[Healthandsafety] toxins

["Barry Doyle" <bdoyle@cupe.ca>]

Imagine . . . an MP saying that government has a role in protecting citizens. What a revolution. But, rememeber, wash those apples. 

MPs say governmental bans are key to reducing toxins
CTV News and Current Affairs 
Thu 04 Jan 2007 
Byline: 
Source: 
Time: 07:38:30 ET 
Network: CTV 
TABER: Several high-profile MPs are getting a very personal look at how pollutants from the air we breathe and the products we use are seeping into our systems. Jack Layton, John Godfrey, Tony Clement and Rona Ambrose all had blood tests as part of a report, called Toxic Nation, on Parliament Hill. To talk about the findings, we're joined by the executive director of Environmental Defence, Rick Smith. 
Hi, Mr. Smith. 

RICK SMITH: Hi. 

TABER: And by Liberal environment critic John Godfrey. He is in Ottawa. Mr. Godfrey had the highest levels of toxins in the group. 

What do you have inside you, Mr. Godfrey? What's going on? 

JOHN GODFREY: Well, it turns out, like a lot of Canadians, I'm picking up stuff all the time without wishing to do so. And this is everything from lead to insecticides, PCBs, mercury. And what it really proves is that even if you think you're living a pretty healthy lifestyle it doesn't matter because you're taking this stuff in from what you're eating, from the air you're breathing, from flame retardants on various bits of furniture, to stain repellents. Apparently all of that just comes in and we don't have any choice over it. 

TABER: Rick Smith, of course you tested these politicians. Is there any good news at all in this? 

RICK SMITH: There is. I mean, the findings are generally grim. But there is some good news. We tested for a few substances that have actually been banned in Canada for about 20 years. So, DDT and PCBs. And what we found is that in older Canadians, older Canadians have much higher levels of those than younger people do. So, what that says is that when the federal government does finally get its act in gear and start banning these substances, or ensuring that they're substituted with nontoxic alternatives, that we immediately start to see declines of these in the environment and in the bodies of Canadians. 

TABER: Mr. Godfrey, we consider you one of the clean-living MPs on Parliament Hill. You like to bike and you're very active, you keep yourself in great shape. You must have been totally surprised by this. And what can you do about it now? 

JOHN GODFREY: Well, as an individual I guess we can watch what we eat, we can make sure we're washing the skins of apples before we eat them. 

TABER: Right. 

JOHN GODFREY: But this is really where the role of government is crucial, because government has to act on behalf of us all to make sure that if there are new substances coming into consumer products that before they're allowed to come onto the shelves that they're tested to be seen to be perfectly safe for people. Government's role is really to protect Canadians against these unknown hazards over which they have no control. So, I think it's incumbent on all of us, of whatever party, to be more aggressive in using our legislation, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, to list and regulate far more of these toxic chemicals than we have in the past. I think that's the message for all politicians. 

TABER: Well, Rick Smith, I remember talking to Tony Clement, the Health Minister, not long ago. And they are listing more things, they are coming down on some of these hazardous chemicals and pollutants. Is the government doing enough? Is this list enough? 

RICK SMITH: Well, we were very positive about the government's announcement on toxic pollution in December. We thought that was a good first step. But it deals with a specific set of chemicals. The larger problem remains, that the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which is the most important pollution law in the country, is not functioning adequately. I'm very happy that Mr. Godfrey and others on the environment committee are giving it careful consideration. It's being reviewed right now in Parliament. So, 2007 has got to be the year that we make sure our national pollution law is fixed, is being applied properly, and that we start to bring down the levels of these pollutants in the environment. 

TABER: Okay, last question to you, Mr. Godfrey. With an election expected this year, what are the Liberals going to be doing to push the Conservatives on the environmental front? And it appears today that we might even have a new environment minister in a couple of hours. 

JOHN GODFREY: Well, I think it's pretty evident with Stephane Dion as our leader that we are going to be pushing very aggressively on the environment, both on the climate-change front which is absolutely crucial and which really did in Ms. Ambrose -- although it wasn't her fault, that was the Prime Minister's fault -- and on the whole question of pollutants and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act which we brought in. It now needs more resources, it needs greater and more aggressive goals. So, I think that you could see that the environment in all of its complexity will be a major issue if we have an election in this country. 

TABER: And that's what you're hoping for, too, Rick Smith. 

RICK SMITH: Absolutely. 

TABER: Okay, I want to thank you two gentlemen for your time this morning. Thank you very much. 

RICK SMITH: Thank you. 

JOHN GODFREY: Thank you. 

© 2007 CTV Television Inc. All Rights Reserved. 
Length: 884 words 
Guest: Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental Defence; John Godfrey, Liberal Party Environmental Critic 

Barry Doyle
Senior Officer, Health and Safety
Canadian Union of Public Employees
21 Florence St. 
Ottawa, ON K2P 0W6
o.613-237-1590 x289
f. 613-233-3438
bdoyle@cupe.ca
www.cupe.ca