Mr.chairman, fellow members,
Please allow me to present to you a brief account on the major progress made by China in the field of environment and development, and on the work of the Expert Working Groups and of the Secretariat during the past year when the Council was not in session.
A. Major progress made by China in the field of environment and development
Since the fourth annual meeting of the Council, China has made significant progress in the field of environment and development.
1.China successfully completed the Eighth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. During the Eighth Five-Year Plan period, China boasted an annual GNP growth of 12%.In 1995,China's GNP reached RMB ＄5,760 billion. The goal of redoubling its GNP in the year 2000 over that of 1980 has been attained five years in advance. The people's living standards have noticeably increased and China's overall strength has been augmented.
2.China put forward the Ninth Five-Year Plan of the People's Republic of China for National Economic and Social Development and the Outline of the Long-Term Target for the Year 2010. It explicitly stipulates that two basic transformations in economic system and economic growth patterns should be realized, and that, the two strategies of rejuvenating China through technology and education and achieving sustainable development should be carried out. It also sets the target for environmental protection in the next five to fifteen years. It proposes that by the year 2000,environmental deterioration due to pollution and ecological destruction should be basically put under control, and that environmental quality of certain sites and localities should be improved. It further proposes that, by the year 2010,the deterioration of the ecological environment should be basically curbed, and that urban and rural environment should show obvious improvement.
3.The Fourth National Environmental Protection Congress was held. In order to realize the trans-century goals for environmental protection, the State Council convened the Fourth National Environmental Protection Congress. President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng attended the meeting and made important speeches. President Jiang pointed out that, in the course of socialist modernization, the implementation of the strategy of sustainable development must always be regarded as a significant task; economic development must be coordinated with population environment and resources; we should take into consideration not only the short-term development, but also the interests of later generations and create better conditions for future development. Premier Li Peng said," Environmental protection work is a significant and arduous task. In order to guarantee the realization of trans-century environmental protection goals, we should make due contribution to checking the deterioration trend of environment, improving environmental quality, fostering the implementation of the strategy of sustainable development and the realization of modernization".
The congress drew up plans for trans-century environmental protection work. These plans require that various localities and departments should seriously carry out environmental protection work, enforce the basic state policy of environmental protection in a comprehensive way, make efforts to implement sustainable development strategy, and foster economic development and social progress. The convening of the Fourth Environmental Protection Congress was an event of great importance in the history of China's environmental protection. It will definitely exert significant and far-reaching impact on the further implementation of the basic state policy of environmental protection and the strategy of sustainable development.
4.The State Council promulgated the Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems. It puts forward concrete goals for environmental protection for the year 2000 and major measures for attaining them. Proceeding from the present situation of environmental quality and management, it sets requirements for the people's governments, environmental protection administration departments and other departments at all levels, and defines their respective aims and responsibilities. It calls for the whole society to carry out environmental protection work in a practical way, and to seriously enforce and reinforce environmental protection laws and regulations. It stipulates hat some key points must be highlighted: drinking water sources must be well protected; the treatment of water pollution in Huaihe River, Haihe River, Liaohe River areas (the Three River Areas) and Taihu, Chaohu, Dianchi Lake areas (the Three Lake Areas) and the prevention and control of air pollution in acid rain controlled areas and SO2 controlled areas (the Two Controlled Areas) must be carried out; the comprehensive treatment of the urban environment must be effectively implemented; and regional environmental problems should be solved in a serious manner. It also stipulates that, in order to guarantee the realization of the Ninth Five-Year Plan and the Long-Term Target for 2010,the prevention, control, supervision and management of old and new pollution sources should be reinforced, environmental economy policies should be improved, and input into environmental protection work should be increased.
5.The Control Plan for the Total Quantity of Pollutant Discharge and Trans-century Afforestation Project were put into practice.
The Control Plan for the Total Quantity of Pollutant Discharge aims at controlling the total discharge quantity of certain key pollutants that do great harm to the environment, yet could be controlled through effective measures. This aim should be attained in concert with the principle of "tallying with the national conditions, giving different directions to different classes, and acting according to actual strength and ability ". The total discharge quantity of major pollutants must meet the standards set by the state; and the reduction of pollutant discharge should be equivalent to the increase of production, As the principle goes," Increase Production, But Not Pollution "or even "Increase Production, But Not Pollution "or even" Increase Production, Reduce Pollution".
