Proposed Resolution – Single Use Plastics and Plastic Packaging

Today we are highlighting the proposal from CFUW Nepean – Single Use Plastics and Plastic Packaging.

RESOLVED, That the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) urge the Government of Canada, and the Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal Governments to expedite the ban on single-use plastics (plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six- pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics) and to expand the ban to include all problematic and unnecessary non-recyclable plastics including plastic wrapping, plastic tampon applicators, disposable plastic beverage cups, plastic bottle caps, lids and plastic labels on containers; 

RESOLVED, That CFUW urge the Government of Canada to implement Canada’s Plastic Science Agenda (CaPSA) and, with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, to provide funding for, as well as following up on and fully implementing, a Canada wide strategy on zero plastic waste; 

RESOLVED, That CFUW urge the Government of Canada, and the Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal Governments to fully fund and promote programs to educate the public about the dangers caused to habitat, the environment (including fisheries and oceans) and to human health by discarded plastic waste; 

RESOLVED, That CFUW urge the Government of Canada and the Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Governments to use incentives including start-up funding to create alternative uses for discarded plastics, biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastic packaging and to work with academics and industry to support the creation of alternative uses for discarded plastics; 

All proposed resolutions will be reviewed and discussed at the March business meeting. Our Advocacy and Action Committee are reviewing them in detail and will report their findings at the meeting. 

We will then have an opportunity for an open discussion of the proposals. Finally, we will take a vote to determine if CFUW Hamilton is in favor of supporting these proposals, rejecting them, or perhaps supporting them with some minor changes. Once accepted at the National AGM they become part of CFUW policy.

Please join us via Zoom Tuesday, March 16th for this lively discussion. Your voice and your vote matter.