While the ban on six blacklisted items — including single-use bags and other plastic products —is set to take effect by year’s end, it’s is unclear whether the upcoming federal ban includes the manufacture of the products in Canada, said Blacklock’s Reporter..So far, the cabinet has not spelled out whether the manufacture of the plastic products will be outlawed, the Commons environment committee was told Wednesday..“We’ve asked the federal government, if they implement these bans are they going to actually not allow them to be manufactured, imported or exported?” Michael Burt, vice-president of Dow Canada of Calgary testified..“To date they have not answered that question. I’m not sure they’ve developed that concept yet.”.The banned-for-use plastic items include: single-use checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings and polystyrene take-out food containers..“If the government continues down its current path, it is our view the stigma associated with the toxic designation will persist,” said Burt..“This will significantly impact the perception of plastic in Canada. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is meant to punish actions, not objects,” said Burt, who added plastic litter “is a problem, not plastic manufactured items.”.Burt said the ban was too extensive in its scope..“The broad designation proposed inappropriately applies to all items manufactured from primarily plastic,” he said..“It includes every electronic device society uses today, an endless array of medical and health care devices that are used to treat patients and diagnose illness, the packaging that keeps our food safe.”.“Why is the word toxic so harmful to your industry?” asked Conservative MP Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen, B.C.)..“It creates a lot of uncertainty,” replied Burt..“Individuals who have their food packaged at the local grocery store, the electronic devices they utilize every day, these are not toxic items. The designation is not appropriate.”.“Plastics are not toxic in the normal sense of the word that people use pejoratively and I don’t think anybody says they are,” said Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, in March 10 committee testimony..“We have moved forward with a comprehensive approach to addressing those, including a ban on specific items, single-use plastic items, but more generally around a focus on keeping plastics in the economy. That is the focus of the work we are doing.”
While the ban on six blacklisted items — including single-use bags and other plastic products —is set to take effect by year’s end, it’s is unclear whether the upcoming federal ban includes the manufacture of the products in Canada, said Blacklock’s Reporter..So far, the cabinet has not spelled out whether the manufacture of the plastic products will be outlawed, the Commons environment committee was told Wednesday..“We’ve asked the federal government, if they implement these bans are they going to actually not allow them to be manufactured, imported or exported?” Michael Burt, vice-president of Dow Canada of Calgary testified..“To date they have not answered that question. I’m not sure they’ve developed that concept yet.”.The banned-for-use plastic items include: single-use checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings and polystyrene take-out food containers..“If the government continues down its current path, it is our view the stigma associated with the toxic designation will persist,” said Burt..“This will significantly impact the perception of plastic in Canada. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is meant to punish actions, not objects,” said Burt, who added plastic litter “is a problem, not plastic manufactured items.”.Burt said the ban was too extensive in its scope..“The broad designation proposed inappropriately applies to all items manufactured from primarily plastic,” he said..“It includes every electronic device society uses today, an endless array of medical and health care devices that are used to treat patients and diagnose illness, the packaging that keeps our food safe.”.“Why is the word toxic so harmful to your industry?” asked Conservative MP Dan Albas (Central Okanagan-Similkameen, B.C.)..“It creates a lot of uncertainty,” replied Burt..“Individuals who have their food packaged at the local grocery store, the electronic devices they utilize every day, these are not toxic items. The designation is not appropriate.”.“Plastics are not toxic in the normal sense of the word that people use pejoratively and I don’t think anybody says they are,” said Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, in March 10 committee testimony..“We have moved forward with a comprehensive approach to addressing those, including a ban on specific items, single-use plastic items, but more generally around a focus on keeping plastics in the economy. That is the focus of the work we are doing.”