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302 documents from Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Position Statement on Fracking
The document outlines the environmental and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking), specifically highlighting the contamination of drinking water, high greenhouse gas emissions from methane leaks and transport, and the potential for carcinogenic effects on nearby populations. It concludes that natural gas is not a viable transition fuel and calls for a shift toward renewable energy in Canada.
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Document type: Statement
A Costly Diagnosis
The report examines the health and economic impacts of Alberta's heavy reliance on coal-fired electricity, which generated 64 per cent of the province's electricity in 2012. Using the Illness Cost of Air Pollution (ICAP) model and other data, the authors estimate that coal plants contribute to hundreds of premature deaths and thousands of emergency department visits annually. The report identifies a wide range of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, mercury, and particulate matter, which affect respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health. Economically, the report argues that the true societal cost of coal—including health damages and the social cost of carbon—ranges from 3.6 to 13.7 ¢/kWh, far exceeding the market pool price of 6.6 ¢/kWh. The authors conclude that the current system effectively subsidizes coal power at the expense of public health and recommend that Alberta accelerate the retirement of coal units beyond the 50-year limit allowed by federal regulations.
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Document type: Report
The Economic Benefits of Greening
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) urges the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada to expand its definition of sustainability to include environmental impacts. The letter highlights that the health care system represents 10 percent of Canada's economy and has a large ecological footprint, primarily driven by energy consumption. To demonstrate the economic viability of 'greening', the document provides several case studies of Ontario hospitals that achieved substantial financial savings through energy conservation, co-generation, and waste management programs.
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Document type: Statement
An environmentally sustainable health care system
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment argues that the health care system has a moral, professional, and economic responsibility to reduce its environmental impact, noting that the sector represents 10 percent of the Canadian economy.
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Document type: Statement
Pyrethroids — just because we can use them at home doesn’t mean that they’re harmless
The document details the risks of pyrethroids, a dominant class of insecticides used in homes and agriculture. It highlights their role as neurotoxins that can cause acute symptoms like tremors and long-term effects including neurodevelopmental issues in children, reduced human fertility, and potential carcinogenicity. Environmentally, pyrethroids are toxic to fish and beneficial insects like bees. The briefing notes that in Québec, these chemicals have been detected in surface and ground waters, yet they are excluded from mandatory drinking water monitoring. It advocates for non-chemical alternatives and stricter regulation.
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Document type: Briefing
Neonics, Honey Bees, and Food Security
The document argues that neonicotinoids, systemic insecticides widely used in corn and soy production, are causing widespread declines in insect and bird populations, particularly honey bees in Canada. It highlights that these chemicals are water-soluble, persistent, and toxic to arthropods, potentially threatening global food security by reducing fruit, vegetable, and nut supplies. While some government reports suggest economic losses from a ban, other studies indicate that neonic seed treatments provide negligible benefits to crop yields. The briefing notes regulatory responses in Ontario, Québec, and the European Union to mitigate these risks.
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Document type: Briefing
CODE GREEN
The document frames climate change as the "biggest global health threat of the 21st century," noting that it has caused over 140,000 deaths per year since the 1970s. It asserts that meeting the 2°C global temperature limit requires consuming no more than one-third of proven fossil fuel reserves by 2050. The text advocates for a substantial carbon price, citing British Columbia's carbon tax as a successful model, and suggests that pricing should eventually reach $100-$200 per tonne of CO2 equivalent. It highlights health co-benefits of low-carbon transitions, such as reduced cardiovascular disease from 'cardio-commuting' and fewer respiratory impacts from wind, solar, and hydro power compared to coal. Finally, it urges physicians to use their professional influence to translate climate science for the public and advocate for systemic changes.
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Document type: Fact sheet
FINAL_PCFletter.pages
The document is a letter from a coalition of Canadian organizations supporting the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and Clean Growth. The authors argue that Canada's long-term prosperity depends on investing in a low-carbon economic transformation to remain competitive in a global clean technology market. They emphasize the necessity of 'just transition measures' to support workers and communities affected by the shift away from high-carbon sectors. The coalition offers specific support for implementing the framework, including prioritizing engagement with Indigenous communities based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, establishing a robust federal backstop for carbon pricing, and modernizing electricity and transportation systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Document type: Statement
Open Statement on NAFTA, Environment and Climate
The statement argues that NAFTA's current structure prioritizes corporate interests over the planet and calls for the removal of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions and the energy chapter to allow Canada to implement climate-friendly regulations and restrict fossil fuel exports.
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Document type: Statement
Time to Protect Alberta Children from Pesticides
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) advocates for Alberta municipalities to adopt bylaws restricting the cosmetic use of pesticides on lawns and gardens, noting that while 80% of Canadians live in communities with such protections, they are largely absent in Alberta cities like Calgary and Edmonton. The document highlights scientific links between pesticide exposure and serious health issues, including birth defects, low birth weights, learning disabilities, and motor development delays in children, as well as cancer and neurological impacts in adults. A 2016 CAPE poll indicated that over 60% of Albertans are concerned about these risks and support increased restrictions.
