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The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) wrote to federal ministers in May 2017 urging the integration of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) into all federal Environmental Assessment (EA) processes. The organization argues that human health is fundamentally underpinned by the environment and that resource and energy development projects must explicitly evaluate health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations and Indigenous Peoples.

CAPE opposes the proposed Chalk River nuclear waste site, citing risks of water contamination, seismic instability, and inadequate containment measures for waste that remains radioactive for thousands of years.

CAPE calls for a moratorium on fracking in British Columbia, citing preliminary research that links the practice to reproductive toxicity, asthma, and congenital heart disease. The organization argues that the greenhouse gas emissions from LNG projects will prevent B.C. from meeting its 2050 targets and advocates for the application of the precautionary principle to protect public health.

The document argues that the PMRA has failed to meet legal requirements under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) to assess cumulative pesticide risks since 2006. While welcoming the proposed framework, the signatories recommend that cumulative assessments be integrated into individual pesticide registration and re-evaluation decisions, rather than occurring after them. They call for a precautionary approach to grouping pesticides by common mechanisms of toxicity, the inclusion of epidemiological data for outcomes like cancer and endocrine disruption, and the expansion of the framework to cover cumulative environmental risks. Additionally, the authors contest the PMRA's characterization of the 'PCPA factor' as a policy rather than a scientific uncertainty factor and urge for improved monitoring of human and environmental pesticide exposures.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is campaigning for the reinstatement of the Dalle-Parc, a green overpass designed to connect Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount and Verdun–Pointe-Saint-Charles over the Turcot Interchange in Montreal. While the overpass was part of the original 2010 renovation plans, it was removed from the 2015 version by the Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ) without explanation. The project is estimated to cost $40 million, representing 1-2% of the total $4 billion interchange refurbishment cost. Proponents argue the overpass would facilitate active transportation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent cyclists from having to take a 10km detour to cover a 1km distance.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that coal plants are major sources of sulphur dioxide (SO2), which transforms into secondary sulphates and contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) linked to heart and lung diseases. Citing World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada data, the statement claims that phasing out coal by 2030 would prevent thousands of premature deaths and hospital visits in Canada, providing billions of dollars in health benefits while supporting Paris Agreement commitments.

The document argues that promoting active travel—defined as walking, cycling, and public transit—creates a 'quadruple win' by reducing chronic disease, improving air quality, slowing climate change, and increasing health equity. It provides a framework for health professionals to encourage patients to integrate physical activity into their daily routines and to advocate for urban planning policies, such as the '5 Ds' of community design (density, land use diversity, design, destination accessibility, and distance to transit). A significant portion of the guide focuses on the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe in Ontario, explaining how intensification and complete community planning can facilitate a shift away from automobile dependence.

The document outlines how the built environment influences travel behavior, emphasizing that walkable neighborhood design increases the frequency of walking, cycling, and transit use. It details the '5 D's' of community design—Density, Diversity, Design, Destination, and Distance—as the primary factors impacting these choices. Key elements include population density to support services, land use diversity to place destinations in close proximity, safety-enhancing design features like bicycle lanes and traffic calming, and the accessibility of destinations and transit stops within specific distance thresholds.

The document highlights the ecological risks of neonicotinoid pesticides, noting their toxicity to insects, birds, and fish, and their potential to disrupt pollination services vital for food security. It details Ontario's efforts to reduce neonic-treated seed acreage and Health Canada's proposed phase-out of imidacloprid to protect aquatic environments.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that Ontario's coal plant phase-out significantly reduced air pollution and improved public health. In 2002, Ontario's five coal plants were responsible for 23% of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, 14% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 23% of airborne mercury, and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Between 2003 and 2012, SO2 emissions from these plants dropped by approximately 140,000 tonnes, contributing to a nearly 50% decline in annual air levels of SO2 and a 25% decline in PM2.5 across the province. A 2005 estimate valued the health impacts of coal plant pollution—including over 600 premature deaths and 1,900 hospital or emergency room visits annually—at $3 billion per year. Additionally, Toronto Public Health found that air quality improvements from 2000 to 2011 reduced premature deaths in Toronto by 23% and hospital admissions by 41%, attributing these gains in part to the coal phase-out.

The Health Collaborative advocates for a 2030 Canada-wide phase-out of coal-fired power plants, arguing that the federal government's current GHG reduction targets are too low compared to the potential benefits of a more aggressive plan.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health organizations advocate for the inclusion of human health impact assessments within federal environmental reviews to address the link between ecological decline and public health.

The document outlines the intersection of climate change and public health in Canada, highlighting risks such as extreme heat, wildfires, and food insecurity, particularly in the Arctic and among Indigenous populations. It advocates for a rapid phase-out of coal-powered electricity by 2030, the implementation of a National Active Transport Strategy, and the integration of Health Impact Assessments into federal environmental processes to mitigate health risks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The document advocates for a shift in federal environmental assessments (EA) in Canada to explicitly include Health Impact Assessments (HIAs). It argues that current processes focus too heavily on plant and animal species while neglecting the social, ecological, and physical determinants of human health. The authors propose a comprehensive HIA framework based on WHO definitions and the 'determinants of health' approach, emphasizing that health equity and the precautionary principle should guide development. Key recommendations include establishing baseline health data before proposals are made, integrating HIA into cabinet directives for all policies and programs, and involving health-focused federal agencies as central decision-makers.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) supports the 2030 phase-out of coal-fired power plants in Canada and Alberta, citing significant reductions in premature deaths, healthcare costs, and mercury emissions, as well as an 8% reduction in national greenhouse gas emissions to help meet Paris Agreement commitments.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) recommends against Canada ratifying the TPP, asserting that climate change is a global health emergency requiring a low-carbon transition and the retention of 80% of fossil fuel reserves. CAPE expresses concern that TPP 'Technical Barrier to Trade' provisions and the use of investment lawyer tribunals to determine 'legitimate' public welfare objectives could prioritize trade over environmental health. Additionally, the document warns that the extension of pharmaceutical patents under the TPP would hinder generic competition and increase costs for Canadians and people worldwide.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) expresses concern that the TPP's legal frameworks, specifically Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) provisions, may limit Canada's ability to implement essential climate mitigation and public health policies. The statement highlights risks such as corporate lawsuits over fossil fuel restrictions, increased pharmaceutical costs due to extended patents, and the potential for trade tribunals to override the precautionary principle in environmental health decision-making.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other health professionals argue that the Pacific Northwest LNG Project should be rejected because its environmental assessment fails to fully consider human health impacts. They highlight that the project's emissions would consume a significant portion of British Columbia's 2050 carbon budget, contradicting the Paris Agreement. Additionally, they cite evidence of local health risks from hydraulic fracturing, including groundwater contamination and reproductive toxicity, and express concern over the psychological distress ('solastalgia') and treaty rights violations affecting Indigenous communities, specifically the Blueberry River First Nations.

The Alberta Pesticide Survey Report details a public opinion poll conducted in August 2016. A majority of respondents expressed concern that pesticides used on lawns and gardens pose threats to children (66%), pets (68%), and the general environment (50%). Consequently, 62% of those surveyed supported a law to phase out the use and sale of all but the safest pesticides for lawns and gardens in Alberta, excluding agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control.

The report argues that an accelerated phase-out of coal power in Alberta would significantly reduce premature deaths, emergency room visits, and asthma episodes, while providing billions in socio-economic value. By extrapolating data from Environment Canada's Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS), the authors demonstrate that a stepwise transition proposed by the Pembina Institute would more than double the health benefits of the 2012 federal regulations between 2015 and 2035.