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Environment, Climate Change, & Energy platforms

Here's what the candidates in Portage—Lisgar, and their parties, are promising.

Carbon pricing

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We don't have any PPC policies on Carbon pricing.

Green

Maintain a broad-based, revenue neutral carbon fee on all sources of carbon dioxide pollution. Revenues from the carbon fee would be returned to Canadians as a dividend.

Liberal

Maintain and continue to increase the current federally mandated price on carbon.

Conservation

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We don't have any PPC policies on Conservation.

Green

  • Give Canadians the right to a healthy environment.
  • Expand marine protected areas to 30% of territorial waters by 2030.
  • Ramp up development and implementation of endangered species recovery plans.
  • Commit $400m to create Indigenous-led protected and conserved areas.

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Pass legislation to give Canadians the right to a healthy environment, promoting greater transparency in decision-making, public participation rights and access to judicial review mechanisms.

Expand marine protected areas from 10 to 30 per cent of Canada’s territorial waters by 2030.

Increase funding to federal departments to dramatically ramp up the development and implementation of endangered species recovery plans required by legislation, placing tight deadlines on completion and invoking emergency powers of the federal government to protect species when provincial governments fail to do so.

Protect a minimum of 30 per cent of freshwaters, oceans and land by 2030.

Commit $100 million annually over the next four years to create Indigenous-led protected and conserved areas and fund stewardship of these lands and waters by Indigenous guardians.

Fully restore the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which was gutted by the Harper government in 2012, and adopt the recommendations of the independent Expert Panel on Environmental Assessment, commissioned by the Liberals and then ignored.

Increase funding to Parks Canada to ensure that the ecological integrity of our national parks is maintained, and where necessary restored, and that heritage sites are fully protected and maintained.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

Protect 30% of land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030, work with other levels of government to develop urban national parks, and develop a national approach to tree-planting to lower Canada's carbon-footprint.

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Conservation is a vital way to protect ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. New Democrats will protect 30% of our land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 and back those protections with funding and enforcement. We’ll also work with other levels of government to develop a system of urban national parks – and a national approach to tree-planting using responsible reforestation to help lower our carbon footprint.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Liberal

  • Conserve 25% of Canada's land and 25% of Canada's territorial waters by 2025, working toward 30% of each by 2030.
  • Introduce Canada's first-ever Aquaculture act.
  • Invest in marine science and fighting invasive species.
  • Protect fish stocks and marine habitats from climate change.

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To better support healthy ecosystems that help fight climate change, we will move forward with an ambitious plan to plant two billion trees over 10 years. This will help create about 3,500 seasonal jobs in tree planting each year, and will be part of a $3 billion commitment to better conserve and restore forests, grasslands, agricultural lands, wetlands, and coastal areas.

From Forward, retrieved 2019-10-01.

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Emissions targets

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We don't have any PPC policies on Emissions targets.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Emissions targets.

Green

Pass into law a Climate Change Act requiring a 60% cut in climate-changing emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, reaching net zero in 2050.

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  • Interim targets would be set at five-year intervals beginning with 2025.
  • Set legal emissions limits for industries that decline over time, with penalties for exceeding those limits.

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NDP

Declare a climate emergency, put in place greenhouse gas reductions targets to stabilize the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celcius, and create an independent Climate Accountability Office to do regular audits of progress towards climate goals.

Liberal

  • Work towards net-zero by 2050.
  • Set legally-binding, 5-year milestones.
  • Appoint a group of scientists, economists, & experts to recommend the best path to net-zero.
  • Introduce a Just Transition Act to transition energy workers to other industries.
  • Plant 2b trees over 10 years.

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set legally-binding, five-year milestones, based on the advice of the experts and consultations with Canadians, to reach net-zero emissions;

appoint a group of scientists, economists, and experts to recommend the best path to get to net-zero;

exceed Canada’s 2030 emissions goal by introducing new carbon reducing measures; and

ensure energy workers and communities can shape their own futures by introducing a Just Transition Act, giving workers access to the training, support, and new opportunities needed to succeed in the clean economy.

From Forward, retrieved 2019-10-01.

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Energy production

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We don't have any PPC policies on Energy production.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Energy production.

