e-1711 (Environmental pollution)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• There are scientific facts proving that the use of plastic bags causes damage to wildlife and natural habitats. Human population is also affected by the damages wrought by plastic bags found almost everywhere. Indeed, discarded plastic bags are easily transferred into wildlife habitats, such as oceans, since they are widely used and can travel great distances. The environmental impacts of plastic bags affect both the current and future generations. For example, humans are at risk of ingesting an escalating amount of plastic chemicals found in fish, the latter consuming more and more plastic residues. More than one million wild animals die each year due to the ingestion of harmful plastic residues, which many originate from plastic bags; and
• The aim of this petition is twofold. First, we call upon the government to create rules in order to regulate the use of plastic bags in government buildings, thus respecting the sustainable development goals set by both the international community and the government. Canada must lead the way for the achievement of sustainable development goals, which can be, in part, reached with measures such as limiting the distribution of plastic bags where the government has the authority to do so. Second, Canada must have a cohesive way of enforcing environmental regulations regarding the use of plastic bags.