加拿大安大略省（Ontario）政府7日提出新法案，希望促成其轄區內的製造業與工業設施轉型，減少使用有毒物質、改用較符合環境健康的替代物質。
這項提案是安大略省「毒物減量策略」（Toxics Reduction Strategy）的一部份是，將要求廠家申報及追蹤受規範設施的毒物排放及使用情形，並致定毒物減量計畫，且計劃相關資訊應公諸大眾。
這項措施並非強制性，而是效法美國麻的「毒物使用減量法案」（Toxics Use Reduction Act）採自願性質，不過據麻州經驗，該法案已使麻州的排放減量91%，並且降低64%的有毒廢棄物。
如果安大略省立法機構核准此167號「2009毒物減量法案」，該省將要投資2400萬美元來協助支援省內企業來進行製程的轉型，尋求綠色的化學替代物，並在營運過程中減少毒物使用。
該省環境部長傑瑞特森（John Gerretsen）表示：「安大略省民眾需要穩固的經濟與高品質的生活。這項提案立法之後，我們就能夠開始減少毒物的重要工作，並在全安大略省建造更環保、更健康、更繁榮的社區。」
此「毒物減量策略」是依據「毒物減量科學專家小組」（Toxics Reduction Scientific Expert Panel）的建議，並參酌各層面利益攸關者的想法建立起來的。
利益攸關者提出他們對「毒物減量策略」草案的想法，此草案包括要求該省更進一步以較安全的替代物質強制取代，立法規範毒物減量標的，強制對含毒消費者產品加以標示，並且對聯邦毒物方案的重疊狀況與潛在的新成本加以關切。
安大略省研究創新部（Research and Innovation Minister）部長威爾金森（John Wilkinson）將這個策略視為安大略省發展更環保產品的方法，而這些環保產品將足以吸引全世界的消費者。
威爾金森指出：「全球市場正尋找取代有毒產品及製程的新替代產品。我們承諾要支持安大略的公司成為綠色經濟的領先者，同時滿足全球對環保產品的需求。」
如果立法成功，這個策略預期將可支援安大略製造商為達到歐盟新化學品政策REACH（Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals System）規範所要進行的工作，這些規範要求所有進口歐盟的產品不得含有特定的有害化學物質。
多倫多非營利組織「環境保衛」（Environmental Defence）稱這個策略為「保護環境與人類健康以及創造綠色工作機會往前邁進重要的一步。」「環境保衛」行政主任史密斯博士（Dr. Rick Smith）表示：「安大略省的除毒（detox）行動開始了！這個法案將減少我們暴露於有害化學物質，並提供我們工具來瞭解何種污染物將排放在我們社區」。史密斯博士也是近期將出版的「Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health（在合成橡膠鴨旁慢慢死亡：日常生活中的有毒化學物質如何影響我們的健康？）」新書作者。
根據「環境保衛」與「加拿大環境法律學會」（Canadian Environmental Law Association）合作進行的一項計畫「看守污染」（PollutionWatch），安大略省比其他加拿大省分排放更多致癌化學物質到大氣之中。從可比較的2004年最新資料顯示，以噸數計算，安大略省是僅次於美國德州，排放第二多有毒化學物質的區域。
過去幾年間「環境保衛」所檢驗的血液樣本，已顯示加拿大民眾體內含有許多像鉛及汞等有害化學物質。史密斯指出：「這項措施正是我們安大略省所需的那種創新前瞻的作法，可用來綠化我們的經濟，並且在消費者要求更環保更安全產品的時代中維持我們競爭力的方法。」
The Ontario government Tuesday introduced legislation to move the province's manufacturing and industrial facilities in the direction of reducing their use of toxic substances and increasing their use of healthier alternatives.
Part of the province's Toxics Reduction Strategy, the proposal would require regulated facilities to report and track their releases and uses, create a plan for toxic use reduction and make that plan public.
While implementation of these plans would not be mandatory, the measure is modeled after a similar voluntary provision in the Massachusetts' Toxics Use Reduction Act that led to a 91 percent reduction in environmental releases and a 64 percent reduction in toxic waste.
Should the Legislature approve Bill 167, the proposed Toxics Reduction Act, 2009, the province would invest $24 million to help support Ontario's industries to transform their processes, find green chemistry alternatives and reduce the use of toxics in their operations.
"Ontarians want a strong economy and a high quality of life. With this proposed legislation, we can begin the important work of reducing toxics and building greener, healthier and more prosperous communities across Ontario," said Environment Minister John Gerretsen.
The Toxics Reduction Strategy is built upon the recommendations of the Toxics Reduction Scientific Expert Panel and consultations with a wide range of stakeholders.
Stakeholder feedback on the draft Toxics Reduction Strategy included requests for the province to go further in the direction of mandatory substitutions of safer alternatives, legislated toxics reduction targets,and mandatory labeling of consumer products containing toxics, and also concerns related to the potential overlap with federal toxics programs and potential new costs.
Ontario's Research and Innovation Minister John Wilkinson views the measure as a way for Ontario to develop greener products that will attract customers from around the world.
"The global market is seeking innovative alternatives to toxic products and processes," Wilkinson said. "We are committed to supporting Ontario companies become leaders in the green economy and meet the worldwide demand for greener products."
If enacted, the measure is expected to support Ontario manufacturers' efforts to comply with the European Union's REACH regulations, which will require that all products imported into the EU do not contain certain hazardous chemicals.
The Toronto nonprofit organization Environmental Defence called the measure "a significant step forward for the protection of the environment and human health, as well as for the creation of green jobs."
"The detox of Ontario has begun. This Act will reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals and provide us with the tools to know what pollutants are being emitted in our communities," said Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, and co-author of the forthcoming book "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health."
Ontario emits more cancer-causing chemicals into the air than any other Canadian province, according to PollutionWatch, a joint project of Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
Data from 2004, the most recent comparative data available, showed that in North America Ontario was second only to Texas in terms of tons of toxic chemicals being released.
Blood sample testing by Environmental Defence over the past few years has shown that many hazardous chemicals, such as lead and mercury, are found in the bodies of Canadians.
Said Smith, "This is just the kind of innovative, forward-thinking approach we need in Ontario to green our economy and remain competitive in an era when consumers are demanding greener, safer products."
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
