I am so excited about these changes! Canadians deserve protection from the effects of harmful chemicals and pollutants. And we deserve the right to a heathy environment.
When I was a Member of the Standing Committee on Environment we called for stronger protection, and amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to protect Canadians. Our Government committed to modernizing it, and yesterday, we delivered on this promise, by tabling Bill C-28 to get it done.
This Bill recognizes a right to a healthy environment for every individual in Canada as provided for under CEPA – a first in a federal statute in Canada – providing continued support for strong environmental and health standards now and in the future.
It includes assessing real life exposure based on the cumulative effects of a substance in combination with exposure to other substances, not just on its own.
We’ll implement a new regime for toxic substances that pose the highest risk in order to better protect Canadians.
Through a Watch List of substances, we will support the shift to less harmful chemicals.
We will give Canadians greater access to the information about the substances they are exposed to, by enhancing mandatory labelling for certain consumer products!
This is the first major reform to CEPA in over 20 years.
