourcommitments andtargetsto furtherimproveandprotectthehealthof ourcommunitiesandecosystems. Hon. Dan Newman Protectingthequalityandquantityofourwaterresourceswill remain apriority. Overthenextyear,wearetaking stepsto furtherprotectwaterquality including newregulatorymeasures formunicipalwatertreatment facilities. Municipalitiesmustuseaccredited laboratoriesandadvisetheministryifthey arechangingthe facilitythat istestingtheirwater. Requirementswillbemade clearforreportingtestresults indicatingbelow standardwaterquality. Municipalitiesmustmakealltheirsamplereportsavailabletothepublic. In addition,theministrywillbeinspectingall municipalwatertreatment facilities to ensuretheymeetcurrentandnew standards. Theseactionswill help to ensureOntario'sdrinkingwaterissafeand itsqualityremains amongthebest intheworld. ImprovingOntario's airqualitytoprotecthumanhealthwill also continueto beamajorfocus. Thisyeartheministryunveiled strongmeasurestargeting smog, acidrainandclimatechange includingtough new emissionscapsand mandatorymonitoringandreportingofairemissions. Setting environmentalprotectionrules andmakingsuretheserulesarekept is a bigpartofourjob. This includedstrengtheningOntario'shazardouswaste managementregulationsthispastyear. New lawswillbeproposed to setthe toughestpollutionpenalties inCanada. Anenvironmental SWATteam and pollutionhotlinewill increaseourabilityto enforceenvironmental protection rules. BusinessPlan2000-2001 Ministryofthe Environment 2 I am confident thatbyworkingtogetherwithourmanypartnersand thepeople ofOntariowecan ensureprosperityand ahealthyenvironmentboth now and in the future. /Ufa [\£iW\&M TheHonourableDan Newman MinisteroftheEnvironment BusinessPlan2000-2001 MinistryoftheEnvironment 3 Ministry Vision Thevisionofthe MinistryoftheEnvironmentisanOntariowherehumanhealth, ecosystems, recreation, commerceand industryaresustainedbycleanair, waterand land. To fulfil thisvision, theministrysetsclearpolicies, standardsand rulestoprotectthe environment andto encourageconservationactivities. Alongwith monitoringthe environment and enforcingtheserules, theministry looks forinnovativeapproaches tocomplement legislationandregulations. Theseincludeworkingwith communities, industriesandorganizationstowards finding flexible, practical, cost- effectivewaysto strengthen environmental protectionandconservation efforts. Ahealthy, natural environment isvitaltothewell-beingofour families. Weplayan importantrole inmakingthisprovincethebestjurisdiction inNorthAmericain whichto live,workandraisea familybyprovidingbetter, strongerandclearer environmentalprotection. BusinessPlan2000-2001 Ministryofthe Environment 4