The House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met to study plastic waste and pollution. Witnesses included Chelsea Rochman (Associate Professor, University of Toronto), W. Scott Thurlow (Senior Advisor, Dow Canada), Peter Ross (Senior Scientist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation), Greg Moffatt (President and CEO, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada), Karen Wirsig (Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence Canada), and Anthony Merante (Senior Plastics Campaigner, Oceana Canada).
Chelsea Rochman testified that plastic pollution is ubiquitous, persistent, and harmful, with microplastics found in every fish sampled from Lake Ontario. She stated that cleanup is ineffective and that the science supports managing plastics under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), noting that bans on single-use items and microbeads have led to measurable declines in the environment. She recommended staying the course on existing policies and enforcing current regulations.
W. Scott Thurlow argued that the federal government has used the wrong act to address the problem, stating that plastic is not toxic. He advocated for a recycled content mandate with the force of law, supported by tax incentives like an accelerated capital cost allowance to encourage investment in waste infrastructure and advanced recycling. He disagreed with the ban approach, saying it has not been demonstrated to solve the problem and that the U.S. has identified Canada's plastic waste agenda as a trade irritant.
Peter Ross testified that plastics and microplastics kill fish and wildlife, are toxic, and are pervasive in Canada's oceans, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. He stated that recycling systems fail to collect most plastic waste and that a cap on plastic production is the only way to prevent continuous discharge. He recommended enabling innovation in material sciences, strengthening research capacity, and building a national recycling framework, while noting that Canada's single-use plastics regulations have directly led to less litter.
Greg Moffatt stated that the challenge is plastic waste, not plastics themselves, and that the federal government's reduction-focused approach has caused economic harm and job losses without delivering meaningful environmental benefits. He called for a new national framework built on collaboration, with the federal government setting national outcomes and provinces leading collection and recycling systems. He recommended a national circular plastics infrastructure strategy and policies that support investment and innovation rather than bans.
Karen Wirsig testified that plastic harms at every stage of its existence and that bans on single-use items have been effective, with cleanup groups reporting dramatic declines in banned items. She supported expanding federal bans to include tobacco-related products, takeout cups and lids, and nuisance packaging, and called for measures to transition to reuse and refill systems. She disagreed with the government's decision to step back on the export ban, calling it unfortunate.
Anthony Merante urged the committee to recommend delaying rather than repealing the prohibition on exporting single-use plastics, proposing a delay to 2029. He argued that a repeal would contradict Canada's international commitments, undermine businesses that have already transitioned, and that 85% of Canadians support the regulations. He noted that U.S. states representing over 110 million consumers have enacted their own single-use plastics regulations.
During the question period, members asked about trade irritants, economic impacts, food waste, and the effectiveness of bans. Thurlow noted that the U.S. has identified Canada's plastics policy as a trade irritant. Ross stated that 80% of ocean pollution comes from land-based activities and that waste-water treatment plants are a major source of microplastics. Moffatt said that restrictions on plastic packaging could increase food waste and that British Columbia's extended producer responsibility system, with a recycling rate over 50%, is a model. Wirsig argued there is no global evidence that plastics are needed to avoid all food waste. The committee debated whether to invite the minister to appear again, but a motion to keep the study open was defeated on a recorded division.
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