The purpose of this section is to outline the major Federal Parties positions and approaches to plastic waste mitigation while also helping to identify key actors involved in these deliberations.

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Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

Current sitting: 44th Parliament 1st Session (November 21, 2021- Present)

This committee is where plastic waste mitigation efforts have been deliberated by all parties for numerous parliamentary sessions. For examples of how this committee has impacted plastic waste mitigation efforts see Discussion

Currently it is chaired by Liberal MP Scarpaleggia, and vice chaired by Conservative MP Dresshen and Bloc Quebecois MP Pauze. It’s members include 9 MP’s; 5 are Liberal, 3 are Conservative, and 1 is NDP.

Takeaways:

• Typically the Conservative party is known to oppose climate change mitigation efforts specifically more authoritative such as bans and strict regulations whereas the Liberals usually support and bring forth those policies. In the case of Bill C-204 their roles were reversed as discussed in Liberals Oppose Conservative Bill to Ban Export of Non-Recyclable Waste which claims that the Liberal voted against on the basis of opposing the conservatives rather than the actual contents of the bill. Indicating that the federal political party attitudes and behaviours maybe more unpredictable compared to their provincial counterparts.

<aside> 💡 At the federal level elected officials (MPs) are expected to represent their constituents interests however there is a greater expectation for party loyalty and unanimity. Whereas provincially elected officials [MLAs] represent smaller regions within a province and are typically more connected to their constituents. In BC for example there are 42 MPs compared to 87 MLAs. Therefore the actions of MLAs are easier to monitor as they directly impact their constituents within their provinces whereas MP’s actions affect all Canadians and not just those of their constituents.

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• Based on the major political parties election platforms, discussions during debates, and committee meetings surrounding plastics waste; the agreed upon priorities for plastic waste are: the need for a circular economy, tackling single-use plastics in some way [education, bans, or regulations], as well as, addressing and preventing plastic pollution from entering our oceans.

• The most active MP’s on plastic waste represent British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.