Following comments Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he is open to discussing his motion on ocean plastics, Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns has extended an invitation to the prime minister to discuss M-151, a motion to establish a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in aquatic environments.
“I welcome the prime minister’s interest in my motion to combat ocean plastics,” said Johns. “Future generations deserve to enjoy a healthy natural environment. Working together with all parliamentarians, the government can make this happen, but we must take action now.”
In the last week, more than 65,000 people have signed an online petition to tell the Canadian government to support Johns’ motion and to tackle the global plastics crisis. Canada lags behind its global neighbours on the issue. More than 40 countries have created strategies to curb plastic use, including Rwanda, China, France and Italy.
“Canada has no national policy to prevent plastics from entering our waters and no mechanisms to clean-up the pollution that is already there,” said Johns. “The government must take an active role in creating a plastic economy that is sustainable and accountable for the waste that it generates.”
