LEX-FAOC100950

The present Act builds on the foundation that the Province has achieved as a world leader in a) recycling programmes and in managing waste to protect the environment; and b) leading-edge innovation in environmentally sustainable technologies. The Act is based on the following principles: a) the health of the economy, the health of the environment and the health of the people of the Province are interconnected; b) environmentally sustainable economic development that recognizes the economic value of the Province's environmental assets is essential to the long-term prosperity of the Province; c) the environment and the economy of the Province are a shared responsibility of all levels of government, the private sector and all people of the Province; d) the environment and economy must be managed for the benefit of present and future generations; e) innovative solutions are necessary to mutually reinforce the environment and the economy; f) a long-term approach to planning and decision-making is necessary to harmonize the Province's goals of economic prosperity and environmental sustainability; g) the management of goals for sustainable prosperity, such as emission reduction, energy efficiency programmes and increasing the amount of legally protected land will preserve and improve the Province's environment and economy for future generations. Section 4 establishes that the long-term environmental and economic objective of the Province is to fully integrate environmental sustainability and economic prosperity and to this end to: a) demonstrate international leadership by having one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by the year 2020; and b) provide certainty to all sectors of the economy through the Government's economic development strategy entitled Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and establish clear environmental goals while improving the Province's economic performance to a level that is equal to or above the Canadian average by the year 2020. The text consists of 11 sections.