Thursday, February 8, 2007, Ottawa, Ontario
Mary Simon, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), and Duane Smith President of Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada), today urged the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development to recommend changes to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) which will result in tangible improvement for Inuit across Canada and throughout the circumpolar world.
CEPA should be amended to require that environmental impacts on vulnerable populations, including
Inuit, be considered in all stages of the risk assessment process. The legislation should be amended to
require a consistent, regulated approach to pollution prevention planning in consultation with Inuit for all
facilities that release or may release toxic substances of concern to Inuit,” said Mary Simon, President of
ITK. “The Government of Canada should collaborate with Inuit to develop practices that are conducive to
acquiring, understanding and integrating Inuit traditional knowledge into decision making on the
environment and human health.”
Duane Smith, President of ICC (Canada) said, CEPA should be amended to specify requirements for the
Minister to act to implement international agreements aimed at curtailing air and water pollution and in so
doing, fulfill Canada’s international commitments. These should include targets and timelines for Canada to
meet its international obligations regarding marine environmental protection.
Mary Simon recommended that CEPA processes should be consistent with Inuit Land Claim Agreements.
Further; Part 2, Section 6, of CEPA should be amended to require that each of the Inuit land claim
settlement areas is represented on the CEPA National Advisory Committee.
Both leaders suggested that CEPA be amended to require the Minister to consult with all affected
aboriginal Governments including Inuit, regarding the development and issuing of regulatory and nonregulatory
instruments for the protection of the marine environment.
For a complete summary of the presentation to the Standing Committee consult either www.itk.ca or
www.inuitcircumpolar.com