The Trans-Century Plan on Afforestation Project is a practical measure to attain environmental protection goals as well as to improve environmental quality. The plan will be carried out in three Phases between the Ninth Five-Year period and the year 2010.Proceedingfrlm the principles of highlighting key points, ensuring the feasibility of technology, and guaranteeing overall benefits, the first-phase project would mainly treat the pollution in the "Three River Areas" and the "Three Lake Areas" and air pollution in the "Two Controlled Areas" previously mentioned. It also includes pollution treatment programs set up by various localities and concerned departments. The integration of these key projects can help bring about unified organization and coordination, promote supervision and management, spur the incorporation of afforestation projects into the Ninth Five-Year Plan for State Economy and Social Development by various localities and departments, give priority to the financing of these projects, and acquire extensive support from inside and outside China.
6.The construction of environmental legislation was promoted. Environmental legislation is the foundation and guarantee of environmental protection work. During the past year, China quickened its pace in the development of environmental legislation. Following the revision of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, China has promulgated the Law on the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Pollution, and revised the Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution. Currently China is examining and revising the Law on:
Ⅰ.The Prevention and Control of Environmental Noise Pollution,
Ⅱ.The Law on Energy Saving,
Ⅲ.The Law on Mineral Resources, and
Ⅳ.The Law on the Protection of Marine Environment.
These newly promulgated and revised environmental protection laws define legal responsibilities more explicitly, revise and reinforce punishments for violations of the law, and are easier to implement. The state also established 171 new nation al standards and industrial standards for environmental protection. Environmental legislation at local levels has also made much progress, with five hundred local laws on environmental protection being newly promulgated.
This year, inspection of the implementation of environmental protection laws has been carried out in six provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions-Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Qinghai. Thus far, the inspection on the implementation of environmental protection laws, which is jointly organized by the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the State Council, has been carried out for four successive years. Covering 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, the inspection investigated and handled a number of cases violating laws and regulations on environment and resources, thus seriously reducing illegal activities. Since the promulgation of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes, many cases of illegal entry of foreign garbage into China have been investigated and handled. Verification of the fulfillment of international conventions on environment was promoted.
B. The implementation of the recommendations made by the 4th meeting of CCICED
At last year's meeting, the Council proposed seven constructive recommendations to the Chinese government, and received much attention from Chinese leaders at various levels. During the past year, these recommendations, after being carefully studied by the Chinese government and the related departments, have been or are being put into practice.
1.Adhere to the principle of coordinating environment and development in policy-making, and carry out the strategy of sustainable development.
a. The State Council approved the implementation of the Ninth Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection and the Long-Term Target for 2010.The Control Plan for the Total Quantity of Pollutant Discharge and the Trans-century Plan on Afforestation Project have been incorporated into the state plan as key projects, thus promoting the capacity for overall policy-making and macroscopic control on environmental protection.
b. The Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems by the State Council stipulates that, in formulating urban and industrial development plans, and in making significant decisions on economic construction and social development such as the adjustment of industrial construction and labour force distribution, economic, social and environmental benefits must be taken as an integral whole and environment impact proof work must be done. For example, Guangdong Province incorporates environmental planning into the Outlines of the Modern Construction Project of Zhujiang Delta.Jiangsu Province's Trans-Century Strategy for the Coordination between Environment and Development established five projects for the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, such as the Blue Sky Project, the Clear Water Project, the Balanced Ecology Project, the Noiseless Environment Project, and the Purification Project.