Green

  • Implement a major ramp-up of renewable energy with 100% of Canada's electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030, including in remote and northern communities.
  • Implement a national electrical grid strategy to enable renewable energy flow between provinces and territories.

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Implement a major ramp-up of renewable electricity. By 2030, 100 per cent of Canada’s electricity will come from renewable sources. This includes getting remote and northern communities off diesel generators.

To enable renewable electricity to flow across provincial and territorial boundaries, implement a national electrical grid strategy, including building connections between eastern Manitoba and western Ontario, and upgrading connections between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This will be paid for with money now allocated for expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline ($1.6 billion announced in December 2018, towards an estimated $10-13 billion), and create thousands of jobs nation-wide.

Work with provincial governments to determine which orphaned oil and gas wells are geologically suited to produce geothermal energy. This will turn provincial liabilities into potential income-generating renewable energy, ideally in partnership with First Nations. Those with weaker geothermal energy potential may be used in district energy, including for greenhouses.

From _Election Platform 2019_, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

  • Establish a Canadian Climate Bank to power Canada with net carbon-free electricity by 2030, encourage smart grid technology, and support made-in-Canada manufacturing of renewable energy technologies.
  • Support community owned clean energy products.

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New Democrats will set a target to power Canada with net carbon-free electricity by 2030 and move to 100% non-emitting electricity by 2050. To drive this progress, we will establish a new Canadian Climate Bank. This bank will help boost investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low carbon technology across the country. It will also provide support for interested provinces to inter-connect power grids and introduce smart grid technology to bolster Canada’s energy security and distribute clean power across the country. The Climate Bank will also support made-in-Canada manufacturing of renewable energy components and technologies, and help scale up Canada’s clean energy industry.

Meeting this carbon-free electricity goal in a way that respects local communities and creates good jobs is essential. We’ll support investments in innovative community-owned and operated clean energy projects to keep jobs and expertise local, work in partnership with Indigenous and northern communities to move off diesel, improve energy security, and cut emissions and air pollution.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Liberal

Create a new $5 billion Clean Power Fund to support electrification of Canadian industries and transition northern, remove, and Indigenous communities off diesel power, sourced through the Canada Infrastructure Bank's existing resources.

Fossil fuel subsidies

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We don't have any PPC policies on Fossil fuel subsidies.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Fossil fuel subsidies.
We don't have any Liberal policies on Fossil fuel subsidies.

Freshwater

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We don't have any PPC policies on Freshwater.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Freshwater.

Green

  • Using the existing Green Infrastructure Fund, launch a national program to restore natural buffer zones along waterways.
  • Invest in climate-proofing essential infrastructure, prioritizing drinking and waste water systems to protect against flooding, droughts, and contamination.

NDP

  • Implement a national freshwater strategy and work with provinces and territories to protect waterways under international agreements.
  • Fully restore navigable waters protections for all of Canada's lakes and rivers.

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Canada’s freshwater resources are critical for the health and well-being of our ecosystems, our communities, and our local economies. A New Democrat government will implement a national freshwater strategy and work with the provinces and territories to protect our waterways under international agreements. We will also reverse the harmful changes brought in by the Conservatives, fully restore navigable waters protections for all of Canada’s lakes and rivers, and invest in research to support freshwater protections.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Green buildings and housing

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We don't have any PPC policies on Green buildings and housing.

Green

  • Launch a massive energy efficiency retrofit of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings, financed through direct grants, zero-interest loans, and repayments based on energy/cost savings.
  • Require new construction to meet net-zero emission standards by 2030.

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Launch a massive energy efficiency retrofit of residential, commercial and institutional buildings. To make a renewable energy transition possible, we have to eliminate energy waste. According to trade union research, this will create over four million jobs.

Finance building retrofits and installation of renewable energy technologies such as solar and heat pumps through direct grants, zero-interest loans and repayments based on energy/cost savings.

Change the national building code to require new construction to meet net-zero emission standards by 2030 and work with the provinces to enact it.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

  • Require and fund large-scale building retrofits in all sectors to reduce energy demand.
  • Retrofit all housing stock in Canada by 2050, with low-interest loans payable through energy savings.
  • Update the National Building Code to ensure net-zero energy in new buildings by 2030.

