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Our Voice in Action |
Recent Developments Invigorate Environmental Health Workgroup
by Louise Aubin1
OPHA's Environmental Health Workgroup is encouraged by the Liberal Party of Ontario's election platform and recent announcements relating to the environmental causes of disease.
The Environmental Health Workgroup has advocated for regulation of cosmetic pesticide use, the development of a provincial toxic use reduction strategy, the closure of the Province's coal-fired electricity generating stations, and is an active member of the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment. The Workgroup's many publications and position papers on these topics are available online.
During the election, the Liberal Party vowed to tackle the environmental causes of illness by eliminating coal-fired electricity plants by 2014, banning the cosmetic use of pesticides, and introducing a tough new toxic reduction law that requires polluting companies to reduce their emissions.
On November 20, 2007, Premier McGuinty reaffirmed this commitment by announcing that his government will introduce a new toxins reduction strategy that will include a range of measures to protect public health. Highlights of the strategy include:
- Legislation to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides to be introduced in the spring of 2008;
- Working with Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Medical Association to identify, target and reduce the number of cancer-causing agents released into our environment;
- Tough new standards to reduce the amount of harmful air emissions on 14 toxins;
- Phasing out coal-fired electricity in Ontario by 2014;
- New standards to protect children from exposure to elevated lead levels which may be present in the drinking water system of older neighbourhoods, schools and daycares.
As well, an expert panel will be appointed to advise which toxins should be the focus of immediate attention, action and reductions as the new toxic reduction legislation is developed. An early priority for this group will be to provide recommendations on how best to address Bisphenol A, widely used in plastic baby bottles and similar consumer products.
The Environmental Health Workgroup will closely monitor and participate in the development of this crucial legislation.
1Louise Aubin is Chair of OPHA’s Environmental Health Workgroup.
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