c. The prevention and control of pollution gradually recognized and accepted as a regional responsibility. The state organized and launched the movement for the prevention and control of water pollution in Baiyangdian Lake and Huaihe River Basin, and has achieved initial success with both projects. Nine hundred ninety nine chemical pulp and paper plants with an annual production capacity of less than 5000 tons in Henan, Anhui, Shandong, and Jiangsu provinces in the Huaihe River Basin area have been closed down as of June 30th of this year. Deadlines were set for some enterprises that cause serious pollution to take pollution-reducing measures. The industrial pollution load on the basin was largely relieved. This has laid the basis for the attainment of the goal that the water of Huaihe River should become clear by the year 2000.The work on the prevention and control of water pollution in Taihu Lake Basin was started. Meetings were held on the prevention and control of water pollution in Taihu Lake Basin and control of water pollution in Taihu Lake Basin was started. Meetings were held on the prevention and control of water pollution in Taihu Lake Basin and the Liaohe River System, relevant plans were adopted, and corresponding goals and concrete measures were made clear. A leading team responsible for the prevention and control of water pollution in Taihu River Basin, Liaohe River System and Zhujiang River Basin was formed. Reports on the work of prevention control of water pollution in Chaohu Lake Basin were heard, goals for water quality of river and lake basins were set up, and monitoring systems were established to strengthen monitoring work.
d. The government of Benxi City regards the treatment of the environment as most important work. After seven years of strenuous work, the city had successfully carried out the Seven-Year Plan for the Treatment of the Environment of Benxi City which had been approved by the State Council, thus improving the environment.
Benxi used to be called" the City Invisible from the Satellite" because of heavy pollution, but now the sky is blue again, and the water has become clear. In August of this year, the Environmental Protection Committee of the State Council checked and accepted the pollution treatment work of Benxi City. What Benxi has done provides practical experience for our implemntation of the strategy of sustainable development.
e. Clean Production was actively carried out. The attestation of ISO 4000 environmental labeling was practiced, and an elimination system was adopted for outdated techniques, technology, equipment and products.
2. About Energy Resources.
a. Proceeding from the revised Law on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, and the Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems made by the State Council, clean energy sources are being actively developed and utilized, including the technology of clean coal. The policy of rationally adjusting coal prices and promoting coal processing and washing has been proposed. Limits are set for high sulfur and high ash-content coal, and the mining of high sulfur-content coal is restricted.
b. Related forces were organized, and scientific and technological inputs were increased. Research into coal processing, briquette and coal slurry production technology, coal liquefaction and gasification, advanced coal combustion technology and flue gas desulfurization technology was stressed. By the end of 1995, China's capacity for prepared coal production was 338 million tons, while its capacity for raw coal washing was 280 million tons. It is planned that by the year 2000, the capacity for raw coal washing should reach 420-450 million tons. During the Ninth Five-Year Period, RMB $18 billion would be invested in building and transforming 260 prepared coal plants. China's research and experiment in the technology of coal liquefaction and gasification has reached international levels. Capacity for the liquefaction of coal has reached 600,000 tons per year. During the built for direct liquefaction of coal.
c. According to the Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems made by the State Coucil, by the year 2000, urban residents in large and medium-size cities should use fixing-sulfur coal and other clean fuels for kitchen use, the rate of adoption of gas usage should be further expanded, and the direct use of raw coal should be phased out. Some cities have made plans to phase out of raw coal in kitchens. Deadlines have been set for the elimination of the use of raw coal. Annual plans for the use of fixing-sulfur coal and other clean fuels have been made, and are being put into practice step by step.
d. In order to reduce its reliance on coal, China is developing nuclear power in the power-deficient coastal regions. The second-phase project of Qinshan Nuclear Power Station(2×600,000kW)in Zhejiang Province has been started. The Dayawan Nuclear Power Station is running smoothly. The environmental assessment of the location of Lingao Nuclear Power Station(2×1 million kW) has been approved and construction is expected to start next year. The report on the location of Liaoning Nuclear Power Station has been examined and passed.
The development of new energy sources and recyclable energy sources has been given great importance and is actively fostered .By the end of 1995, the construction of methane-generating pits had spread to 5.7 million households, centralized methane was supplied to 83,200 households, 4.99 million square meters of solar energy geysers were built, and the installed capacity of small-sized windpower stations reached 18,700kW. In Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region alone, the total installed capacity of windpower stations is as high as 9,000kW, and a windpower station with a capacity of 1.2 million kW is being designed.
