MPs Move To start with Main Update to Canada’s Most Important Environmental Legislation in Much more Than Two A long time

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, BREAST Most cancers Action QUEBEC, CANADIAN Affiliation OF Medical professionals FOR THE Environment, DAVID SUZUKI Basis, ECOJUSTICE

Coalition of health and fitness and environment groups celebrate milestone and glimpse to following actions

OTTAWA/Common, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG People today – Long-awaited amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) passed a final vote in the Residence of Commons nowadays. Passage of Bill S-5 marks a considerable milestone toward far better guarding men and women in Canada and the setting from pollution and poisonous chemical compounds. We glimpse ahead to the new provisions coming into into force and connect with for them to be applied to the greatest criteria.

Monthly bill S-5 is the 1st key update to Canada’s cornerstone environmental law given that Parliament last reformed the legislation in 1999.

Passage of Monthly bill S-5 represents important development for the adhering to explanations. 

• It introduces lengthy-overdue updates for the command of toxic substances and hazardous chemical compounds, including necessitating that precedence be given to prohibiting the most dangerous substances. The monthly bill also updates the framework for assessing and running toxic substances and increases transparency and accountability.
• The appropriate to a healthful natural environment will be acknowledged for the 1st time beneath federal law. The laws establishes a new obligation for the governing administration to uphold the ideas of environmental justice, intergenerational equity, and non-regression — making certain environmental protections cannot be rolled back. It also calls for the federal federal government to think about the cumulative impacts of toxics and their outcomes on susceptible populations. 

The government introduced the invoice to start with in the Senate very last yr. The Senate and House committees finding out the invoice both authorized some vital strengthening amendments. Bill S-5 will now develop into legislation following the Senate testimonials the Dwelling of Commons’ amendments. 

Although we welcome passage of the invoice, we note that MPs rejected a lot of amendments that would have further strengthened it. There is additional to do to finish the approach of CEPA modernization, which include getting rid of barriers to citizen lawsuits when there are violations of the Act, motion on air high-quality, labelling of dangerous substances in consumer products and solutions, and strengthening handle of genetically engineered animals.

Atmosphere and Local weather Alter Minister Steven Guilbeault has indicated that he intends to introduce a 2nd CEPA modernization bill. It will require to handle these fantastic tips for CEPA reform to enhance Invoice S-5. 

Cassie Barker, Toxics Senior Plan Supervisor, Environmental Defence, explained:

“After extra than a ten years of advocacy, Canada’s cornerstone toxics regulation will before long have new legal resources to superior secure us from harmful substances. However, further more motion is wanted, and we are eager to see the government get to do the job on the future CEPA monthly bill. We urge the federal government to produce on its promise to demand mandatory labelling of unsafe ingredients, because we all are entitled to the proper to know what toxics are in the products we use every working day.”

Dr. Elaine MacDonald, Balanced Communities Application Director, Ecojustice, said:

“While not a in depth modernization of CEPA, Monthly bill S-5 introduces extensive-overdue updates for the management of harmful substances and hazardous chemical substances. It also acknowledges the correct to a balanced environment for the to start with time in federal regulation – a suitable that is integral to the whole enjoyment of a vast range of human legal rights, together with the right to life, overall health, food, water, and sanitation.”

Jennifer Beeman, Government Director, Breast Cancer Motion Quebec, mentioned:

“Bill S-5 introduces some much-desired new requirements and instruments, these kinds of as the view record, to reign in the widespread use of harmful chemical compounds. Even so, the bill also pushes the framework for action on a range of important troubles, notably the implementation of the suitable to a wholesome natural environment, to progress immediately after the bill’s adoption. The authorities will have to have to shift swiftly to reveal that it is severe about tackling our urgent difficulties of environmental well being injustices thanks to poisonous pollution.”

Dr. Melissa Lem, CAPE Board President and family health practitioner explained:

“Whether it is bronchial asthma, cancer or reproductive concerns, overall health gurus deal with individuals suffering the negative wellness results of polluted environments just about every day. This is why extended-awaited reforms to the Canadian Environmental Safety Act (CEPA), and the passage of Monthly bill S-5 currently, are fantastic news for environmental and human health and fitness, and environmental justice. However the authorities will have to choose more motion on toxics for the wellbeing of folks in Canada—a following CEPA reform monthly bill are unable to occur far too before long.”

Lisa Gue, National Plan Supervisor, David Suzuki Foundation, explained:

“Passage of Invoice S-5 marks a significant milestone for environmental legal rights in Canada, inscribing the ideal to a nutritious natural environment in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Now the perform commences to protect that appropriate and uphold the basic principle of environmental justice.” 

For far more facts see our media backgrounder on Monthly bill S-5.

– 30 –

For far more information and facts or to ask for an interview, you should make contact with:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, [email protected], 705-435-8611

Viorica Lorcencova, [email protected], 514-443-8437 

Reykia Fick, [email protected], 647-762-9168 

Brendan Glauser, [email protected], 604-356-8829  

Sean O’Shea, Ecojustice, [email protected], 416-368-7533 ext. 523