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The document describes natural gas as a fossil fuel primarily composed of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. It details the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and its negative consequences, including the contamination of millions of litres of clean water, the triggering of earthquakes, and the release of harmful air pollutants like VOCs and PM2.5. In British Columbia, the expansion of the LNG industry is noted to threaten Indigenous lands and water sources, such as the Wedzin Kwa river. The text asserts that methane is responsible for one-third of global warming and that 'renewable natural gas' is a form of greenwashing. It concludes by calling for a moratorium on new fracking permits and a transition away from methane for heating and cooking.

The document outlines the environmental and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and methane gas, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities in British Columbia and the role of methane in global warming.

The briefing assesses the health and economic co-benefits of a 45% emissions cap on Canada's oil and gas sector. It projects that such a cap would avoid approximately 4,860 premature deaths between 2030 and 2040, resulting in an economic benefit of CAD $45.1 billion. The document highlights the link between oil and gas emissions and pollutants like NO2, PM2.5, and ozone, which contribute to respiratory and cardiac diseases. It also criticizes the federal government for failing to conduct a promised independent health study on communities near the oil sands and calls for a national study on the health costs of oil and gas production, similar to research conducted in the U.S.

The statement asserts that carbon pricing is not the cause of affordability challenges, which are instead driven by global geopolitical factors and oil and gas profiteering. It calls for the Canadian government to maintain a consistent price on pollution, provide support for home electrification and energy efficiency for low-income families, and implement a windfall profit tax on the fossil fuel industry to finance climate solutions.

The document argues that mancozeb and its metabolite ethylene thiourea (ETU) pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment, citing a 2021 European Union ban and deficiencies in Canada's regulatory oversight. The requesters claim the PMRA has failed to implement its own 2020 risk mitigation measures, ignored critical biomonitoring data showing widespread ETU exposure in Canadians, and relied on outdated US water monitoring data to underestimate cancer risks. They specifically highlight risks of endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and harm to non-target arthropods, birds, and aquatic organisms, demanding a special review and the suspension of product renewals.

Environmental organizations are calling for a review of CropLife's role in Canadian federal policy development following reports of a 'tiger team' that co-developed regulatory guidance on Plants with Novel Traits.

The submission argues that mandatory hazard labelling is essential for public health, particularly for women, children, and racialized communities, and advocates for the phaseout of carcinogens, mutagens, and endocrine disruptors in consumer products.

The document argues that climate change is a health emergency in Canada, citing record-breaking heat and wildfires in 2023. It calls on the Minister of Health to lead decarbonization of the healthcare system, address fossil fuel pollution as a root cause of health harms, and implement the National Adaptation Strategy to protect vulnerable populations.

The document provides a detailed critique of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA) Notice of Intent 2023-01, arguing that proposed regulatory changes are insufficient to protect biodiversity and human health. The coalition demands mandatory cumulative risk assessments that go beyond 'common mechanisms of toxicity,' more protective thresholds for species at risk, greater transparency for confidential test data, and the establishment of domestic MRLs based on Canadian use patterns rather than international trade alignment.

The document argues that fossil fuel advertising normalizes the use of coal, oil, and gas, and falsely presents these industries as leaders in the energy transition. It advocates for a 'tobacco-style' ban on fossil fuel promotions, asserting that healthcare workers are uniquely trusted messengers to communicate the health risks of air pollution and climate disruption. The guide outlines a five-step strategy for mobilization: connecting with health groups, developing a strategy with early movers, launching with press-worthy actions, building pressure through local or national lobbying, and evaluating progress. It highlights successful campaigns from Declare Comms in Australasia, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) in Canada, and 'Van wie is de lucht?' in the Netherlands, while also mentioning international efforts like the Global Climate and Health Alliance and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN), and Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ) advocate for mandatory, transparent pollution prevention plans for large grocery chains to reduce single-use plastic food packaging. They argue that reuse systems are the most effective waste reduction method and demand that any new packaging be free of toxic chemicals like PFAS and phthalates. The organizations emphasize that plastic production is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions and that plastic-related health harms disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The submission argues that PFAS should be regulated as a class to prevent 'regrettable substitution' and protect vulnerable populations, including Indigenous peoples and firefighters. The authors contend that the current Draft state of PFAS report underestimates the class size and that the proposed Risk Management Scope (RMS) is insufficient because it lacks a commitment to prohibiting non-essential uses. They recommend fast-tracking the listing of PFAS as toxic substances under CEPA Part 1 of Schedule 1, citing widespread contamination in the Canadian Arctic, the Great Lakes, and human blood.

