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A joint statement from five environmental and health organizations providing recommendations on the Proposed Plan of Priorities under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, urging for greater ambition in substance assessment and better integration with environmental justice frameworks.

A joint statement by Ecojustice, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Breast Cancer Action Quebec, and Environmental Defence criticizing the proposed Watch List approach under CEPA for being overly complex. The organizations advocate for a hazard-based listing process that bypasses risk assessments and public consultations to avoid industry lobbying and delays, urging publication by Spring 2025.

A letter from medical professionals to Vancouver City Council arguing against the use of natural gas in new builds due to indoor air pollution, climate impacts, and the health risks associated with fracking.

CAPE advocates for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, citing severe health impacts from fracking and oil sands, the failure of industry-led emissions reductions, and the necessity of Indigenous reconciliation in climate action.

The statement asserts a link between plastic-related chemicals—including flame retardants, phthalates, and heavy metals—and breast cancer, noting that racialized populations in Canada face disproportionate health burdens. It calls for the Canadian government to implement stronger domestic regulations and prioritize the removal of toxic chemicals during Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.

CAPE highlights the health and environmental risks of plastic, noting that 460 million tonnes of new plastic are produced annually and that the industry is the fastest-growing source of global industrial greenhouse gases. The organization calls for a just Global Plastics Treaty that limits production, eliminates unnecessary plastics, and prohibits hazardous chemicals. CAPE specifically criticizes the Canadian government for missing production commitments in recent statements and urges leadership ahead of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, Republic of Korea.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and partners call for Canada to prohibit CEPA-toxic substances like DEHP, BPA, and PFAS in plastic products before INC-5 to build global momentum for the Global Plastics Treaty. They recommend prioritizing various chemical groupings in the 2025 Priority Plan and finalizing a Plastics Chemicals Strategy by Fall 2025 to restrict precursors such as formaldehyde and vinyl chloride.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that reconciliation is a collective national responsibility, emphasizing that environmental and health outcomes depend on justice for Indigenous and racialized people. CAPE is implementing this through internal decolonization, the launch of an Indigenous Caucus on October 1st, and partnerships like the Place-Based Power Project, which addresses health and climate impacts from fossil fuel extraction in Northern BC, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. The organization also advocated for Bill C-226 and updates to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to recognize the right to a healthy environment and address disproportionate exposures on Indigenous lands.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other signatories call on Canada to lead efforts at the UN General Assembly and INC-5 to establish a legally binding global plastics treaty. They argue that the treaty must move beyond product controls to include supply-side measures and mandatory national reductions in virgin plastic production to protect human rights and the health of frontline communities, specifically citing the benzene pollution crisis at Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

The document argues that fossil fuel sponsorship of political gatherings, specifically the UBCM Convention, constitutes greenwashing and improperly influences municipal decision-making. It links fossil fuel combustion to severe health crises, including 8.1 million annual global deaths from air pollution and extreme weather events in British Columbia such as the 2021 heat dome and historic wildfires. The authors call for a total ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship in BC municipalities, drawing parallels to the historical ban on tobacco industry influence in medicine.

The submission argues that the Canadian government's updated approach to PFAS is insufficient, specifically criticizing the proposal to exclude fluoropolymers from the PFAS class and the use of outdated bioaccumulation criteria. The authors call for the fast-tracking of PFAS listing on Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and a more ambitious risk management scope that prioritizes prohibitions over technical feasibility studies.

A group of Canadian physicians and healthcare professionals is calling for the immediate implementation of a strong emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, arguing that such a measure is critical for both climate mitigation and public health. They advocate for a 45% reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, asserting that the current proposed framework is insufficiently ambitious. The authors highlight that the oil and gas sector is Canada's largest source of greenhouse gas pollution and that reducing these emissions would significantly lower levels of dangerous air pollutants like NO2, PM2.5, and ozone, potentially preventing thousands of premature deaths and providing billions in economic benefits.

The document critiques proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations, asserting they fail to enhance environmental protections or public transparency. The authors argue that the regulations would illegally restrict access to confidential test data to Canadian residents for 'research purposes' only, undermining the Pest Control Products Act. They further claim the amendments do not mandate the consideration of cumulative environmental effects or species at risk, failing to advance Canada's commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Finally, the statement calls for separate domestic maximum residue limits (MRLs) and the elimination of the default GMRL to ensure better compliance and safety.

The document argues that decisive action on climate change, specifically regulating the oil and gas industry and its financial backers, is necessary to prevent the worsening of wildfires, heat domes, and floods in Canada. It highlights the disproportionate impact of these events on Indigenous peoples and criticizes the Canadian government for prioritizing fossil fuel infrastructure, such as the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, over emissions reductions.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other health professionals are calling on the government of New Brunswick to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) due to significant risks to human health. Citing a range of scientific studies, the authors link fracking to adverse birth outcomes, increased mortality, and higher rates of cancer and respiratory diseases. They also warn that LNG infrastructure releases dangerous pollutants and contributes to climate change, which they identify as the leading global threat to human health.

A joint statement by six environmental and health organizations providing recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada on the implementation framework for the right to a healthy environment (R2HE) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) advocates for the passage of Bill C-226, arguing that environmental racism creates 'pollution hotspots' that disproportionately harm the health of Indigenous and racialized communities. CAPE links these exposures to severe health outcomes, including cancer and respiratory illnesses, and calls for a national strategy that integrates planetary health and Traditional Knowledge to address these systemic injustices.

CAPE argues that biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution form an interconnected crisis that directly harms human health. They recommend a 'planetary health' approach to Canada's 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing the protection of green and blue spaces, the reduction of hazardous chemical pollution, and the recognition of the human right to a healthy environment. The document highlights the mental health benefits of nature exposure and the risks of zoonotic diseases resulting from habitat destruction. CAPE specifically calls for the phase-out of hazardous pesticides, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and the centering of Indigenous knowledge and self-determination in conservation efforts.

The briefing note calls for further reform of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) following Bill S-5, highlighting the need for enforceable national air quality standards, the removal of barriers to citizen lawsuits against polluters, improved labelling of hazardous substances in consumer products, and enhanced environmental protections on First Nations reserve lands to address systemic inequities and health risks.

The document argues that Canada's current pesticide trajectory is incompatible with its international commitments to reduce pesticide risk by half by 2030. It identifies a significant increase in pesticide sales—up 47% since 2011—and criticizes the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for failing to systematically manage overall risks. The authors propose eleven priorities, including phasing out hazardous active ingredients, prohibiting cosmetic pesticide use, strengthening protections for species at risk, and expanding environmental monitoring to include cumulative risks and non-active ingredients.