A Canadian plastics industry executive is accusing the federal government of skewing data to justify more stringent consumer plastic regulations.
“My personal opinion is they are promoting fears they think resonate with a broad base of potential voters,” said John Galt, CEO of Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“I believe a lot of what is being represented in terms of ‘toxicity’ of plastic lacks evidence and is to a large degree based on what I, as an engineer, would call junk science.”
Husky Injection Molding Systems is a Bolton, Ont. manufacturer of molding equipment for the plastics industry.
Hearings on a proposal to ban six products and blacklist plastics as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act have yet to start by MPs.
But cabinet back in October proposed listing plastic as toxic alongside asbestos, mercury and lead.
“We find ourselves in a fight with our own federal government,” said Galt.
“Plastic resin and product manufacturing accounts for 93,000 jobs. We need to stand up.”
The Environment Ministry previously announced also banning six plastic products next year including single-use checkout bags, plastic straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings and polystyrene take-out food containers.
