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302 documents from Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Notice of Inquiry Commencement
The Competition Bureau of Canada has commenced an inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) following an application by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. The investigation focuses on whether the CGA engaged in reviewable conduct under the Competition Act through its "Fuelling Canada" advertising campaign and other public representations concerning natural gas.
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Document type: Statement
Submission to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) submits that Bill 23 may jeopardize child development by increasing exposure to air pollution and climate risks while eroding municipal capacity to maintain affordable housing and green spaces. The submission highlights that 40% of renters with children in Ontario are in core housing need and that green spaces are critical for mitigating heat waves and floods. CPCHE recommends revising the Bill to prioritize vulnerable renters, protect urban parklands and wetlands, and encourage walkable, low-emission community design to reduce traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), which is causally linked to childhood asthma.
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Document type: Statement
Calling for suspension of all renewals of glyphosate products until PMRA review of new science and evaluation of risks
The document argues that the PMRA's 2017 glyphosate re-evaluation is outdated and flawed, relying heavily on industry-funded studies and US EPA analysis that has since been criticized by US courts. The authors present new evidence linking glyphosate to microbiome disruption, various cancers (including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), neurodegenerative disorders, and reproductive toxicity. They also highlight environmental risks to pollinators, freshwater ecosystems, and the contribution of phosphorus loading in agricultural landscapes. The coalition demands that the PMRA apply a 'reasonable certainty that no harm will occur' standard before granting any renewals.
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Document type: Statement
Bill S-5 and the Modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and other groups propose eight priority amendments to Bill S-5 to modernize CEPA. Key recommendations include establishing the right to a healthy environment as a duty, mandating public disclosure of toxic substances in consumer products, setting strict timelines for chemical risk assessments, and limiting the use of Confidential Business Information (CBI) exceptions to increase transparency regarding environmental and health risks.
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Document type: Briefing
Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the Upcoming Federal Budget
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) urges the Government of Canada to adopt a 'planetary health' framework in its federal budget, arguing that climate change is the most significant global health threat of the 21st century. Key recommendations include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 140% below 2005 levels by 2030, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies by 2023, and redirecting public finance from Export Development Canada (EDC) away from fossil fuels. CAPE also advocates for a 'wellbeing economy' that defines success beyond GDP, increased funding for the National Adaptation Strategy, and an additional $200 million for the Chemicals Management Plan to protect vulnerable populations from toxic pollution.
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Document type: Statement
Re. Bill C-226, An Act Respecting the Development of a National Strategy to Assess, Prevent and Address Environmental Racism and To Advance Environmental Justice
The document is a formal request to the Canadian government to pass Bill C-226, which would create the country's first law addressing environmental racism. The signatories argue that Canada has a documented pattern of placing polluting industries in Indigenous and racialized communities and requires a national strategy to ensure equal protection from environmental hazards.
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Document type: Statement
ubcm-copy-6eac5d6a5e169bad.pdf
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment has issued a formal letter to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) protesting the acceptance of sponsorships from fossil fuel entities. The physicians argue that such partnerships create a conflict of interest and undermine municipal climate action, particularly given the severe health and economic impacts of climate-induced disasters in British Columbia and globally.
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Document type: Statement
7.4 - Elimination of Cosmetic Pesticide - Community Outreach, Public Education, Operational and Enforcement Resources
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) urges the Edmonton City Council to ban cosmetic pesticides, asserting that such bans are popular, cost-effective, and essential for protecting human and environmental health. CAPE argues that the current risk assessment approach is insufficient and advocates for an 'alternatives assessment' paradigm that prioritizes hazard prevention over acceptable risk. The document links pesticide use to broader planetary health crises, noting that pesticides can negatively impact soil biodiversity and carbon sequestration, thereby exacerbating the climate emergency. CAPE cites various health risks associated with pesticides, including links to cancers, reproductive problems, and Parkinson's disease, and points to successful bans in other jurisdictions as models for Edmonton to follow.
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Document type: Statement
The onus is on the ill: Environmental contaminants and hormonal health issues
The author contends that health issues such as endometriosis, PCOS, and breast cancer are linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and xenoestrogens found in plastics, pesticides, and cosmetics. The text criticizes a medical and social narrative that places the onus of prevention on individual lifestyle choices, arguing instead that corporate profit and inadequate regulation drive exposure. It calls for healthcare professionals to acknowledge these environmental links and urges support for strengthening the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) via Bill S-5.
