TORY
ANNOUNCES MADE-IN-ONTARIO PLAN TO REDUCE TOXINS
PC plan will provide incentives to eliminate toxins, requires businesses disclose chemicals
(Queen's Park) - Progressive Conservative Party Leader John Tory today joined PC Environment Critic Laurie Scott to announce a made-in-Ontario plan to reduce toxins by working with the federal government and business across the province.
"Toxic contaminants are a serious problem - one that has been building over too many years. It's time that we took action and our plan will do exactly that," said Tory. "In an era of rising cancer rates, it is vital that government, businesses, and individuals work together to reduce, and wherever possible, completely eliminate the use of these substances and the health hazards they represent."
Tory announced a PC government would implement a plan using both carrot and stick measures to reduce and eliminate toxic contaminants by:
· Working in harmony with the federal government to utilize the federal list of toxic substances which identifies the higher risk chemicals currently used by Canadian businesses;
· Requiring every Ontario business that uses a restricted chemical on the federal list to disclose their use of that chemical to the public;
· Requiring businesses to prepare a plan which evaluates all of their options for reducing or eliminating the use of these toxins. The implementation will be left up to the individual operation;
· Providing incentives for these businesses to adopt their plans and reduce the use of these chemicals by establishing a Toxin Reduction Fund, and through measures such as targeted tax measures;
· Share best practices to help small businesses learn from others how to take steps to eliminate these toxins by creating an online idea bank where entrepreneurs can learn first hand from what similar businesses have achieved, inside and outside of Ontario.
Tory made the announcement shortly after accepting an invitation from Environmental Defence to have his blood taken to be tested for toxins. The organization came to his Queen's Park office and will analyze Tory's blood along with other Ontario political leaders for toxic chemicals.
"While we don't expect the results of this morning's test for some time, I know we won't like the results we see," said Tory. "With a little push and some new ideas, we can create some big change. All it takes is leadership.
"This is the kind of leadership our environment needs," said Tory. "It's the kind of leadership we have not yet seen from Dalton McGuinty. The kind of leadership we will provide if the people of Ontario entrust us with government on October 10."
