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Provincial Policy Statement Review
    We want to hear from you!
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Helping Children Be Healthy and Active
    McGuinty Government Introducing Children’s Activity Tax Credit
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Stay Safe and Drive Sober This Labour Day Weekend
    McGuinty Government Reminds Ontarians Not to Drive, Boat or Ride Impaired
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MPP Yasir Naqvi Appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education
    Naqvi’s new role will help build on Open Ontario Plan
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Devastating Floods in Pakistan
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Provincial News
Test Scores Rise For Ontario Students
    McGuinty Government Preparing Students For Future Success
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Ontario Attracts Clean Energy Manufacturing Plants
    McGuinty Government Brings Investment and up to 1,400 Jobs To Ontario
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Keeping Drivers Safe
    McGuinty Government Implements New Drinking And Driving Measures
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Consultations Begin On Public Sector Compensation
    McGuinty Government Takes Next Step In Plan To Manage Responsibly
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Province Takes Action on Eco Fees
    McGuinty Government Committed To Keeping Household Hazardous Waste Out Of Environment
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Happy Earth Day! Today we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Ever since Gaylord Nelson advanced the idea back in 1970, this day has inspired people all around the world to pay attention to our environment and to celebrate our planet earth.

Together, we all look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint at home or at work. Whether you plant a tree, take the bus, or participate in a neighbourhood clean-up, we all need to do our part and cherish our earth.

I want to assure you that our government has made the environment a key priority – today and every day. We have been tackling climate change head on, reducing waste across the province, and helping “green” industries flourish. Since 2003, we have:

  • Made Ontario a global leader in renewable energy with the Green Energy Act 
  • Implemented the toughest cosmetic pesticides ban in North America 
  • Reduced exposure to harmful toxins by passing the Toxics Reduction Act 
  • Moved forward with a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
  • Diverted millions of tons of hazardous waste from our landfills through the Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Program and the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Program 
  • Protected the 1.8 million acre Greenbelt – bigger than the size of PEI 
  • Tripled the number of species protected under the Endangered Species Act 
  • Moved toward eliminating all coal generation in Ontario
Together, we are all making choices on how we live, what we eat, and how we travel that will make a real difference to the kind of future our children and grandchildren will enjoy. Clean air, healthy land and safe water are a true and valuable legacy that we can pass on to the next generation and the generations to come.

On Earth Day and every day, let’s do all we can. Let’s make sure our actions add up and we take those important steps to protect our environment and make our great province stronger, cleaner and better for everyone.

For a more in-depth discussion on what we can do to help our earth and live in more sustainable communities, I encourage you to attend the Sustainable Community Summit that I am hosting this Saturday. More details on the Summit are attached, and can also be found on my website at yasirnaqvimpp.ca.

Happy Earth Day!