3.Develop sustainable agriculture, reduce the reliance on agro-chemicals and fertilizer, recover ecological balance.
a. At present, there are 2000-odd trial points for ecological agriculture at various levels throughout the country, including 50 trial counties and 100 demonstration areas. These trial points have developed to the stage of comprehensive implementation, and have acquired obvious ecological benefits.
b. In 1995,China put forward the "Fertile Land Plan", the purpose of which was to increase the application of organic fertilizer by encouraging the expansion of organic fertilizer sources through various channels. At the same time, the country vigorously advocated the production of green food and non-hazardous food, and worked hard to reduce the application of agro-chemicals and fertilizer.
4.Base the formulation of policies on the theory of environmental economy, improve policies concerning environmental economy.
a. Further improve economic means within the market economy system, and continuously enhance the capacity for the regulation and control of environ-mental protection. The Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems clearly states t hat the related departments of the State Council should, in the field of capital construction, technology transformation, comprehensive utilization, finance, taxes, credit, and the introduction of foreign funds, pay close attention to the formulation and improvement of economic policies and measures which aim at fostering environmental protection, as well as pre-venting environmental pollution and ecological destruction. This should be done in the light of the principle of "everyone must undo what they have done". The Ministry of Finance issued the Circular on Giving Full Play to Finance Functions and Further Promoting Environmental Protection Work, which requires that finance departments at various levels foster the protection of environment and resources by such means as tax regulation and increasing financial input, and so forth. The People's Bank of China issued the Circular on the Related Problems of Implementing Credit Policy and Promoting Environmental Protection Work .It requires that finance departments at all levels should take the support for the protection of ecological resources and the prevention and control of pollution as a prerequisite for granting loans; and that they should control the construction of pollution-causing projects by checking up on the loans thereby encouraging the development of industries that are conducive to environment al protection.
b. The Decision on a Number of Environmental Protection Problems requires that t he related departments should formulate special tax policies to restrict the production, import and use of CFC, halon, and lead-containing petroleum as quickly as possible. They should also build and improve the economic compensation system of compensating for the utilization of natural resources and recovering the ecological environment. In accordance with the principle that" pollutant discharge fees should be higher than pollution treatment costs", the existing pollutant discharge fee standard should be raised so as to press the pollution-causing units to actively treat pollution. Experimental work on collecting fees from those producing SO2 emissions should be continued, and the scope of the experiment should be gradually extended, Paid services should be adopted for the treatment of urban sewage.
5.Raise the public awareness of environment.
a. A system for the public to participate in and help supervise environment protection has been established. Environmental problems were disclosed and analyzed by newspapers. radio and television so that the attention of the various groups within society could be focused and solutions could be prompted. The "China Trans- Century Environmental Protection Inspection Campaign" of the media has been continued for the past four years, and has stimulated an active response from society, Nearly 210,000 volunteers in the country have participated in the movement to popularize environmental protection by cleaning-up more than 500 railway stations along the 23,000kms of the main railway lines of the Jing-Guang, Jing-Hu, Jing-Ha and Long-Hai routes. People enthusiastically joined in the movement, and overall environmental awareness has been improved.
The advantages of community resources were used to help in the promotion of public awareness of the environment and environmental concerns. The"Forum on Women and Environment", which was set up at the 4th Word Women's Congress, gathered together communities such as the Trade Union, the Youth League, as well as various academies, associations and environmental protection organizations, and other academic is and intellectual groups, that all contributed greatly to the popularization of scientific knowledge and environmental protection laws, These organizations and communities all played a positive role in promoting public awareness of the environment and advocating social morality on environmental protection issues.
b. Environmental protection was also incorporated into the educational system at various levels, At this time, environmental protection has been incorporated into the nine years of compulsory education for all citizens of China. Additionally, one hundred forty colleges, and nearly one hundred technical or vocational schools, across the country have set up departments of environmental protection, or established subject majors in the area of environmental protection, Environmental protection has also become part of the training program for cadres in party colleges and administrative colleges at various levels. Training on environmental protection is also offered to people from various backgrounds, including judicial cadres and managers of enterprises, to mention but a few. As a result, policy-makers and managers have increased awareness of environmental protection issues, and their understanding of sustainable development, and its important legal contest, has been strengthened.
With regard to the strengthening of international cooperation and the implementation of international conventions in the field of environment, I would not give any comment at this time. This is because a special report will be presented later during our meetings as previously arranged.