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[...] a key component of our plan is to require large-scale building retrofits in all sectors to reduce energy demand, create jobs, and save people money. A New Democrat government would begin by working in partnership with the provinces and territories to fund energy efficient retrofits on social housing units and government buildings, expanding outwards from there.

We will set a target of retrofitting all housing stock in Canada by 2050, providing low-interest loans repayable through energy savings to pay for home upgrades like insulation, windows, heat pumps, and other renewable technologies.

We’ll improve the National Building Code to ensure that by 2030, every new building built in Canada is net-zero energy ready. Energy efficiency and sustainable building practices will be at the core of our national housing strategy, leveraging the power of federal investments to create good jobs all across the country delivering the affordable housing Canadians need.

To set our communities up for climate change resilience, a New Democrat government will work with provinces, municipalities, and Indigenous government to make sure that Canadian communities have the resources they need to cope safely with extreme weather events.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Liberal

  • Help retrofit 1.5 million homes for energy efficiency.
  • Give interested homeowners and landlords a free energy audit.
  • Help homeowners and landlords pay for retrofits with an interest-free loan of up to $40,000.
  • Introduce a Net Zero Homes Grant of up to $5000.

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help retrofit 1.5 million homes to help Canadians make their homes more energy efficient, and better protect them from climate-related risks;

give interested homeowners and landlords a free energy audit;

help homeowners and landlords pay for retrofits by giving them an interest-free loan of up to $40,000;

help people buy newly built homes that are certified zero-emissions by giving them a Net Zero Homes Grant of up to $5,000; and

To help Canadians save more on their monthly energy bills, we will also move forward with making Energy Star certification mandatory for all new home appliances starting in 2022.

And to help make large commercial buildings more energy efficient, we will move forward with a national competition to create four $100-million long-term funds to help attract private capital that can be used for deep retrofits of large buildings, such as office towers.

From Forward, retrieved 2019-09-30.

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Green governance

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We don't have any PPC policies on Green governance.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Green governance.

Green

Establish a cross-party inner cabinet to deal with climate change, mandated to ensure Canada does its part to limit global warming to a level civilization can survive, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
We don't have any NDP policies on Green governance.
We don't have any Liberal policies on Green governance.

Green government operations

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We don't have any PPC policies on Green government operations.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Green government operations.
We don't have any Green policies on Green government operations.

NDP

Procure for government from Canadian companies involved in clean technology, ensure that federal buildings use renewable energy, and move vehicle fleets to fully electric by 2025, choosing made-in-Canada where possible.
We don't have any Liberal policies on Green government operations.

Green jobs

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We don't have any PPC policies on Green jobs.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Green jobs.

Green

Phase out fossil fuel subsidies and invest the money in green economic sectors.

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Establish a Canadian Sustainable Generations Fund to make critical investments in trades, apprenticeships and education required for the transition to a green economy. These investments in skills training will complement targeted national infrastructure investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy production, digital upgrades, clean-tech manufacturing and emerging technologies, tourism, the creative economy, and the care economy.

Establish a National Community Benefit Strategy that leverages public procurement to maximize opportunities for social hiring and procurement, including Indigenous procurement, youth employment and demand-driven skills development programs.

Enhance the federal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy by creating a Community and Environment Service Corps. This will provide $1 billion annually to municipalities to hire Canadian youth.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

  • Create over 300,000 jobs within a first mandate, and rebuild local economies with family-sustaining work country-wide.
  • Bring more innovative clean technologies to market.
  • Protect workers' pensions.
  • Invest in infrastructure to contribute to emissions reductions.

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Our plan will create over 300,000 good jobs in all communities within a first mandate, and rebuild local economies with meaningful, family-sustaining work in every part of the country, all while helping to make the changes we need to succeed in a low-carbon future.

New Democrats are making a commitment to workers most impacted by the changes in our economy that they will not pay the price of action on climate change. We will work together with labour, employers, and the provinces and territories to find solutions for workers and communities, including dedicated employment support that combines access to expanded EI benefits, re-training, and job placement services, paired with significant investments to create quality local jobs and support thriving communities.

We’ll work with the provinces to provide training and re-training for the new job market, as well as labour market research to keep Canada on the cutting edge of the evolving work environment.

