WHAT'S NEW?

TAKE ACTION TO GET SINGLE-USE WATER BOTTLES
IN THE FEDS' 2021 PLASTICS BAN

On Wednesday, October 7, Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson released a list of specific items to be part of the federal government's single-use plastics ban in 2021. The list includes grocery checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, plastic cutlery and food takeout containers made from hard-to-recycle plastics (like black plastic packaging).

OWSAG was shocked that single-use water bottles were NOT on the list nor was it mentioned in the government's discussion paper, A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products. OWSAG also wants to know: Did the Canadian Bottled Water Association or the Canadian Beverage Association lobby the federal government to keep single-use water bottles off the list of banned plastics?

Here are 3 ways you can take action:
1. Write an email to Minister Wilkinson and the Director of the Plastics and Marine Litter Division of ECCC by using this template letter here.
2. Call  Minister Wilkinson (Parliament Hill office: 613-995-1225 / Constituency office in North Vancouver: 604-775-6333).
3. Share our posts from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Urge them to include single-use water bottles in the federal government's 2021 ban and ask them if the Canadian Bottled Water Association  or the Canadian Beverage Association lobbied the government in its decision. The government is accepting comments until December 9, 2020.

Read more here.

November 11-25: Watch Story of Plastic FREE
and join the discussion!

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iew this powerful and hard-hitting documentary at home for FREE and join us for a discussion at 7 pm on November 24!

THE STORY OF PLASTIC ​ takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the world wide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. Spanning three continents, the film illustrates the ongoing catastrophe: fields full of garbage, veritable mountains of trash, rivers and seas clogged with waste, and skies choked with the poisonous emissions from plastic production and processing. With engaging original animation, archival industry footage beginning in the 1930s, and first-person accounts of the unfolding emergency, the film distills a complex problem that is increasingly affecting the planet’s and its residents’ well-being.

Watch the film at home: November 11– November 25, 2020

Tuesday, November 24, 2020, 7 – 8:30 pm ET: Online Discussion (no film viewing): Join Dr. Eric Schiller, Water Resources Engineer, Prof. (ret) University of Ottawa, founding member of Ottawa Water Study/Action Group (OWSAG) and others in a community discussion about The Story of Plastic.

Once you have registered, we will send you the internet link to the film and supporting materials. You will receive the zoom link for the discussion on Tuesday, November 24 at the latest.

Register here.
"The bottled water industry promotes their product as a 'healthier' alternative to tap water.
But the fact is tap water in Canada is much more regulated than bottled water."
​~ Eric Schiller, OWSAG member
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