Environmental petitions show concern about health
Ottawa, 5 February 2009—The top issues in a growing number of petitions received by the Office of the Auditor General last year were human and environmental health, environmental assessments, and water, says the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Scott Vaughan, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. The Report says the largest group of petitions concerned the effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
“Environmental petitions are a way for Canadians to bring their environmental concerns to the attention of the responsible federal departments and obtain a response,” said the Commissioner.
Fifty-six environmental petitions were received last year, a 24 percent increase over the year before. Ontario accounted for more than half of the petitions received.
A petition can call for responses from several government organizations. Last year, petitions triggered 200 responses from departments and agencies, significantly more than the last year, with Environment Canada accounting for the largest number. Federal organizations are required to respond within 120 days, and 86 percent of the responses were on time.
On behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development manages the process and monitors responses of federal ministers. As required by the Auditor General Act, the Commissioner reports annually on the quantity, nature, and status of petitions received and on the timeliness of departmental responses. Petitions and responses, along with details about how to submit a petition, are posted on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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The chapter “Annual Report on Environmental Petitions” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site.
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