New Democrats will also vigorously defend pensions, so that workers can always count on the retirement security that they’ve earned, and make sure that people who are close to the end of their careers have a bridge to a dignified retirement.

An important part of our plan will include making sure that physical, digital, and social infrastructure investments contribute to emissions reductions and support all regions and communities,especially those already experiencing the impacts of climate change with the good, family-sustaining jobs they bring.

We will also expand support and technological assistance to bring more innovative Canadian clean technologies to market and support manufacturing right here at home.

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Major energy projects

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We don't have any PPC policies on Major energy projects.

Conservative

  • Create a national energy corridor to carry Canadian energy & resources from coast to coast.
  • Repeal Bill C-69.
  • End ban on shipping traffic on the north coast of BC.
  • Build the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
  • Assert federal jurisdiction over projects that are "for the general advantage".

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We will replace Bill C-69 with a new process that sets clear expectations and timelines for environmental reviews. This will secure and maintain investment in Canada's energy sector as we restore confidence and certainty.

Further, we will reduce politicization of the review process and make sure that all designated projects undergo a rigorous consultation process. Foreign funded groups will be banned from using the approvals process to blog energy projects that are in our national interest. This new process will adhere to world-class environmental standards.

A new Conservative government will work collaboratively with provinces, territories, industry, and Indigenous groups.

From Andrew Scheer's Plan for You to Get Ahead, retrieved 2019-10-11.

To promote mutually beneficial conversations between Indigenous communities and resource project proponents, we will provide $10 million per year to the organizations that foster collaboration and encourage strong partnerships between these two groups.

From Andrew Scheer's Plan for You to Get Ahead, retrieved 2019-10-11.

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Green

  • Approve no new pipelines, or coal, oil, or gas drilling or mining.
  • Continue extant oil and gas operations on a declining basis with bitumen production phased out between 2030 and 2035.
  • Ban fracking.
  • Cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline.

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  • No new pipelines, or coal, oil or gas drilling or mining, including offshore wells, will be approved. Existing oil and gas operations will continue on a declining basis, with bitumen production phased out between 2030 and 2035. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations will be banned outright due to impacts on groundwater quality, methane release and seismic activity.
  • Cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline (and its $10-13 billion cost) as well as other subsidies to fossil fuel industries, totaling (sic) an additional several billion dollars a year. This money will be redirected to the Canadian Grid Strategy and renewable energy transition.

From _Election Platform 2019_, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

Overhaul the process for reviewing major projects to ensure adequate time for public consultation and provide core funding to support Indigenous participation.

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We will ensure that proposed projects align with our emissions reductions targets, respect Indigenous rights, and create good jobs here in Canada.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Pesticides & herbicides

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We don't have any PPC policies on Pesticides & herbicides.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Pesticides & herbicides.

Green

  • Set targets for reducing use of pesticides through programmes to assist farmers in moving to organic farming.
  • Revive and expand the National Pesticides Monitoring and Surveillance Network.
  • Create a reporting database for to keep track of health impacts of pesticides.
  • Ban neonics.

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Set targets for reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture through programs to assist farmers in moving to organic and regenerative farming.

Revive and expand the National Pesticides Monitoring and Surveillance Network.

Create an adverse effects reporting database for doctors and emergency rooms to keep track of health impacts of pesticides and other chemicals.

Ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which kill bees and other pollinators, and support farmers in shifting to alternatives.

Ban all forestry and cosmetic uses of glyphosate-based herbicides as well as their use as a pre-harvest desiccant.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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We don't have any NDP policies on Pesticides & herbicides.
We don't have any Liberal policies on Pesticides & herbicides.

Threats from climate change

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We don't have any PPC policies on Threats from climate change.

Conservative

  • Incorporate a mitigation and adaptation lens to infrastructure investments, with communities identifying and addressing risks.
  • Pursue natural infrastructure projects to provide low-cost protection against floods, drought, and water quality issues.
  • Invest in wildfire technology.
We don't have any Green policies on Threats from climate change.
We don't have any NDP policies on Threats from climate change.

Liberal

  • Create a low-cost national flood insurance programme to protect homeowners at high risk of flooding.
  • Work with provinces and territories to complete all flood maps in Canada.
  • Develop a national action plan to assist homeowners with potential relocation.
  • Invest $1 billion.

