Canada

Funds for Acid Rain Programme

The Minister of the Environment, John Roberts, announced in October 1980 that the Canadian Government will spend US $41 million between now and 1984 to combat acid rain. Mr. Roberts said that the Cabinet has approved the joint submission of three government departments to launch a comprehensive scientific, engineering and socio-econom- ic research programme to design strate- gies to control acid-causing pollutants, to lessen their adverse effects and to pro- tect the fisheries resource in Canada. Be- sides Environment Canada, the Depart- ments of Fisheries and Oceans, and Health and Welfare, will participate in this endeavour to stop acid rain. The resulting knowledge is also required to substantiate Canada's position in seeking cooperative action from the United States. Environment Canada alone will devote US $7.5 million to its acid rain programme in 1980-81, as compared with the US $4 million originally ear- marked for that purpose.

However, since the American presi- dential election, it is feared that the way the new administration will handle issues such as acid rain, Great Lakes water quality and the disposal of chemical wastes, may effect Canadians for genera- tions. The Canadian government has so far issued no official statement, but On- tario's Environment Minister sent a tele- gram after the election to Mr. Roberts, asking trim to discuss with Mr. Reagan the very grave effects these policies will have in terms of transboundary air pol- lution. Although Ontario intends to continue with its plans to cut pollution, all efforts will be in vain if some reduc- tions are not made on the American side of the border.

It is hoped that Mr. Reagan's actions on the environment will not be as drastic as his statements have indicated (for ex- ample, Mr. Reagan told Ohio coal min- ers during the election campaign that he would do away with many environmen- tal regulations because they were crip- pling the economy). Much of Ohio's high sulphur coal is not being used because it causes air pollution leading to acid rain. Mr. Reagan also promised that he would see to it "that the Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) has leaders who un-

Environmental Policy and Law, 7 (1981)

derstand what coal is to the nation's eco- nomy".

The United States is poised for a mas- sive conversion to coal-burning power plants and coal smoke from existing plants is already producing great, wind- borne clouds of acid rain threatening both countries. Life in hundreds of lakes in both countries has been killed and tens of thousands of lakes are endangered by air pollution from both sides of the border. Crops, forests, wildlife, concrete and steel structures are also threatened

by the corrosion. US industry produces about 50 million metric tons a year of sulphur and nitrogen pollution leading to acid rain and the winds carry more than two million of sulphur dioxide pol- lution alone into Canada.

One of Mr. Reagan's press assistants said that the President-elect is concerned about environmental issues but that there may be cutbacks in environmental pro- grammes for "the first year or two" in an effort to stimulate the economy. I f the economy picked up, Mr. Reagan would likely press for tighter environ- mental controls. This has failed, under- standably, to reassure the Canadians who are prepared, if need be, to fall back on a series of environmental treaties and agreements dating back as far as 1909.

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Photo: Robert Koci, Courtesy: Ministry of Environment, Ontario, Canada

This acid rain mon i to r is one of the instruments that can catch and measure the amount of pre- c ip i ta t ion and wi l l soon be a common sight at the 45 locations o f the Atmospher ic Deposition Studies network. A scientist w i th Env i ronment Ontario's water resources branch, is removing the sample holder at one of the units installed at the Ministry 's Dorset stat ion.

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