C. Tasks carried out by the expert working groups
In the light of the principle of "being practical, attaching greater importance to policy assessment and case studies" as proposed by CCICED, the expert working groups carried out their work according to their respective work guidelines, Now I will report on the working groups one by one:
1. The Working Group on Resources Accounting and Pricing Policy has made a breakthrough in their research into the pricing of coal, water and forest resources, and the general methodology of resources pricing, Based on this research into the pricing of a number of natural resources, the working group also carried out studies on the framework for the incorporation of resources and environment into the accounting system of the national economy, and has achieved relevant results.
In the course of its research work, the working group collected a large amount of data on city transport, formulated models and made a series of valuable policy suggestions.
2. The Working Group on Pollution Control systematically analyzed and assessed the environmental pollution situation and the problems in economic development and city construction in Chongqing City in the light of its current population and economic development. The completed report was entitled 'Chongqing Environment Assessment', and it proposed for short-term treatment and long-term control. At the same time the working group carried out research into the DongJiang River Basin of Guangdong Province, its geographical and economic conditions, the major functions of its water resources, rational development, the protection of water quality, industrial development in the area, and so forth. They completed a report called `Water Quality Management Planning for the DongJiang Basin in Guangdong Province'.
For next year, the group will continue to concentrate on case studies, and will begin the case study on Suzhou of Jiangsu Province and Zibo of Shandong Province. These studies will shift attention from the analysis of current environmental conditions to the prediction of, and planning for, evolution of environmental conditions, and propose relevant suggestions for the development of these cities.
3.The Working Group on Monitoring and Information Collection performed research work in the strategy for centralizing, integrating and standardizing China's environmental monitoring system, design and development work for an environmental policy support system at municipality or provincial level, and research into a new environmental indicator system and its applications for China. Along with this work, recommendations were made .At the same time, the working group conducted a training program on environmental monitoring technology ,and made plans to conduct two training programs for the environmental indicator system in order to discuss and popularize it .
4.The Working Group on Biodiversity aims at establishing a biodiversity data system, and hopes to establish a network which includes other research and management institutions concerned with biodiversity. During the year, in order to determine the actual value of forest coverage and biodiversity in certain areas, the working group conducted field investigation and research in various places, such as Xingshan County of Hubei Province. This field research work will last until 1997 .The working group is also planning to carry out two other case studies, one in the Qinghai Grassland Area and the other in the Sichuan Sub -Alpine Forest Sea. In July of this year, the working group, together with the National Environment al Protection Agency, the Ministry of Forests, and the relevant departments of the State Council, held a symposium where management personnel, scientists and technical personnel met together to discuss the policies, strategies and measures in the field of biodiversity protection, so that scientific research could be well coordinated with and serve the needs of responsible management.
5. The Working Group on Environmental Scientific Research, Technology Development and Training carried out research in two subjects: the role of China's sustainable agriculture in the coordinated development of environment and economy, and the management of sustainable water resources. It also made policy recommendations, as well as suggesting that the working group for clean production, and another group for sustainable agriculture.
6. The Working Group on Energy Strategies and Technologies continued and deepened their research in natural gas, large-scale windpower stations, transportation and geothermal energy resources, and completed three reports on large-scale windpower stations, energy efficient commercial buildings, and the functional transformation of government and enterprises. In the next phase, the working group will carry out research in coal strategy, bio-energy strategy, comprehensive resources planning, transportation and support for TVEs to save energy, and will make strategic recommendations. During the past year, the group held many workshops on the improvement of China's energy structure and the introduction of advanced technology, especially the newest energy efficient technology and techniques concerning environmental protection. This has set an example for the shift of the council's work into the practical field.
7. Since its foundation a year ago, the Working Group on Trade and Environment has started research into: China's Agenda 21 and international trade; the tendency of Green Protectionism in the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization; China's countermeasures against foreign tradesmen's transfer of pollution; China's green food and environmental protection; environmental technology transfer; environmental labeling, standards and packing, and their impact on China' s trade; mathematical models with environmental costs included, and their impact on environment and trade. The working group also completed research and made proposals on four subjects: (1)environmental technology trade and jointly executed actions,(2)China's green food and environmental trade,(3)the impact of environmental labeling on China's trade, and (4)the transfer and production of ozone-depleting substances by foreign tradesmen by means of investment, band China's countermeasures.
