Canadian Environmental Protection Act annual report for April 1997 to March 1998

Table of contents

Since the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) first came into force in 1988, each year has seen an increase in activities and programs under the Act to achieve the statute’s goal of protecting the environment and human life and health.

Some of the highlights during 1997-98 are:

Scientific research continued in various laboratories across the country. Of particular note is the priority given to research on endocrine disrupting substances, so that we can enhance our ability to measure these substances in the environment and predict their environmental effects.

Work also continued in 1997-98 on another significant environmental milestone – proposed legislation for the renewal of CEPA. Introduced in the House of Commons for First Reading as Bill C-32 in March 1998, the proposed statute will modernize and strengthen the CEPA that we have worked with over the past 10 years. Bill C-32 makes pollution prevention the priority approach for the reduction of toxic substances in the environment. The Bill will also:

I look forward to Parliamentary passage and implementation of the renewed CEPA. Canada will then have the tools to tackle environmental challenges well into the new millennium.

My thanks go to all the officials at Environment Canada and Health Canada who have once again made this a productive year for the administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.



Christine Stewart
Minister of the Environment

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