Industry-led Lawsuit Against Canada’s Plastics Regulations Back in Court
Health and environmental groups intervene to defend government’s ability to tackle plastics pollution
Press Release Date: June 25, 2024
OTTAWA/TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG PEOPLE – A coalition of health and environmental groups are back in court to support Canada’s efforts to regulate plastic pollution, following a disappointing decision from the Federal Court late last year. The industry-led lawsuit centres around the listing of plastic manufactured items as “toxic” under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
The coalition is comprised of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defence Canada, Greenpeace Canada, and Oceana Canada, represented by lawyers from Ecojustice. The groups are intervening in the appeal.
The groups maintain it is well within the federal government’s authority to list plastics as a toxic substance under CEPA. Doing so was a vital first step toward curbing plastic pollution on a national scale. The listing served as the legal basis for the government’s ban on common single-use plastics items, which took effect in December 2022.
In a decision released last November, the Federal Court declared the plastics listing unlawful, putting the ban on single-use items in jeopardy. The appeal court granted a stay, however, allowing both the CEPA listing and the ban to remain in effect until a decision is reached by the Federal Court of Appeal.
Lindsay Beck, lawyer, Ecojustice said:
“We are headed back to court because we know what’s at stake if plastics production and pollution is allowed to continue unchecked. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous and persistent, threatening human health and the environment from production to end-of-life.
“The government’s efforts to tackle the plastics crisis using CEPA remains a critical first step towards addressing the proliferation of plastics pollution and ameliorating the disproportionate harms and injustices faced by communities on the frontlines of this crisis.”
Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence Canada said:
“We are proud to intervene in this appeal in support of the federal government. Plastics are one of the most insidious and dangerous pollutants of our age and the government was absolutely right to list plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The science is clear: plastics are toxic to the environment. We look forward to seeing the listing upheld and the important work of controlling plastics continue unimpeded by industry interference.”
Lisa Gue, National Policy Manager, David Suzuki Foundation, said:
“Plastics are harmful to human health and our environment. The federal government was right to designate plastics for what they are: toxic. We hope to see the courts defend listing manufactured plastic items under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and that the government will move forward to expand the ban on harmful single-use plastics as quickly as possible.”
Anthony Merante, Senior Plastics Campaigner, Oceana Canada said:
“Plastic pollution has devastated the oceans. It is filling the stomachs of whales, choking sea turtles, and killing seabirds. Plastic has been found in the deepest parts of the oceans, in Arctic ice, and in rain clouds. Further, microplastics are building up in our blood, lungs, and brains. This has prompted Canadians to call for solutions and action to protect the environment and public health by eliminating harmful and unnecessary plastics. The federal government has responded; however Big Plastic continues to fight progress, providing no workable solutions to the crisis it created, despite what Canadians are demanding.”
Dr. Melissa Lem, Family Physician, President, Board of Directors, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) said:
“Plastics pollution is creating a health crisis. We cannot continue to accept the serious hazards for human health and the world’s ecosystems linked to unprecedented exposure to plastic and its by-products as the cost of doing business. Greenwashing by plastics companies does not negate the reality that 90% of plastics end up in parks, public spaces, waterways, oceans, and the human body. Listing plastic as toxic under CEPA is an important tool for health protection and environmental justice. The Government of Canada must be able to act on toxic plastics to protect public health.”
Priyanka Vittal, Legal Counsel, Greenpeace Canada said:
“Big Plastic is throwing fuel on our burning planet by blocking government action to address the pollution crisis it created. A growing global movement of people are calling for bold action to end the age of plastic, and this includes strong regulation. We hope the courts will uphold the listing of plastic manufactured items under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to allow the federal government to take further action to put people and the planet before polluters.”
For media inquiries:
Vaishali Dassani, Communications and Media Manager, Oceana Canada , 647-294-3335, vdassani@oceana.ca
Zoryana Cherwick, Communications Strategist | Ecojustice , 1-800-926-7744 ext. 277, zcherwick@ecojustice.ca
Lauren Thomas, Senior Communications Manager, Environmental Defence Canada , 647-687-2687, lthomas@environmentaldefence.ca
Laura Bergamo, Head of Media, Greenpeace Canada , 1-438-928-5237, laura.bergamo@greenpeace.org
Melanie Karalis, David Suzuki Foundation, 1-548-588-1279, mkaralis@davidsuzuki.org
Reykia Fick, Communications Director, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) 647-762-9168, media@cape.ca
About
Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits, and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca.
Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions, law, and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is a physician-directed non-profit organization working to secure human health by protecting the planet. Since its founding in 1993, CAPE’s work has achieved substantial policy victories in collaboration with many partners in the environmental and health movements. From coast to coast to coast, the organization operates throughout the country with regional committees active in most provinces and all territories.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a leading Canadian environmental non-profit organization, founded in 1990. We operate in English and French, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. We collaborate with all people in Canada, including Indigenous leadership and communities, governments, businesses, and individuals to find solutions to create a sustainable Canada through scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, communications and public engagement, and innovative policy and legal solutions. Our mission is to protect nature’s diversity and the well-being of all life, now and for the future. We envision a day where we all act on the understanding that we are one with nature.Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry, and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate, and healthy communities.
Greenpeace Canada is an independent campaigning non-profit organization, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace’s goal is to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity. Greenpeace seeks to: protect biodiversity in all its forms, – prevent pollution and abuse of the earth’s ocean, land, air and fresh water, – end all nuclear threats, promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence.