Modernizing Canada's Main Pollution Law
Dozens of Canadian Civil Society Organizations Support Amendments To:
Protect the Young and Vulnerable
Cut Out Endocrine Disruptors
Fight Climate Change Enforce Clean Air and Empower Citizens
Using systematic, pragmatic science and substitution
October 17th, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The proposed amendments to the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA) will better protect
human health and the environment from toxic substances. CEPA has not been updated in two decades, and it is urgent to introduce the amendments during the Fall 2018 session of Parliament.
“Hormone-related cancers and chronic diseases are increasing, especially in younger Canadians. These CEPA amendments would enable modern systematic science, to address endocrine disrupting and other toxic substances, and to shift toward healthiest options across the board”, said Dr. Meg Sears, Chair of Prevent Cancer Now.
The amendments address five areas of concern: (1) control over
endocrine disrupting substances; (2) protection of vulnerable populations from toxic substances; (3) substitution of
safer alternatives to toxic substances; (4) establishment of enforceable national ambient air quality standards; and (5) civil enforcement
of CEPA by the public in the courts.
Particularly timely is the requirement for substantially improved substitutes. Carbon dioxide is listed as "toxic" under CEPA, and the International Panel on Climate
Change has signalled that rapid, dramatic reductions in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are necessary to
blunt catastrophic climate change. Addressing climate change urgently requires a great number of wise
decisions on how to do things differently. The
proposed CEPA amendments include legislative tools for broad scientific considerations, to make
the healthiest possible choices.
Without diminishing the enormous risks to global survival posed by climate change, causes of cancer
include wildfire smoke, mould in flooded buildings, toxicants mobilized during extreme weather, malnutrition, sun
exposure and other stressors.
For further information, please contact: Meg Sears PhD 613 297-6042 - 30 -
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