Bill C-584 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (plastic bags)

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

Sponsor

Irene Mathyssen  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Oct. 25, 2010
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Hazardous Products Act to provide that single-use shopping bags made of non-biodegradable plastic are deemed to be products that are likely a danger to the health or safety of the public by reason of their design, construction or contents and, as such, are prohibited products under that Act.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Hazardous Products ActRoutine Proceedings

October 25th, 2010 / 3:05 p.m.
See context

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-584, An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (plastic bags).

Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to table a bill that is the product of a contest, “Create Your Canada”, that I sponsored to engage our young people in the political process. I want to thank all those who entered. I also want to thank the five judges from across our community and to VIA Rail for providing transportation to Ottawa for the students.

This bill would ban single use, non-biodegradable plastic bags in Canada. The authors of this private member's bill, students Hannah DeBoer and Miranda Van Rooyen, have joined me today in the House of Commons.

Research done by these students revealed that single use plastic bags harm or kill 100 million sea animals annually, use up non-renewable petroleum resources and clog our landfill sites. Less than 1% of the 55 million single use bags distributed in Canada every week are recycled.

These students believe that Canada needs a law to prevent the harm caused by single use plastic bags. I would sincerely hope that the members of this House and the community will listen and make the effort to hear and respectfully consider ideas from young Canadians.

I am very proud of Hannah and Miranda. They have decided to be active participants in our political process. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow but the leaders of today.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)