By Caitlin Coombes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Guardian
December 1, 2023
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Federal Court has ruled against federal legislation banning single-use plastics which deemed the items toxic.
Following the ruling, P.E.I. legislation on single-use plastics will continue, according to comments made by the minister of environment, energy, and climate action on Nov. 17.
P.E.I. was the first province in Canada to create legislation on single-use plastics with the Plastic Bag Reduction Act in 2019, a decision which led to several other provinces enacting similar policies.
Charlottetown-Winsloe MLA Zack Bell raised questions about the federal ruling to the legislative assembly on Nov. 17 and asked how it would impact P.E.I.’s own legislation against single-use plastics.
Bell noted that opinions of single-use plastics varied across the Island, noting that reducing plastic in landfills was beneficial to the Island but that the quality and cost of the alternatives were not ideal.
“Critics say the replacement products are of a lesser quality, they pose difficulties for seniors, and also people who are not able-bodied, and they also add extra cost for businesses here on the Island,” Bell said.
Environment Minister Steven Myers responded by stating the federal ruling should have no direct impact on P.E.I.’s single-use plastics legislation.
“We currently are seeking legal to make sure that the laws that we do have are sound and not challengeable,” Myers said.
Myers remarked that the classification of plastic as a toxic substance was what led to the federal court’s ruling, and because of this P.E.I. legislation should not be challenged in the same capacity.
The subject of single-use plastics was delayed before the ruling, as the province waited for federal legislation.
“Of course, we have to go back to the drawing board on single-use plastics because we relied on the federal government to do as they said they would do, and what they did didn’t stand up in court,” Myers said.
Despite the federal ruling, P.E.I. will maintain legislation regarding single-use plastics, intending to continue expanding on environmentally sustainable practices and legislation.
On Nov. 28, Katie Cudmore, communications representative for the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, confirmed to SaltWire that P.E.I.’s Plastic Bag Reduction Act is not affected by a federal ban or the Federal Court’s ruling.
Caitlin Coombes is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. She can be reached by email at caitlin.coombes@saltwire.com and followed on X @caitlin_coombes
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