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From: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadians expect their government to protect their health and the environment from harmful chemicals and other toxic pollutants. Today, the Government of Canada took an important step forward to do just that.

“All Canadians expect and deserve a healthy environment. This bill is a big step towards strengthening the protection of Canadians’ health and the health of the lakes, rivers, lands, and forests we all love. And by making this bill one of our Government’s top legislative priorities, we are giving ourselves the best chance to see it ratified into law this Parliament. I encourage all Parliamentarians to work together to see this bill passed into law for Canadians as soon as possible.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“Science on chemicals and their effects on human health have progressed immensely since CEPA was last amended twenty years ago. Strengthening CEPA to bring it in line with what we know today about the risks associated with exposure to chemicals will better protect the environment and the health of all Canadians, particularly our most vulnerable.”
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health

“I am excited and honoured to sponsor the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act. This legislation can help us all become better stewards of our environment, making Canada a better place for us and the generations that follow.”
– Senator Stan Kutcher

• The Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act was initially introduced in the forty-third Parliament in April 2021 as Bill C-28. It has been reintroduced today in the Senate as Bill S-5.

• CEPA has had real impacts on the lives of Canadians and on the environment. Over the years, actions under CEPA have

  • prevented the release of plastic microbeads from toiletries that wash down household drains and contribute to plastic pollution in oceans, rivers, and lakes;
  • banned asbestos and products containing asbestos, as exposure to asbestos fibres is known to cause cancer and other diseases;
  • taken action on BPA (bisphenol A) by banning the manufacture, importation, sale, or advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain BPA.

• The Government will begin consultations with Canadians on a number of actions to be taken under existing Acts, including on proposed amendments to enhance supply chain transparency and strengthen mandatory labelling, on updates to regulations on products of biotechnology and on proposed amendments to the Cosmetic Regulations.