KINGSTON, Ont. -- The Canadian Press -- Canada's federal and provincial environment ministers met Thursday in an attempt to find common ground on climate change, sustainable packaging and water issues.

The ministers agreed to meet again in late November, before a Canadian delegation heads to Copenhagen to the United Nations climate conference in December.Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen said the ministers agreed there is a need for more sustainable product packaging to protect the environment.
They called for specific packaging guidelines to be adopted countrywide. "There is an overall view that the amount of packaging being produced in Canada in which products are being marketed is excessive and so we want to see specific guidelines adopted nationwide so the amount of packaging will be lessened" said Gerretsen after the meeting in the eastern Ontario city of Kingston.
Ontario plans to bring in legislation to make manufacturers more responsible for the recycling of their products and packaging.
The provincial government's move is being applauded by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Toronto and other municipalities are requiring stores to charge their customers five cents for each plastic bag they give out.
However, Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice ruled out a national ban on plastic bags.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment news release