Evironmental Law: Enforcement Measures And Effectiveness Essay

Evironmental Law Enforcement Measures and Effectiveness     Pollution, wherefore is it still running rampant in our environment at present ?Are there no laws to control or stop it ? In regards to these questions,Canada has a great many laws to stop and regulate pollution. But despite this,why is it still happening. What are Canadas so called enforcement measures andare they effective ? We drive home the environmental Bill of Rights and the CanadianEnvironmental Protection Act, just to name a few. sure enough some taintrs breakthese laws and get caught, but all they get is a slap on the wrist why is that? Some even have the gual to pollute again. Acid rain and hazardous wastesare just two of the many problems plaguing our environment today, but nothing isreally being done about them why ? Finally what is the polluters point ofview in all of this ?     To begin with, in some areas there are both federal and provinciallegislation to arrest that companies and individuals respect the environment.Federally the central piece of legislation in Canada is the CanadianEnvironmental Protection Act (CEPA). "CEPA is the consolidation of fivestatutes The Environmental Contaminants Act, the Air bore Act, the CanadaWater Act, the Ocean Dumping Act, and the Department of the Environment Act." (Muldon, 1995, p. 23) The CEPA contains important penalties and sanctionsprovisions for the collection of information and for evaluation provisions forthe control of importation and exportation of virulent substances and provisionsfor the reduction of wastes, the cleanup of coastal zones, the protection of theozone layer the reduction of acid rain and urban smog and provisions for thedevelopment of regulations. All provinces and territories have enacted theirown legislation, establishing general environmental rights and responsibilitiesbut the level of environmental protection established is not equal all acrossCanada. Generally, it c an be state that each province and territory regulates thedischarge of contaminants into the environment by requiring licenses and permitsand by invoking penalties. The regulated matters include environmental impactassessment, waste management, drinkable water standards, and domain conservation.(Morrison, 1991, p24) Also, provinces and territories deal with several othermatters i... ...5, November 17). Spend more to protect environmentresidents say. Toronto Star, p. A3.     Monchuk, J. (1994, November 4). Pollution control must be voluntary,Alberta says. The Montreal Gazette, p. B8.     Morrison, H. (1991) Federal Pollution Legislation. Canada Ministerof cut and Service.     Muldon, P. (1995). The Environmental Bill of Rights A practicalguide. Toronto Edond Montgomery Publications Limited.     Parker, P. (1992, March/April). Crime and Punishment. TheEnvironmental Journal, pp.35-39.      Poch, H. (1989). Corporate and Municipal Environmental Law. TorontoCarswell.     Rovet, E. (1988). The Canadian Business Guide to Environmental Law.VancouverIntself Counsel Press Ltd.     Small, P. (1993, June 18). NDP reports jump in polluters fines.Toronto Star, p. A10.     Sterling, H. (1995, September 22). Backward steps for differentreasons, on both sides of the border, the fight against pollution is underattack. The Montreal Gazette, p. B3.(