Federal Court Deems Government’s Plastic Classification ‘Unreasonable and Unconstitutional,’ Prompting Government Appeal
In November, a Federal Court judge ruled that the federal government’s decision to list plastic items as toxic was “unreasonable and unconstitutional”. This pivotal decision stems from a case initiated by major players in the plastics industry, as reported on November 16th, 2023.
Following the court’s judgment, Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault swiftly announced the government’s intention to appeal, emphasizing an exploration of all options to continue the fight against plastic pollution. Additional details on this development can be found in this news article dated November 20th, 2023.
Listing plastic items as toxic was a key step for Ottawa to proceed with a ban on certain single-use plastic items, set to take effect on December 20.
The Recycling Council of Alberta is closely monitoring developments in this case.