Reduction of plastic pollution

Petition: 438

Issue(s): Human health/environmental health; Other; Toxic substances; Waste management

Petitioner(s): A Canadian Organization

Petitioner Location(s): Mono, Ontario

Date Received: 22 January 2020

Status: Completed—Response(s) to petition received

Summary: The petition raises concerns about plastic pollution. It claims that the federal government has taken little action on the issue, despite research showing the pollution’s negative effects on human health, particularly for children.

The petition asks what the federal government will do to legislate a ban on all single-use plastics within the next 2 years. The petition also wants to know when the government will prohibit the manufacture and distribution of “non-essential” plastic products that cannot be recycled and that contain toxic chemicals. Finally, the petition asks when and in what sequence the government will phase out all subsidies to plastic, coal, gas, and oil companies within the next 2 years.

Federal Departments Responsible for Reply: Environment and Climate Change Canada; Health Canada