D. About the Work of the secretariat of CCICED
1. When Premiet Li Peng met with the international members of CCICED immediately after the 4th annual meeting of CCICED, he made it clear that the Chinese government would take the experts' opinions and recommendations seriously, and would give them ample consideration in formulating the Ninth Five-Year Plan of the state and the Long-Term Target for 2010. He said that the Chinese government attached great importance to environmental protection and sustainable development, and that the current focal point was to speed up the treatment of key pollution sources of the atmosphere and water (such as solid wastes) and noise pollution. The construction of an environmental legal system should be further strengthened, and legislation should be expedited and intensified. The government's supervisory function should be fully utilized. Participation of the broad mass of society should be encouraged, and efforts must be made to establish and complete the supervisory system which will ensure environmental protection. The secretariat compiled Premier Li Peng' s speech and distributed it to both Chinese and international members of CCICED.
2. The secretariat drafted the Executive Summary of the Fourth Conference of CCICED, After being verified by the bureau, the summary was reported to the State Council and distributed to Chinese and international members of CCICED, the concerned departments of the State Council and various local governments so that the recommendations could be adopted by various localities and government departments in their comprehensive decision-making concerning economic development. The summary mainly includes: brief account of the meeting, major achievements by the meeting. policy suggestions made by the Council to the Chinese government on the coordination between rapid economic growth and environmental protection. the strengthening of environmental management by legal means, energy resources and the development of sustainable agriculture, the decision through consultation that the Fifth Conference of CCICED should be held in Shanghai in September of 1996, and the identification of necessary preparations.
3. The secretariat assisted in the establishment of the Subject Group on Environment and Planning. After Mr. Martin lees made a speech concerning Practical Measures to Integrate Economic Planning with Environmental Conservation in China at the second conference, a subject group on environment and planning was jointly proposed by the State Planning Commission and the National Environmental Protection Agency, After careful consideration and preparation, the Subject Group on Environment and Planning was established, with the Vice-Director of the State Planning Commission as the Chinese Co-chair. The group focused their major attention toward quantitative indicators of sustainable development, and comprehensive policy-making, They plan to select three areas (the Eastern, Middle and Western part of China) and some industries (such as agriculture and the automobile sector) as trial points, following which they will work out a quantitative model, and provide quantitative indicators that could be significant in the government's policy-making concerning environmental protection. The group will submit their subject outline to the Council for discussion at this meeting.
4. About the 2nd phase of the Council, Since its founding in April, 1992, the Council has been holding annual plenary meetings for discussion and study leading to policy suggestions for the Chinese government, The council has achieved good results, Although the first phase of the Council is coming to an end, the Chinese government and the international community, especially the Canadian government, hope that the Council will continue to carry out its research work and continue to provide policy suggestions for the Chinese government. In June of this year, Profess or Drake from the Canadian Office paid a special visit to China to have further discussion with the Secretariat concerning the second phase of the Council, He conveyed the wish of the Canadian government to continue to support the work of t he Council, and hoped that other countries and international organizations would give more financial support to the Council in order to make the Council's second -phase work more practical and effective, special discussions on the second phase of the Council will be held at this meeting as scheduled,
5. In order to promote the efficiency of this meeting, the various working groups have, as required by the Council, finished their five-year work reports in advance, and distributed them to each Council member in early August. During the first half of this year, three issues of the Newsletter were compiled, published and distributed, while the collection of documents of the 4th Conference of the Council w as edited and published in both Chinese and English versions. The Canadian Office also compiled and distributed quarterly newsletters of the Council. The Secretariat of the Council requests that the various working groups not lose time in collecting, compiling and publishing their general reports after this meeting; this must be done quickly if the government is to make the most out of their recommendations in the policy-making field. The secretariat has also made, and will continue to make, more efforts to raise funds for the Council.
When this work was being done, the Secretariat remained in close contact with the Canadian Support Office in Vancouver. The Secretariat has received much support and hopes to get further support from the Canadian Office.