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Document type: Statement
Document d’information : les pyréthrinoïdes, utilisés à la maison, mais non sans dangers
The document details the neurotoxic effects of pyrethroids on humans and animals, their prevalence in household dust and water sources, and their potential to disrupt endocrine and reproductive systems. It highlights the increased vulnerability of children and the ecological damage to bees and aquatic life, while advocating for non-chemical alternatives and stricter regulation in Quebec and Canada.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Joint Open Letter_ExpandTheBan_2023.docx
A joint open letter from various Canadian organizations calling for the expansion of the single-use plastics ban to include six new categories of items, specific problematic polymers and chemical additives, and a transition to circular systems centered on reuse.
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Document type: Statement
Green Office Solutions for Physicians
The document outlines 13 categories of green office solutions for physicians, ranging from reducing paper and energy use to phasing out toxic materials like mercury and glutaraldehyde. It emphasizes that healthcare energy sources contribute to climate change and air pollution, and encourages physicians to educate patients on green practices.
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Document type: Guide
Pesticides utilisés à des fins esthétiques : politiques provinciales et règlements municipaux – Leçons tirées et meilleures pratiques
The report analyzes the regulatory landscape of aesthetic pesticides in Canada, noting that while over 200 municipal bylaws have been adopted since the 2001 Supreme Court decision in Hudson v. Spraytech, effectiveness varies by scope and enforcement. It highlights that 'white lists' of safe products and broad bans covering all landscaping elements are more effective than narrow bans limited to lawns. Evidence from Ontario and Toronto shows significant reductions in pesticide presence in water and usage (up to 83% and 57% respectively) following bans. The document recommends removing exceptions for golf courses, implementing permit systems, and combining legal mechanisms with public awareness and enforcement.
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Document type: Executive summary
CAPE’s Position Statement on Synthetic Pesticides
The document outlines the health and environmental risks of synthetic pesticides, noting their persistence in biological systems and toxicity to children. It calls for a transition to organic farming and a legislated end to cosmetic pesticide use in Canada.
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Document type: Statement
ahs-sustainability-letterfinal-206dc65c25ca66be.pdf
A group of physicians urges the Alberta government to establish a sustainability office within Alberta Health Services (AHS) to address energy efficiency and waste management, proposing that funding be provided via grants from the carbon levy to avoid impacting clinical budgets.
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Document type: Statement
Advocacy and Mobilization Program (AMP) Evaluation
The Advocacy and Mobilization Program (AMP) trained 130 healthcare professionals across three cohorts to engage in planetary health advocacy. Key successes included significant increases in participant confidence, storytelling skills, and the effectiveness of 'Hill Day' meetings with federal politicians. However, the program faced staffing challenges and found that a six-month commitment was often too resource-intensive for busy professionals, suggesting a shift toward shorter, more targeted training formats in the future.
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Document type: Report
Avis d’objection à la décision de réévaluation RDV2017-01 sur le Glyphosate
The document challenges the PMRA's re-evaluation of glyphosate, claiming it relies heavily on outdated, confidential industry data while ignoring recent peer-reviewed literature and the exponential increase in glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) use. It highlights significant gaps in the assessment of toxicological dangers, occupational risks, and food and water contamination, specifically citing concerns over carcinogenicity and endocrine disruption. The authors argue that the PMRA's findings contradict the precautionary spirit of the Pest Control Products Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, calling for a suspension of the registration renewal and a transparent, independent re-evaluation of full herbicide formulations rather than just the active ingredient.
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Document type: Statement
Fossil-Fuel Pollution is Killing Canadians and Big Oil is Lying About It
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is calling for a ban on fossil fuel advertising, comparing the industry's deceptive marketing to that of Big Tobacco. The briefing details how fossil fuel emissions cause tens of thousands of premature deaths in Canada, contribute to childhood asthma, and exacerbate climate-related health crises like extreme heat and wildfires. It specifically accuses the Pathways Alliance of misleading the public about emissions and net-zero goals, noting that actual oil sands emissions may be 64 times higher than reported. CAPE advocates for a regulatory framework similar to those implemented in France, Norway, and the EU to protect public health and accelerate the energy transition.
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Document type: Briefing
Plastics, additives, human health and taking action on chemicals of concern
The briefing argues that many of the 16,000 chemicals in plastics cause diseases such as cancers and endocrine disruption, costing governments billions in health care. It calls for the Government of Canada to prioritize classes of additives—including phthalates, bisphenols, PFAS, flame retardants, and heavy metals—within the Chemicals Management Priority Planning process and to use the CEPA Watchlist to flag substances of concern. Internationally, the authors advocate for a "negative list" annex in the global plastics treaty to phase out harmful chemicals worldwide. Domestically, the document recommends expanding the Plastics Registry to include additives, prohibiting harmful additives in food contact packaging, increasing port-of-entry safety testing to prevent toxic recycling imports, and addressing occupational exposures for frontline workers.
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Document type: Briefing