The Liberal government is “focused” on keeping plastics as part of the economy, even as it moves forward with the banning of certain items..Testifying at the Commons environment committee, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson wavered on a pledge to blacklist plastics as toxic under federal law even though he was asked six times, said Blacklock’s Reporter..“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,” said Wilkinson..“That is the focus of the work we are doing.”.“Do you believe plastics are toxic?” asked Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton Riverbend)..“Well, plastics are not toxic in the normal sense of the word that people use pejoratively, and I don’t think anybody says they are,” replied Wilkinson..The Environment department has proposed by year’s end to impose an outright ban on the sale of six plastic products including single-use checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings and polystyrene take-out food containers..The Liberal cabinet last October 10 also proposed to list plastics as toxic alongside asbestos and mercury under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act..But Canadian industry protested the listing would stigmatize plastics used to manufacture everyday products from baby bottles to intravenous tubes..MP Jeneroux: “If these aren’t toxic, why are we adding them to the toxic substance list?”Minister Wilkinson: “We’re not adding them – ”MP Jeneroux: “Why are we adding them to the toxic substance list?”Minister Wilkinson: “I am saying the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is the tool we use as a government, as all governments in Canada, to ensure we are appropriately managing the way in which we deal with environmental issues. Certainly we found through the science that was conducted that plastics are harmful in the environment, and we need a plan to ensure that doesn’t continue to happen.”.New Democrat MP Laurel Collins (Victoria) also pressed the Minister..“Can you provide us an update on the timeline for the listing?” she asked..“We continue to work on the overall plastics plan,” replied Wilkinson..“We are certainly working very hard to make as much progress as we can over the course of the coming months.”.“Can I just get confirmation you are committed to the listing of this as toxic under the Act?” asked Collins..“Any update on timing?”.“Well, again, we went through the scientific process. That’s the first step,” was the reply..“I have to make a determination. We certainly saw in the science that plastics are harmful in the environment and that would meet the bar of listing in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.”.The department has stated plastics are not a risk to human health..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The Liberal government is “focused” on keeping plastics as part of the economy, even as it moves forward with the banning of certain items..Testifying at the Commons environment committee, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson wavered on a pledge to blacklist plastics as toxic under federal law even though he was asked six times, said Blacklock’s Reporter..“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,” said Wilkinson..“That is the focus of the work we are doing.”.“Do you believe plastics are toxic?” asked Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton Riverbend)..“Well, plastics are not toxic in the normal sense of the word that people use pejoratively, and I don’t think anybody says they are,” replied Wilkinson..The Environment department has proposed by year’s end to impose an outright ban on the sale of six plastic products including single-use checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings and polystyrene take-out food containers..The Liberal cabinet last October 10 also proposed to list plastics as toxic alongside asbestos and mercury under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act..But Canadian industry protested the listing would stigmatize plastics used to manufacture everyday products from baby bottles to intravenous tubes..MP Jeneroux: “If these aren’t toxic, why are we adding them to the toxic substance list?”Minister Wilkinson: “We’re not adding them – ”MP Jeneroux: “Why are we adding them to the toxic substance list?”Minister Wilkinson: “I am saying the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is the tool we use as a government, as all governments in Canada, to ensure we are appropriately managing the way in which we deal with environmental issues. Certainly we found through the science that was conducted that plastics are harmful in the environment, and we need a plan to ensure that doesn’t continue to happen.”.New Democrat MP Laurel Collins (Victoria) also pressed the Minister..“Can you provide us an update on the timeline for the listing?” she asked..“We continue to work on the overall plastics plan,” replied Wilkinson..“We are certainly working very hard to make as much progress as we can over the course of the coming months.”.“Can I just get confirmation you are committed to the listing of this as toxic under the Act?” asked Collins..“Any update on timing?”.“Well, again, we went through the scientific process. That’s the first step,” was the reply..“I have to make a determination. We certainly saw in the science that plastics are harmful in the environment and that would meet the bar of listing in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.”.The department has stated plastics are not a risk to human health..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694