MPs Move 1st Key Update to Canada’s Most Important Environmental Law in More Than Two Decades

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, BREAST Most cancers Action QUEBEC, CANADIAN Association OF Medical professionals FOR THE Surroundings, DAVID SUZUKI Foundation, ECOJUSTICE

Coalition of well being and surroundings teams rejoice milestone and appear to following steps

OTTAWA/Regular, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG Men and women – Prolonged-awaited amendments to the Canadian Environmental Safety Act (CEPA) passed a remaining vote in the Household of Commons right now. Passage of Invoice S-5 marks a important milestone to far better preserving men and women in Canada and the environment from air pollution and poisonous chemical compounds. We look forward to the new provisions getting into into force and phone for them to be executed to the greatest criteria.

Monthly bill S-5 is the 1st big update to Canada’s cornerstone environmental regulation considering that Parliament very last reformed the regulation in 1999.

Passage of Invoice S-5 signifies essential progress for the next reasons. 

• It introduces long-overdue updates for the handle of poisonous substances and risky substances, which include requiring that priority be specified to prohibiting the most dangerous substances. The bill also updates the framework for evaluating and controlling toxic substances and improves transparency and accountability.
• The suitable to a healthier environment will be recognized for the first time underneath federal regulation. The laws establishes a new obligation for the govt to uphold the concepts of environmental justice, intergenerational equity, and non-regression — making sure environmental protections are not able to be rolled back. It also requires the federal federal government to take into consideration the cumulative impacts of toxics and their results on susceptible populations. 

The federal government introduced the bill to start with in the Senate past yr. The Senate and Home committees finding out the invoice the two approved some vital strengthening amendments. Invoice S-5 will now come to be legislation soon after the Senate evaluations the Household of Commons’ amendments. 

When we welcome passage of the bill, we be aware that MPs rejected quite a few amendments that would have even more strengthened it. There is much more to do to finish the course of action of CEPA modernization, such as getting rid of obstacles to citizen lawsuits when there are violations of the Act, motion on air quality, labelling of hazardous substances in consumer products and solutions, and strengthening management of genetically engineered animals.

Atmosphere and Local weather Improve Minister Steven Guilbeault has indicated that he intends to introduce a second CEPA modernization monthly bill. It will have to have to tackle these exceptional tips for CEPA reform to enhance Bill S-5. 

Cassie Barker, Toxics Senior System Manager, Environmental Defence, stated:

“After much more than a ten years of advocacy, Canada’s cornerstone toxics legislation will quickly have new lawful resources to better guard us from harmful substances. Even so, further motion is required, and we are keen to see the authorities get to operate on the upcoming CEPA invoice. We urge the government to supply on its guarantee to have to have obligatory labelling of unsafe elements, because we all should have the appropriate to know what toxics are in the merchandise we use each individual day.”

Dr. Elaine MacDonald, Healthful Communities Software Director, Ecojustice, reported:

“While not a extensive modernization of CEPA, Bill S-5 introduces long-overdue updates for the regulate of harmful substances and hazardous substances. It also recognizes the ideal to a healthful setting for the initially time in federal legislation – a appropriate that is integral to the comprehensive satisfaction of a wide vary of human rights, which includes the correct to existence, wellbeing, food, drinking water, and sanitation.”

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

“Bill S-5 introduces some substantially-desired new requirements and equipment, these kinds of as the view list, to reign in the common use of poisonous substances. Having said that, the invoice also pushes the framework for motion on a selection of key concerns, notably the implementation of the proper to a healthier natural environment, to improvement immediately after the bill’s adoption. The authorities will need to have to move immediately to show that it is severe about tackling our urgent difficulties of environmental health injustices due to toxic pollution.”

Dr. Melissa Lem, CAPE Board President and loved ones health practitioner claimed:

“Whether it’s bronchial asthma, most cancers or reproductive problems, wellness industry experts deal with people suffering the negative health consequences of polluted environments just about every working day. This is why prolonged-awaited reforms to the Canadian Environmental Safety Act (CEPA), and the passage of Monthly bill S-5 currently, are good news for environmental and human health and fitness, and environmental justice. Still the federal government need to consider further motion on toxics for the well being of people in Canada—a next CEPA reform invoice can not appear far too shortly.”

Lisa Gue, National Plan Manager, David Suzuki Foundation, mentioned:

“Passage of Monthly bill S-5 marks a major milestone for environmental rights in Canada, inscribing the ideal to a healthier environment in the Canadian Environmental Defense Act. Now the get the job done begins to shield that ideal and uphold the basic principle of environmental justice.” 

For extra details see our media backgrounder on Bill S-5.

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For more facts or to ask for an job interview, please contact:

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