Everyone should have a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment. The Government of Canada recognizes the need to advance environmental justice across Canada and the importance of continuing to work toward eliminating racism and racial discrimination in all their forms and manifestations.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, welcomed the Royal Assent of Bill C-226 - An Act Respecting the Development of a National Strategy to Assess, Prevent and Address Environmental Racism and to Advance Environmental Justice, which was introduced by Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, British Columbia.
First introduced by Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament from Cumberland-Colchester 2019-2021, this Bill builds on the commitment in the Minister's mandate letter to introduce legislation to develop an environmental justice strategy and examine the link between race, socio-economic status, and exposure to environmental risk.
Through the Act, the Minister will develop, within two years, a national strategy to promote efforts across Canada to advance environmental justice and to assess, prevent, and address environmental racism. The strategy could include measures such as possible amendments to federal laws, policies, and programs. The Minister will also report on progress every five years thereafter.
The public is invited to visit the Advancing Environmental Equity online platform
