Environment Committee on June 11th, 2026

[Greg Moffatt]

In the previous panel, there was mention of 9% for the rate of recycling in Canada. It's over 50% in British Columbia. There's a reason for that. They've had extended producer responsibility for 12 years now. The system works. Those that bring plastics into the province are financially incented to bring products into the market that are recyclable. They are incented to find markets for the recycled content. The rest of Canada needs to move down that journey.

It's one of the reasons why, in my comments, I said this is about collaboration. This is a systems problem. It's a complex issue. It's governments. It's industry. It's the consumers and the industry that use products and dispose of them at the end of their useful life, after they've been used. This is a systems problem. Extended producer responsibility is an excellent example, and B.C. is a shining example of how it could work.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Further to that point, as Ontario has moved to the circular economy, as it's been billed, of recycling at the residential level and the commercial level at a paid rate, we're finding that where there's the producer pays model, some areas are experiencing revisions. The greatest fear that we heard for years was that when it came time for the piper to pay, if you will, they could remake the model of what they will collect and what they won't collect. That's a concern in some areas.

Can you address that?

[Greg Moffatt]

I'm from Calgary, Alberta. I have a green box, a blue box and a black box. That is very confusing for some. Sometimes I find it confusing. Can I put a used pizza box in the recycling box, or does it have to go in composting? By the way, it has to go in composting because it has cheese and oil on it.

What we have now is better than what we had before. I believe there are 500 or 600 municipalities, both urban and rural, in Ontario. There are about 470 in Alberta. They were all different. They weren't talking to each other. The incentives were completely different. Municipalities were dealing with their waste at the lowest cost because that's what they were concerned about. Now, with extended producer responsibility, the system's talking to itself. The right incentives are there for those bringing plastics into the marketplace. It should get better.

It's just like everything else. These EPR systems have to take a look at what they are achieving yearly on a two-, three- or five-year basis. That's continuous improvement, and we should focus on it, but it's way better now than it was.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

I have a question for Ms. Wirsig.

Being a member of the parliamentary Great Lakes group and working closely with the Council of the Great Lakes Region, I see the successes we have had and, as you said, some of the efforts to clean up plastic in waterways, on beaches and that sort of thing.

Environmental Defence has advocated for reductions in plastic production. What federal policies, Ms. Wirsig, would have the greatest impact on reducing plastic pollution at the source?

[Karen Wirsig]

We've been on the record supporting a move globally to reduce plastic production worldwide, because we think that is going to be the best way to reduce the consumption and waste of plastics. In Canada, we'd like to see the path continued. The path that was started under the CEPA should be continued. In addition to prohibition regulations, requirements and targets for reducing plastics, we should add a basket of measures to move people and companies away from the single-use plastics.

We think adding the carrot with the stick will be the most helpful in reducing plastics, because people really want to do it. People are telling the businesses they shop at and get goods from that they want to do it. That's where the federal government can step up its game. The other thing is, obviously, to be a strong voice at the global plastics treaty table.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

To your point, that was really exemplified when we saw the reduction of the elimination of plastic, single-use bags at the checkout. It's second nature now for most people to bring their own bags, and they happily use their favourites.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shannon Miedema]

Mr. Bonin, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Moffatt, I must confess that I was pleased with the Supreme Court's decision.

Members of your industry—such as Dow Chemical Canada and Imperial Oil—tried to block regulations aimed at protecting public health. The results are noteworthy. I feel badly for you.

Do you know how many jobs Canada would lose if the export ban were implemented? I'm talking about direct jobs.

[Greg Moffatt]

I can't speak for the entire industry. I can only speak for the member companies that are part—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I'm just talking about the ban.

[Greg Moffatt]

The ban.... Genpak, which has operations in British Columbia—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How many jobs would be lost, Mr. Moffatt?

[Greg Moffatt]

It's about 150 jobs, two companies—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

That's 150 jobs.

[Greg Moffatt]

—and about $75 million in lost value. It's two companies out of the 1,900, roughly, in the supply chain. I don't how it impacts.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Ms. Wirsig, do you or Mr. Merante have any numbers on the jobs that won't be created if companies don't have alternatives to single-use plastics?

We're told that a few jobs would be lost, which isn't insignificant, but I think there's a way to transition.

Are there any positive aspects for other companies?

[Karen Wirsig]

I'll give you two examples. The World Cup is kicking off today. In two Canadian cities, so Toronto and Vancouver, packaging will be reused in spectator zones, and only multi-use containers and dishes will be used.

The two companies that offer these services are in the process of hiring staff. They're creating local jobs and it's very important. It's a very important contribution. As we say, we can trade waste for jobs.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Isn't the government's decision to take a step back helping the plastics industry, and particularly Alberta's oil and gas sector, at the expense of these alternative manufacturing solutions?

[Karen Wirsig]

We think it's a problem, because these industries aren't turning to healthier services and materials, which would create more jobs in Canada. That's why we absolutely encourage a transition to upstream solutions in packaging and container production, not only for environmental reasons, but also for economic reasons.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Canada talks a lot about protecting nature, but it's moving backwards in the fight against plastic pollution.

Do you think it's hypocritical for the government to take a step back while saying it considers nature to be important?

[Karen Wirsig]

I'll admit I don't like the decision. I believe the Court of Appeal confirmed the government was on the right track. As Mr. Merante said, we must absolutely reinstate the ban on exporting these products.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Do you think it's hypocritical to talk about protecting nature while taking a step back on the plastic ban?

[Karen Wirsig]

I would say it's unfortunate.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Merante, what has Canada done in the last three years to address plastic pollution?

[Anthony Merante]

During the legal proceedings, they put forward the national plastics registry, which increases transparency over the whole life cycle of plastics. While during the legal case there has been no further regulation, we have seen things, which I mentioned before, like the pollution prevention plan for major grocers, which are the main source of plastic pollution, and a recycled content regulation put forward. However, there has been no regulatory action on single-use plastics since the ban was initially put forward and since the legal proceedings brought forward by the petrochemicals companies have started.