Health committee  Thank you for this opportunity to address the committee and appear before you in your statutory review process. Environmental Defence has been conducting research and public education on the issue of toxic pollution in Canada for over 20 years. In addition to writing reports on

Health committee  There was a notice of objection filed by Ecojustice and CELA regarding this, which provides more details as well, for the curious. There were some amendments recommended by Ecojustice to section 42 that would be helpful. The public could at least know what data was on hand and wh

Health committee  I would add that in terms of the need to expand this session it would be good to have more witnesses come forward. I want to support that point that was made earlier by one of the members.

Health committee  It would be fantastic to have some physicians present, and more members of the medical and scientific community present, in my opinion.

Health committee  First, if I may, I'd like to speak to the issue of the written commentary regarding the process. The invitations to appear before the committee—much appreciated invitations to have the opportunity to be a witness—were received with only a few days' notice, which makes it difficul

Environment committee  Thank you very much to the members of the committee and to the staff. We really appreciate the opportunity to be here to speak on this topic. Environmental Defence has been conducting research and public education on the issue of toxic pollution for over 20 years. We issue repor

Environment committee  There are three things to consider. It is important to look at disproportionate risk, as you have indicated as one of your suggestions, but two areas in which CEPA is currently failing in this area of environmental justice—which is why we need the emphasis on it, as has been sugg

Environment committee  I think it meets all those dimensions. I think there needs to be swifter work on risk management by the civil servants, in some cases. We've seen several examples in which there have been inappropriate delays on setting risk management plans for certain substances, in recent year

Environment committee  It could be either.

Environment committee  Yes. Sometimes there is overlap between the provincial and federal jurisdiction when it comes to managing toxics. This is a case in which it would be better if there were a national standard, but not just for outdoor air. Indoor air quality is a big concern in Canada because we s

Environment committee  Thank you so much for asking, because it is in the preamble. In my view, if we look at how risk management has been failing to meet an appropriate pace, we are not meeting the precautionary principle. In many cases there's a duty to act to prevent harm when evidence is mounting

Environment committee  Can I talk about that?

Environment committee  It's very interesting. I think alternatives assessment is a really great way forward, but we also need to have the will to ban and restrict substances that are carcinogenic or mutanogenic.

Environment committee  I think that taking a hazard approach to these substances and really looking at trying to eliminate them from the environment is appropriate, because now in risk management you can check all the boxes without really removing them from the environment. I want to clarify something

Environment committee  What's interesting about these light bulbs is that if they're used safely, they're safe. The mercury shouldn't get out unless they break or are disposed of improperly—