The authors highlight the systemic health and environmental risks of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to waste, specifically noting the dangers of PVC and DEHP in healthcare and the disproportionate impact of plastic manufacturing on marginalized communities and workers. They call for an ambitious global treaty to reduce production and for the Canadian government to phase out hazardous chemicals and single-use plastics.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment advocates for the Clean Electricity Regulations to ensure a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, emphasizing the need for interim targets and the removal of exemptions for emitting assets. The statement highlights that Canada's electricity sector was the sixth largest source of domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. It links the phase-out of coal and gas to significant health benefits, noting that coal causes severe respiratory and neurological issues, while gas plants are associated with adverse birth outcomes and increased hospital admissions for the elderly.

Bill S-5 introduces the first federal recognition of the right to a healthy environment in Canada and strengthens the framework for managing toxic substances by prioritizing CMRs and PBiT substances. It introduces accountability mechanisms for substance assessments, such as a 'watch list' and mandatory publication of reasons for delays. However, the document argues that further updates are needed regarding citizen lawsuits, national air quality standards, consumer product labelling, genetically modified animals, ocean dumping, First Nations reserve land protections, and plastic waste exports.

The submission by Ecojustice and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) proposes comprehensive amendments to the Competition Act to align it with Canada's net-zero and environmental commitments. The authors argue that current laws fail to address 'greenwashing'—deceptive environmental claims—which distorts the market, penalizes genuinely sustainable businesses, and misleads consumers. Key recommendations include amending the Act's purpose clause to recognize sustainability, legislating specific prohibitions against common forms of greenwashing (such as misleading carbon offset claims and generic 'eco-friendly' labels), and expanding the public's ability to challenge deceptive marketing through the Tribunal without needing to prove specific damages. Additionally, the document suggests establishing a sustainability taskforce within the Competition Bureau, allowing for 'public benefit' considerations in merger assessments, and creating exemptions for competitor collaborations that advance environmental protection.

CAPE argues that Canada's Sustainable Agriculture Strategy must move beyond climate change to include a 'planetary health' lens, specifically addressing the health risks of conventional agriculture, the need for pesticide reduction, and the integration of environmental justice and Indigenous rights.

The document advocates for reforming the Competition Act to address greenwashing, which it describes as a market distortion that prevents consumers from making informed choices and hinders firms investing in environmental quality. The authors propose several amendments, including updating the Act's purpose clause to include environmental and climate considerations, establishing clear substantiation standards for environmental claims, and requiring public disclosure of the data used to support such claims. They also suggest introducing enhanced penalties for environmental harm, expanding private rights of action for consumers, and allocating penalties to the Environmental Damages Fund. The statement highlights that while other jurisdictions like the EU, France, and California have implemented mandatory disclosures or bans on generic claims, Canada lacks dedicated statutes for regulating environmental claims to the general public.

The report details CAPE's 2023 efforts to reduce toxic exposures in Canada, highlighting the passage of Bill S-5 to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the launch of the Place-Based Power Project focusing on extraction impacts in Northern B.C., Alberta, and the Northwest Territories.

The document argues that while Bill S-5 is a positive step toward modernizing CEPA, it requires further amendments to ensure the right to a healthy environment is robustly implemented and that toxic substance assessments and risk management are transparent and timely. Key recommendations include establishing mandatory labelling for hazardous consumer products, setting strict timelines for substance assessments, and shifting the burden of proof for confidentiality claims to the requesting party.