Thread by @aballinga

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau near a lake in Quebec, alongside Stephen Guilbeault, who was on the feds's climate action advisory council. They're expected to make an announcement to ban single-use plastics by 2021.

Trudeau starts by thanking Guilbeault for his leadership. Calls him an incredible advocate. (Is he going to run for the Libs?)

Trudeau says his government has tried to put forward progressive policies, like the elimination of carbon progressively, price on emissions, oceans protection plan. Today is the next step to protect the environment.

One problem comes up often, plastic pollution. He says Cdns recycle less than 10 per cent of plastics. Trudeau calls it a "global challenge."

"How do you explain dead whales washing up on beaches around the world," with their bullies stuffed with plastic, Trudeau asks. Says it's also at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's deepest point.

"People around the world are grappling with this every day," Trudeau says. Plastic have been part of life for 100 years, and has benefits, but pollution has become a serious problem.

Trudeau says straws, bags, are significant problems because they're easy to use and throw away.

He mentions the Oceans Charter from the G7 to reduce plastics that was signed last year. Also Canada's move to eliminate microbeads in things like soap.

Trudeau highlights company in Nova Scotia that's making biodegradable food packaging. "Canada is an important player in the larger global movement to reduce plastic pollution."

"As early as 2021, Canada will ban harmful single use plastics from coast-to-coast-to-coast." He says approach to name which products this affects will be based on science and consistent with other countries.

Companies will be responsible for collection and recycling their plastic waste. "It will be up to businesses to take responsibility for the plastics they are manufacturing," he says.

Trudeau says this will create economic activity, including approx. 42,000 jobs.

Trudeau says he wants his kids to enjoy the environment like he has, and to do this we need to absolutely reduce plastic pollution. Kids' memories will be tainted if we don't act now, he says.

"We're protecting our wildlife and giving our kids and grandkids a cleaner, healthier future," he says.

Why not ban things like straws before 2021?
Trudeau says it gets complicated when jurisdictions move at different paces, so they're going to take time to base the national move on scientific analysis.