“Every year, more than 22 million tonnes of plastics find their way into the Great Lakes –  our most precious natural resource and our main source of drinking water.  By 2050 based on current trends, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. This is unacceptable, and as the leader of Ontario’s third largest City, I am committed to doing my part to help our City reduce our plastic consumption.

“Canada, along with the G7 is leading the way in developing a Plastics Charter to address the issue of non-sustainable plastic. We also need the federal government to develop a National Plastics Reduction Strategy that will incent the reduction of waste, establish national standards and make the producers of these products directly responsible for reducing consumption amongst other measures.

“Industry and consumers are ahead of government on this. In fact, the Canadian Plastics Association –  the leading industry association – along with the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and 11 other major industry organizations working toward reducing the use of non-recyclable plastics and improving recyclable, reused or recovered plastics. Many restaurants are already banning the use of plastic straws on their own accord and consumers trends are shifting towards reusable bags and straws.

“Protecting our environment for future generations to come is something that our City Council cares deeply about.  From passing a resolution to restrict microbeads in 2015 to today’s motion that urges the federal government to develop a strategy to reduce single-use plastics, it’s clear that we are committed to building a sustainable city.

“By making small changes to help reduce our plastic consumption as a City, we are demonstrating that all levels of government have an important role to play in addressing this global issue.

“While today’s resolution is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to protect our earth’s biological diversity. That’s why I will continue my work as chair of the Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Mayor’s Council on Nature and Communities along with implementing our City’s first Climate Change Action Plan to help ensure our City is doing its part to help fight climate change.

“Thank you to Councillor Mahoney and the Environmental Action Committee for endorsing this motion, and to the Mississauga Board of Trade for supporting it as well.

“I look forward to hearing how the federal government plans to address this crisis. Only by working together will we enact meaningful change and protect our earth for future generations to come.”

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