Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate exposure to pollution experienced by communities of color, First Nations and poor communities, and the subsequent negative health effects, as well as the unequal environmental protection provided through laws, regulations, governmental programs, enforcement, and policies.
In Canada, there are far too many cases of highly polluting mines, dumps, oil and gas wells, pipelines, refineries and chemical plants being in or near First Nations and Afro-descendent communities and communities of color despite the opposition of these communities and contaminating their air, water, and soil as well as exposing them to greater impacts of climate change. Members then face serious and complex health problems due to the pollution with little or no accountability on the part of corporations or governments that should have protected their health and wellbeing in the first place.
To understand more about environmental racism, we suggest There’s Something In The Water, written by Dr. Ingrid Waldron. It has been made into a documentary of the same title, currently available on Netflix.
Bill C-226: Advocates celebrate the Senate’s passage of Canada’s first environmental justice bill, marking a historic milestone.
Advocates for social justice and equity, environmental protection and public health celebrate the Senate’s passage of Bill C-226, the National Strategy on Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Environmental Justice Strategy Act). June 14, the Environmental Justice Strategy Act passed the Senate’s third reading vote, with royal assent expected soon and representing that final step in the legislative process.
The Environmental Justice Strategy Act will require the government to examine the links between racialization, socio-economic status and environmental risk, and develop Canada’s first national strategy on environmental racism and environmental justice.
A 2020 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights pointed to “a pattern in Canada where marginalized groups, and Indigenous peoples in particular, find themselves on the wrong side of a toxic divide, subject to conditions that would not be acceptable elsewhere in Canada.”
To read our full joint statement with the Canadian Coalition for Environmental and Climate Justice, click here.
Bill C-230: An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to redress environmental racism
A private member’s bill, Bill C-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to redress environmental racism, has passed second reading and is now before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for study. It would require the federal government to develop a national strategy to counter environmental racism by collecting information and data on race, socio-economic status and hazards, identifying the location of environmental hazards and develop measures to redress these situations.
Breast Cancer Action Quebec submitted a brief to the committee strongly supporting the rapid adoption of Bill C-230 which you can read here.
The House of Commons environment committee recently completed its review of the Bill. This marked a critical first step toward Canada acknowledging its shameful legacy of environmental racism and ensuring that all people in Canada benefit from environmental protection policies. Read our press release
For more on Bill C-230:
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