Canadian Government Opposes US Clean Air Regulations

OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada is outraged that Canada is opposing a new US Environmental Protection Agency rule that would force freighters in the Great Lakes to stop using polluting fuel.  “We urge Prime Minister Harper to support improved US regulations which will lead to cleaner air in the Great Lakes region, with subsequent reductions in health problems,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

The US EPA is proposing that freighters sailing on the Great Lakes would have to stop burning bunker fuel, one of the dirtiest fuels available.  In a letter to the EPA, the Canadian Embassy in Washington opposed the regulations, saying they would cost too much.  

“The health care costs associated with air pollution, not to mention the human suffering involved, means that reducing the use of bunker fuel will always be economically beneficial,” said May.

Canadian officials have argued that ships could instead install smokestack scrubbers; however, the problem is that this technology does not yet exist.  

“This government continues to stall by pointing to non-existent technology, first clean coal and now ship smokestack scrubbers,” said May.  “A better plan would be to encourage updating of the Great Lake fleet so they can be more fuel efficient.  Canadians expect the government to safeguard their health, not to put profits ahead of clean air.”

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
613.614.4916
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca