“Today we are fulfilling the Government’s commitment to require five percent renewable fuel content in gasoline,” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment. “Regulating renewable fuel content in gasoline is just one of several steps the Government is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which account for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Support for renewable fuels is support for farmers, rural communities and our economy,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This is a vital step in generating new market opportunities for our farmers and maximizing Canada’s high quality resources to produce food and fuel for the world.”

“These regulations will help Canada reach our goal of becoming a clean energy leader,” said Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our Government supports biofuels and other alternative fuels as part of our commitment to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent, from 2005 levels, by 2020.”

These regulations are one pillar of the Government’s broader Renewable Fuels Strategy. Canada will implement a requirement for two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil, subject to successful demonstration of technical feasibility under the range of Canadian conditions, which would be put in place by an amendment to the Renewable Fuels Regulations.

When fully implemented, the Strategy’s two regulatory requirements combined with provincial regulations will ensure a total volume of renewable fuel that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to four megatonnes in 2012–about the equivalent of taking one million vehicles off the road.

These regulations are a key initiative in support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the Government of Canada is working with the U.S. towards common North American standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, and has recently published, draft regulations for vehicle tailpipe emissions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that are aligned with those of the U.S. Building on that successful collaboration, we will continue to work together to do the same for heavy-duty vehicles.

Related documents:

Renewable Fuels Strategy is reducing greenhouse gases and creating jobs
[Backgrounder - 2010-09-01]

Final Renewable Fuel Regulations

For more information, please contact:

Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

The initiative – the APEC Cross-border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement – was developed to facilitate information sharing and cooperation between authorities responsible for data and consumer protection in the APEC region.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, says the arrangement is an important step forward in addressing new challenges for privacy in a globalized, online world.

“This will help us deal with privacy concerns relating to organizations that operate in multiple jurisdictions and businesses that move personal information across borders for processing. These are increasingly common phenomena in the economy of the 21^st century and we need 21^st century tools to address them,” says Commissioner Stoddart.

Canada’s notice of intent to participate in the initiative was formally accepted this week.

The arrangement establishes a process under which participating authorities may contact each other for help with collecting evidence, sharing information on an organisation or matter being investigated, enforcing actions, and transferring complaints to another jurisdiction.

It also encourages cooperation between privacy enforcement authorities in APEC and their international, non-APEC counterparts as the arrangement has been designed to work seamlessly with other regional and global schemes.

The arrangement was developed by a volunteer group of APEC member economies with input from civil society and business groups. To date, the participants in the arrangement also include the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Australia, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Additional privacy enforcement authorities from APEC member economies are also expected to join.

For more information, please see:

APEC Cross-border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement (CPEA)
http://www.apec.org/apec/apec_groups/committee_on_trade/electronic_commerce/cpea.html

APEC News Release
http://www.apec.org/apec/news___media/media_releases/20100716_ecsg_cpea.html

APEC Fact Sheet
http://www.apec.org/apec/news___media/fact_sheets/201006cpea.html

Related Document:

• Legislative Proposals relating to the Income Tax Act, the Air Travellers Security Charge Act, the Excise Act, 2001, and the Excise Tax Act

The proposals released today include draft legislation to:

• Provide for the sharing of the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit in cases of shared custody.
• Allow Registered Retirement Savings Plan proceeds to be transferred to a Registered Disability Savings Plan on a tax-deferred basis.
• Implement disbursement quota reform for registered charities.
• Better target the tax incentives in place for employee stock options.
• Expand the availability of accelerated capital cost allowance for clean energy generation.
• Adjust the capital cost allowance rate for television set-top boxes to better reflect the useful life of these assets.
• Clarify the definition of a principal-business corporation for the purposes of the rules relating to Canadian Renewable and Conservation Expenses.
• Introduce amendments consequential to the introduction in 2011 of new International Financial Reporting Standards by the Accounting Standards Board.
• Provide legislative authority for the Canada Revenue Agency to issue online notices where the taxpayer so requests.
• Implement a new reporting regime for aggressive tax planning, taking into account comments received during post-budget consultations.
• Replace the previous proposals relating to foreign investment entities with several limited enhancements to the current Income Tax Act and better target and simplify previous proposals relating to non-resident trusts, taking into account comments received during post-budget consultations.
• Counter schemes designed to shelter tax otherwise payable by artificially increasing foreign tax credits.
• Ensure that income trust conversions into corporations are subject to the same loss utilization rules that currently apply to similar transactions involving only corporations.
• Limit tax arbitrage opportunities by extending the application of the Specified Leasing Property rules to property that is the subject of a lease to a government or other tax-exempt entity, or to a non-resident.

The draft legislative proposals also include other previously announced measures identified in Budget 2010, as modified to take into account consultations and deliberations since their release, as well as an income tax amendment relating to the enactment of the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act:

• The Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative for small excise taxpayers, announced by the Minister of National Revenue on March 31, 2009.
• Measures relating to the income taxation of shareholders of foreign affiliates, previously released in draft form on December 18, 2009.
• Rules to facilitate the implementation of Employee Life and Health Trusts, released in draft form on February 26, 2010.
• The introduction of a personal income tax credit in respect of Employment Insurance premiums paid by self-employed individuals.

References to “Announcement Date” are to be read as references to today’s date. Explanatory notes to the legislative proposals will be posted on the Department of Finance website shortly.

Interested parties are invited to provide comments on the draft legislative proposals by September 27, 2010. Please send your comments to:

Tax Policy Branch
Department of Finance
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5

____________________________________
For further information, media may contact:

Annette Robertson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861

Stephanie Rubec
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080

To receive e-mail notification of all news releases, please register at www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/register-eng.asp

The Williams Government is moving forward with plans to revamp the current Prisons Act and Adult Corrections Act and is seeking input from organizations and interested individuals in drafting the new legislation. Consultations will be held with targeted interest groups, including inmate advocacy organizations, women’s groups and aboriginal groups.

“As recommended by the independent review of adult corrections in the province, the Department of Justice is moving forward to make changes to the legislation which governs our corrections system in order to make it contemporary and comprehensive,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “I am extremely pleased with the progress our government has made in implementing the recommendations of Decades of Darkness: Moving Towards the Light and drafting a new Correctional Services Act will no doubt further improve the delivery of corrections services in our province.”

In April 2008, the Provincial Government launched the independent review into adult corrections in Newfoundland and Labrador. Seventy-three of 77 recommendations contained within that review have been either completed or are in varying stages of progress. Since the release of the review there have been significant improvements to programming and services in all provincial prisons, including better mental health treatment and training, enhanced programming opportunities and the hiring of additional correctional officers.

“Since receiving the independent review, our government has allocated approximately $7 million towards adult corrections in this province,” said Minister Collins. “Any legislative changes we undertake will serve to further the substantial enhancements we have already implemented in our corrections system, and will be made in the best interest of our corrections staff and inmates.”

In addition to targeted consultations, interested individuals can submit feedback by e-mailing written submissions to

correctionsconsult@gov.nl.ca or sending via mail to:

Provincial Government Corrections Consultations
Department of Justice
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6

Written submissions must be received no later than October 8, 2010. For more information, including a consultations discussion document, visit

www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 699-6524

JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca

The minister for la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine welcomes the report of the Forum on the development of the Quebec dubbing industry, which was chaired by Mr. Hans Fraikin, commissioner of the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ) and is following up on its recommendations.

Feature films, television, training, tax measures, tariffs and federal government measures were at the center of the six working groups which were made up of specialists from the film industry.
From these exchanges came forth eight recommendations for the minister with the aim of improving dubbing training, the promotion of Quebec know-how and also cooperation on the part of those involved in the dubbing industry for feature films and televised series intended for Quebec television.
Forum report and recommendations (in French only)
Press release and appendix (in French only)

“This new program will foster the health and well-being of mothers and newborns – a strategic priority identified in the Provincial Health Plan 2008-2012,” said Schryer.  “By building on existing partnerships and enhancing the co-ordination of services, we can deliver better care to New Brunswick women and their babies.”

