OTTAWA – Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna - Lake Country rose in the House of Commons on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 and gave the following statement on the environment:

"Mr. Speaker, the clean air act will reduce greenhouse gases and pollution in Canada.

I want to thank the Minister of the Environment for her courage to put forth a comprehensive and practical solution.

This is the first time all industry will have mandatory targets, some beginning as early as next spring. This plan will do more towards addressing our Kyoto targets than the 13 years of Liberal inaction.

We all have a responsibility, every level of government, every sector of the economy and every individual Canadian.

The Central Okanagan Regional District, led by the municipal governments of Kelowna and Lake Country, have already taken proactive measures to address environmental quality. I applaud their efforts in promoting sustainable environmental programs, alternative energy and motivating our communities to go green.

The clean air act will reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, regulate all industry, set realistic and achievable targets, and reward Canadians for smart choices.

Once again a Conservative government delivers real action on the environment."


The local programs that are referred to in Ron’s statement include: The Mayor’s Environmental Expo, the Smart Transit Plan, Agriculture Wood Waste Chipping program, Great Okanagan Wood Stove Exchange, the Go Green Commuter Challenge, Ogo Grow and the Smart Transit Initiative. We have several local alternative energy projects, including our electricity producing methane plant at the Glenmore Landfill, several geothermal environmental control applications, wind power development and the cutting edge research and development that is happening on ethanol fuel and methane power generation by Okanagan Biofuels. The federal government acknowledged the leading edge research that is being done in Kelowna when they recently sent Mark Watt to Mexico City to demonstrate our methane technology. These programs demonstrate how Kelowna is taking a proactive approach to the environment and to ensuring our air quality as the Central Okanagan region continues to grow. Together the federal government, through the Clean Air Act, and our community are taking responsibility for ensuring the health of Canadians through a clean environment.