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Document type: Research paper
Formal Submission to the Government of Canada National Adaptation Strategy Public Engagement Process
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted recommendations for Canada's National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) in July 2022. The submission argues that the NAS must explicitly address the intersection of climate change and both physical and mental health, noting that physicians are already observing increased asthma and anxiety linked to wildfires and extreme heat. CAPE highlights that extreme heat disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including those in poverty, racialized communities, and older individuals. The organization calls for the NAS to include specific outcomes and targets, protect nature for its own sake, and prioritize natural infrastructure—such as urban tree canopies—to mitigate heat and improve public health. Additionally, CAPE emphasizes the need to harden health infrastructure to ensure hospitals remain functional and serve as community safe havens during extreme weather events.
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Document type: Statement
Consultation on Targeted Review of the Pesticide Control Products Act
The submission argues that the current pesticide regulatory framework in Canada is inadequate, citing historical failures to prevent unacceptable risks and a reliance on risk assessment over hazard prevention. The authors advocate for a 'planetary health' approach that integrates climate change, biodiversity, and environmental justice into pesticide regulation. They propose 22 detailed recommendations across four areas: lifecycle approach to business practices, improved risk assessment for vulnerable populations, increased transparency in decision-making, and a more rigorous application of real-world data and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). Key goals include a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030 and the adoption of the precautionary principle.
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Document type: Statement
Re. Bill C-226, An Act Respecting the Development of a National Strategy to Assess, Prevent and Address Environmental Racism and To Advance Environmental Justice
Civil society organizations are calling for the immediate passage of Bill C-226, which would create Canada's first legal framework to assess and prevent environmental racism. The authors argue that marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous peoples, suffer disproportionate impacts from polluting industries and environmental hazards, and they urge the government to implement a national strategy and accountability mechanisms to ensure equal protection and access to decision-making.
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Document type: Statement
Letter to stop fossil fuel ads
A letter from health organizations representing over 700,000 Canadian health professionals urging the federal government to ban fossil fuel advertising and regulate misleading environmental claims, citing severe public health impacts and drawing parallels to tobacco control.
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Document type: Statement
Review of federal pesticide law must centre on protecting human health and the environment
The document outlines eleven specific priorities for the targeted review of Canada's Pest Control Products Act, arguing that current regulations fail to address increasing pesticide use and its associated risks to biodiversity, climate, and vulnerable populations.
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Document type: Statement
PRSD 2022-01 Special Review of Chlorothalonil and Associated End Use Products
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted a response to Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regarding the special review of chlorothalonil. CAPE supports the decision to cancel the use of chlorothalonil and associated end-use products and the revocation of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), while urging for the immediate cancellation of all uses, including those in greenhouses and mushroom houses, due to unresolved human health and occupational risks.
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Document type: Statement
A prescription from health professionals: strengthen Canada’s toxics law
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment call for the modernization of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), arguing that the 1999 framework is inadequate for current climate and pollution crises. While acknowledging improvements in Bill S-5, the authors demand further amendments to prioritize the prohibition of toxic substances, recognize the right to a healthy environment, and address cumulative risks to human health.
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Document type: Statement
Communities in Flux
The report documents the physical, mental, and community-level impacts of fracking in Northeastern British Columbia through interviews and surveys. Residents report chronic stress and sleep disruption caused by constant noise, light, and odours, alongside acute symptoms like sore throats and headaches following emissions. Long-term health concerns raised include multiple chemical sensitivities, year-round allergies, respiratory issues, and elevated cancer rates in young people. The document also highlights community degradation, including the loss of social networks as residents move away, food insecurity for Indigenous peoples due to contaminated traditional foods, and public safety risks from transient workers. The authors recommend a moratorium on new natural gas wells in Canada and the implementation of the precautionary principle to protect residents.
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Document type: Report
Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act
The document argues that while Bill S-5 is a 'workable starting point' for modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), it requires amendments to ensure the right to a healthy environment is not undermined by 'balancing' clauses and that the regime for prohibiting toxic substances is more certain and transparent.
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Document type: Briefing
world-health-day-letter-to-first-ministers-final-april-7-2022-1-9d4ae98e24483c75.pdf
A letter from various health professionals and organizations to Canadian leaders advocating for a societal shift toward well-being to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
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Document type: Statement
Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts
The document outlines the wide-ranging health risks associated with traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), noting that in Canada, one-third of the population lives within 250m of a major road. It highlights that children, racialized people, and those in poverty are disproportionately vulnerable to these pollutants. The report links TRAP to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and pregnancy-related illnesses, as well as increased COVID-19 risks, and recommends policy interventions such as low emission zones, electric vehicles, and expanded urban green spaces.
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Document type: Executive summary