The program will promote excellence in reproductive care services through the co-ordination of quality care, education, information and consultation.  It will also set evidence-based standards and guidelines for clinical care.

“The establishment of a provincial reproductive care program has been on the New Brunswick Medical Society’s wish list for a number of years,” said Dr. Chris Losier, society president. “Many other provinces have similar programs, and now New Brunswick mothers and their babies will benefit from the opportunity this will provide for health-care providers from around the province to sit down together on a regular basis to identify and share best practices.”

A provincial advisory committee will be created to help develop and implement the program. Its membership will consist of stakeholders including physicians (obstetrics, pediatrics and primary care); representatives from the Horizon and Vitalité health networks; the Midwifery Council of New Brunswick; the New Brunswick Medical Society; and the Department of Health.

The advisory committee will hold its first meeting early this fall.

Chiarelli, Murray Join Cabinet In Key Economic Ministries

The Government of the Northwest Territories emphasizes its commitment to energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases.

The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance released its 2009 National Energy Efficiency Report Card on August 19, downgrading the Northwest Territories from a B+ in 2007 to a C. According to the report, the NWT follows the National Building Code of Canada, which fails in its energy efficiency objectives, particularly in northern climates. While no NWT building code exists, NWT building standards are beyond those of the National Building Code.

“GNWT buildings are required to meet energy efficiency requirements of the Federal EcoENERGY program for new buildings,” said Minister of Environment and Natural Resources J. Michael Miltenberger. “This program follows the same requirements as the discontinued Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP), and means all buildings must be 25% more energy efficient than a comparable building built to the minimum requirements of the National Building Code.”

The NWT Housing Corporation has developed its own brand, ecobuild80plus, to reflect its commitment to designing, building and retrofitting houses that meet or exceed EnerGuide 80. The corporation is in the process of developing enclosure designs that will exceed these standards.

Approximately half of all residences in the NWT are in the City of Yellowknife, which has energy efficiency standards for residential buildings. Effective January 1, 2011, a minimum score of 80 on the EnerGuide for New Houses rating system will be mandatory. The City of Yellowknife also requires that all commercial, institutional and industrial buildings comply with a minimum energy efficiency building standard that is 25% higher than the minimum requirements of the National Building Code.

“It is unfortunate the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance didn’t take into account the code requirements we do follow for all GNWT buildings, NWT Housing Corporation buildings and buildings in the City of Yellowknife,” said Miltenberger. “We are committed to increasing the energy efficiency of all buildings across the Northwest Territories, and continue to work with other organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the cost of living.”

The GNWT continues to support and maintain a range of energy efficiency programs and initiatives.

The Energy Efficiency Incentive Program is administered by the Arctic Energy Alliance and encourages residents and businesses to purchase energy efficient appliances to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gases. With the cancelation of the federal ecoEnergy retrofit program, the GNWT added rebates for residential insulation, doors, windows, and drain water heat recovery systems. This program has been in effect since 2007 and has provided over $1.4 million in rebates to NWT residents.

The Alternative Energy Technologies Program is available to assist Aboriginal and community governments, GNWT departments, boards and agencies, non-profit organizations, commercial businesses, including off-grid camps and lodges, and NWT residents, to install alternative energy systems to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases.

The Energy Conservation Program was developed to help community-funded departments, boards and agencies, and non-profit organizations reduce their use of electrical and heat energy, and water. The program funds upgrades to existing lighting, heating, ventilation, water and electrical systems. These projects increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases.

The 16th Legislative Assembly has taken bold steps to reduce waste, encourage the development of renewable energy, and implement energy efficiency initiatives and programs. Programs include the Beverage Container Program, the Single-Use Retail Bag Program, the Waste Paper Products Initiative, and numerous renewable energy pilot projects. A priority of this Assembly is to ensure the environment will sustain present and future generations. This commitment is supported by $60 million dedicated to renewable energy projects under the energy priority investment. This includes biomass, geothermal, hydro, wind, residual heat recovery, and other energy projects.

For more information, contact:

Megan Holsapple
Office of the Press Secretary
Premier & Executive Council
(867) 669-2302