Look Up Conservative: Prime Minister in Vancouver-Centre

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to guests and media as MP James Moore, and Conservative candidate for Vancouver-Centre Lorne Mayencourt add support.

Conservatives acting to protect Canada’s vast natural endowment

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that a re-elected Conservative Government will bolster the protection of our water, air and land through a new Environmental Enforcement Action Plan that takes meaningful, achievable steps to hold environmental offenders accountable once and for all.

“We understand that Canadians want to live and raise their families in safe communities,” the Prime Minister said. “And they want to be able to do so in a natural environment they know is also protected. From the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic, our breathtaking natural treasures are recognized worldwide. When our biodiversity is compromised, Canada is compromised.”
The new action plan will invest $113 million over the next five years – and then an additional $25 million annually – to fund new measures that include:

Stiffer penalties for the most serious environmental crimes: up to $6 million for corporations and $1 million for individuals.

Minimum penalties and a penalty structure that differentiates between individuals and organizations.

Increased inspection and seizure powers. The Environment Minister will have the power to deny a licence, permit or other authorization to a company with poor compliance history.

A team of specialized environmental prosecutors to bring offenders to justice.

The same strong powers in all environmental laws to allow courts to compel offenders to remedy any harm to the environment.

A searchable database that tells the public the details of a corporation’s convictions for environmental crimes.

We will require corporations convicted of environmental crimes to notify their shareholders of their conviction and punishment.

As well, the penalties collected from polluters will go into the dedicated Environmental Damages Fund.

“Canadians are proud of this country and of the vast natural endowment we inherit as citizens of it,” Prime Minister Harper said. “We must never forget that it has only been loaned to us by our ancestors, and is held by us in trust for generations to come.”