Private Member’s Motion M-151

A review of the potential environmental effects of the Private Member’s Motion M-151.

On December 5, 2018, the House of Commons unanimously adopted Private Member’s Motion M-151, which called for a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in and around aquatic environments. The motion aligns with the Government of Canada’s ongoing work with provinces, territories and partners in the context of a Canada-wide strategy and action plan on zero plastic waste. The strategy and action plan aim to:

• keep plastics within a more resource-efficient economy and out of landfills and the environment
• prevent the physical degradation of natural systems, including through the reduction of marine litter and  greenhouse gas emissions

By reducing the negative impacts of plastics on the environment and contributing to resource efficiency, the strategy and action plan will help in achieving the following 2016 to 2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals, and the environmentally-related 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Healthy coasts and oceans and Pristine lakes and rivers: The strategy will also support SDG 14 Life under water and target 14.1 which aims to, by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
• Clean growth: The strategy will support SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth
• Modern and resilient infrastructure: The strategy will support SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Safe and healthy communities: The strategy will support SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Effective action on climate change: The strategy will support the FSDS target to, by 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emissions as well as  SDG 13 Climate action