'Tories plan tight restrictions, virtual bans on toxic chemicals' - Canada

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Tories plan tight restrictions, virtual bans on toxic chemicals

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Harper has announced a new plan

to curb the use of toxic chemicals in Canada.

The plan covers compounds that were recently reviewed for their

toxicity levels. " It includes realistic and enforceable measures

that will improve the environment and protect the health and safety

of Canadians, " Harper said, with Environment Minister Rona Ambrose

and Health Minister Tony Clement at his side.

The government has earmarked $300 million for the initiative over

the next four years

The plan would virtually eliminate use of a number of particularly

toxic chemicals and place tight controls over others.

The announcement follows a seven-year effort under the Canadian

Environmental Protection Act to identify dangerous substances among

the 23,000 chemicals available in Canada.

Several hundred substances are believed to meet all the criteria to

be eliminated from use. They are persistent, bioaccumulative and

toxic to humans or the environment.

The review was completed in September.

There has been rising concern about the role of industrial chemicals

in promoting cancer and a variety of health disorders, form

infertility to autism.