C-226

Details

Full Title

An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice

First Reading

February 2, 2022, Parliament 44, Session 1

Type

Private Member’s Bill

Full Content

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-226

Summary

The National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Bill C-226) aims to address the disproportionate harm caused by environmental hazards to Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized communities in Canada. It requires the Minister of the Environment to develop a national strategy, in collaboration with various stakeholders, to assess, prevent, and address environmental racism and advance environmental justice. The strategy will include a study examining the link between race, socio-economic status, and environmental risk, as well as measures to involve community groups in environmental policy-making and collect data on health outcomes in affected communities. The Act mandates the Minister to table a report outlining the national strategy in Parliament within two years of the Act coming into force, and to publish the report on the Department of the Environment's website. Furthermore, the Minister must prepare and table a report every five years on the effectiveness of the national strategy, including conclusions and recommendations, in consultation with relevant parties.

Issues

Environment

• Environmental Protection

  The Act requires the Minister of the Environment to develop a national strategy to address environmental racism and advance environmental justice. This includes examining the location of environmental hazards and taking measures to prevent and address environmental racism, which ultimately contributes to environmental protection for vulnerable communities.

Social Justice

• Reconciliation

  The bill mandates that the Minister consult with Indigenous communities in developing the national strategy and ensures the strategy aligns with the Government of Canada's framework for recognizing and implementing the rights of Indigenous peoples. This is to address the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on Indigenous communities.

• Income Inequality and Poverty

  The Act seeks to study the link between socio-economic status and environmental risk. This can allow for better insight into environmental racism.

• Racism

  The primary focus of this Act is to address environmental racism, which it defines as the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized communities. The Act requires the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent, and address environmental racism through various measures, including policy amendments and community involvement.