As Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 continues to be considered by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, more concerns are being raised about the importance of strengthening Canada’s cornerstone environmental legislation.
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is intended to address pollution prevention, control of toxic substances and products of biotechnology, air and water pollution, hazardous wastes, environmental emergencies, and more. CEPA is critical to protecting the most vulnerable Canadians – children, people living on a low income, workers, and Indigenous communities – who are disproportionately exposed to environmental contaminants.
In a recent blog post, CELA Counsel Joseph Castrilli argued that it will be hard for Canada to declare that it has protected ‘30 by 30’ if the humans and wildlife within those zones continue to be subjected to some of the most pernicious substances on the planet.
Joseph Castrilli was also widely quoted in the media earlier this month, in articles saying the federal government is playing a dangerous game by refusing to force any company that makes or uses toxic chemicals to have a plan in place to prevent them from getting into the environment.
CELA is producing a new series on Bill S-5 and the need for reform of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act; check out our law reform page for new postings.