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Invest $1billion over the next decade in the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

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Toxic substances

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We don't have any PPC policies on Toxic substances.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Toxic substances.

Green

  • Strengthen CEPA.
  • Invoke the precautionary principle in making decisions about approvals of products, substances, projects, and processes with potential for irreversible harm.
  • Regulate microfibres as a toxic substance.
  • Ban all toxic ingredients in personal care products.

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Strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to limit the approval and use of toxic chemicals that affect our health and environment.

Regulate microfibres as a toxic substance under CEPA.

Invoke the precautionary principle in making decisions about approvals of products, substances, projects and processes where there is the potential for irreversible harm. If there is no scientific proof of safety, then approval will be withheld.

Ban all toxic ingredients in personal care products.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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We don't have any NDP policies on Toxic substances.
We don't have any Liberal policies on Toxic substances.

Waste & pollution

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We don't have any PPC policies on Waste & pollution.

Conservative

  • Work with provinces and municipalities to put an end to raw sewage being dumped in waterways.
  • Review and modernize air quality standards.
  • Reinstate the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up fund.
  • Ban export of plastic waste.

Green

  • Set targets to reduce production of solid waste.
  • Hold manufacturers financially responsible for waste.
  • Require an increasing percentage of recycled plastic feedstock in durable plastic products.
  • Require all products to be fully recyclable.
  • Phase out export of solid waste.

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Set national targets to reduce the production of solid waste and work with provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments to achieve those targets.

Implement an extended producer responsibility program to hold manufacturers financially responsible for the waste associated with the production, distribution, packaging and end of life of their products.

Require an increasing percentage of recycled plastic feedstock in durable plastic products.

Require all products to be fully recyclable using readily available processes.

Phase out Canada’s export of solid waste to other countries. If we produce it, we should manage it.

Establish a plastics lifecycle advisory group, comprising representatives from all sectors in the lifecycle of plastic products, scientists, and federal and provincial government representatives, to provide guidance and recommendations in establishing plastics biodegradability, recyclability and sustainability standards.

Adopt a precautionary approach to limit the production and use of persistent contaminants in plastic, based on evolving research into the human health impacts of micro-fibres and other micro-plastics.

In consultation with food distributors and sellers, set 2022 reusable and refillable packaging targets for supermarkets and other food stores.

By January 2022, ban the production, distribution and sale of all unnecessary or non-essential petroleum-based single-use plastics, including: carry-out and produce bags, balloons, straws, plates, cups, lids, cutlery, cotton buds, drink stirrers, cigarette filters, and plastic water bottles (less than four litres); packaging, including multilayer packaging, packing straps, all multipack rings, takeaway packaging, and all expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) packaging; and all single-use plastics that are not easily recyclable or have additives that make them non-recyclable, including thermoset plastics.

Extend the ban on microbeads to include household and industrial cleaning products.

By 2021, require all new washing machines sold in Canada to have a removable, cleanable filter to capture micro-fibres that otherwise pass through water treatment plant filters and into water bodies.

By 2021, fund proper solid waste management systems in Indigenous and Arctic communities.

Turn off the pollution taps flowing into coastal waters including municipal sewage and industrial effluents. Climate protection policies to prohibit new offshore oil and gas development and phase out existing operations will reduce the threat of marine oil spills.

Legislate cruise ship waste discharge standards that meet or exceed those of our coastal neighbours.

To reduce and mitigate plastic waste from fishing gear that entangles and kills marine animals, by January 2021 implement an Extended Producer Responsibility program for all companies making or selling synthetic fishing gear which would fund the retrieval of lost or abandoned fishing gear, commonly known as ghost nets, and the collection and recycling of old, damaged, and recovered fishing gear.

From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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NDP

Ban single-use plastics and help municipalities improve waste management and recycling programmes.

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To reduce waste in our landfills and communities, a New Democrat government will ban single-use plastics across Canada and hold companies responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastics products and packaging. We’ll help municipalities improve their waste management and recycling programs and work towards a zero-waste future.

From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.

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Liberal

  • Ban harmful single-use plastics.
  • Set new standards and targets for businesses that manufacture plastic products or sell items with plastic packaging to have them take full responsibility for collecting and recycling.
  • Strengthen the Environmental Protection Act.