Original language of petition: English
The Government of Canada recognizes that addressing plastics pollution in and around the aquatic environment is a pressing global environmental issue that requires action at all levels of government, by industry and the public.
Canada led actions on this issue during its G7 Presidency in 2018, including the development of the Ocean Plastics Charter, the G7 Innovation Challenge and international investments to support related work in developing countries. At home, the Government of Canada has adopted a comprehensive approach to meet its target of zero plastic waste by 2030. The government of Canada is working with provinces, territories, and all stakeholders to implement this agenda to keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.
An important milestone in the approach was the February 2020 publication of the Draft Science assessment on Plastic Pollution, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/evaluating-existing-substances/draft-science-assessment-plastic-pollution.html, which summarizes the current state of the science regarding the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and human health in order to guide future research and inform decision-making. The assessment recommended action to reduce plastics that end up in the environment, including microfibers, the most abundant type of microplastics found in water globally. Research is increasingly pointing to home laundry as one important source of microfiber pollution. The assessment also recommended more research to understand the potential impacts of microplastics to human health and the environment and that action be taken to reduce macro and microplastics that end up in the environment.
The government is currently considering all available scientific information, following international and domestic research on microfibers, looking to address knowledge gaps, and working to identify appropriate policies and risk management actions, where supported by scientific evidence and where warranted. A number of early actions have already been taken, including:
The Government is committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders to address microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment.
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.
Province / Territory | Signatures |
---|---|
Alberta | 29 |
British Columbia | 312 |
Manitoba | 18 |
New Brunswick | 5 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 5 |
Northwest Territories | 1 |
Nova Scotia | 11 |
Ontario | 175 |
Prince Edward Island | 2 |
Quebec | 37 |
Saskatchewan | 6 |
Yukon | 1 |