If we look at the historical data, we see that in the years between 1990 and 2005, the use of major appliances in Canada increased 38 per cent. During that same period, however, the total energy consumed by these appliances went down by 17 per cent. Clearly, it has been seen that by creating energy efficiency standards for products like these, and by providing Canadian consumers with the information they need through labelling programs like EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR, we are making solid progress in the achievement of Canada's climate change goals.

Effective action on energy-consuming equipment and appliances requires steps on two fronts: standards for the energy yield of appliances and an appropriate, consumer-focused system to label and evaluate energy performance.

the implementation of new energy performance standards to strengthen existing energy-efficiency standards for a number of products that consume electricity, including light bulbs, in order to reduce emissions from the use of consumer and commercial products; and

Effective action on energy-consuming equipment and appliances requires steps on two fronts: standards for the energy yield of appliances and an appropriate, consumer-focused system to label and evaluate energy performance.

Proposals for a third phase as referred to in Article 9(2) might be necessary if, before the assessment is completed on 31 december 2005, the results achieved are not those expected, the expectation in question being that the average market share, at EU level, of ballasts meeting the energy efficiency standards of CELMA type A would be greater than 55 %.

These fuel efficiency standards, or tailpipe emissions standards, have been aligned with our largest trading partner, the United States. In part, that is because we share the same economic space, the same energy space and the same environmental space as the United States; and in part, it is because it makes more sense to pursue a coordinated approach to address the challenges that we face in both areas.