Bill C-226 passed in senate
Bill C-226 makes history as the first legislation passed to improve environmental justice and address environmental racism in Canada. Originally the National Strategy on Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Environmental Justice Strategy Act), Bill C-226 was passed in senate on June 13th with a vote of 51 yay, 11 nay, and 4 abstentions and officially received royal assent on June 20th. A national strategy will be developed over the next two years to implement measures such as amendments to federal laws, policies and programs. For the first time, the Canadian government is committing to advancing environmental justice efforts and to assessing and preventing environmental racism.
As most of our relatives know, environmental racism is nothing new in the history of the colonial project of Canada. From the introduction of pipelines and hydro dams, to the mass slaughter of bison, and the destruction of Africville in Nova Scotia. Black, Indigenous, and racialized peoples have felt the impacts of Canada's environmental racism for centuries. The burden to create and implement environmental justice strategies has almost always fallen on the people who are directly impacted by these issues. As a long time advocate for environmental justice and a driving force behind Bill C-226, Dr. Ingrid Waldron states, “We know the stories about where and how environmental racism exists in Canada. The formal data on these realities is incomplete and therefore there is a lack of understanding about how real this problem is.” Although the passing of Bill C-226 is definitely a step in the right direction, we know we cannot rely on the Canadian government to completely solve and eliminate environmental racism with a two-year strategy. So what will it actually do?
According to the bill, the strategy must include a study that examines the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk, and information and statistics relating to the location of environmental hazards. It should also include measures that can be taken to advance environmental justice and assess, prevent and address environmental racism. These may include possible amendments to federal laws, policies and programs, the involvement of community groups in environmental policy-making, compensation for individuals or communities, and the collection of information and statistics relating to health outcomes in communities located in proximity to environmental hazards. The government is also expected to consult or cooperate with any interested persons, bodies, organizations or communities and ensure that it is consistent with the government’s framework for the recognition and implementation of the rights of Indigenous peoples (www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-226/royal-assent).
Although we are hopeful that this new legislation will generate positive change, we are equally skeptical of the government and its ability to enact its own strategies. Will we see another iteration of lack of policy implementation as we’ve seen with the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, the National Inquiry into MMIWG’s Final Report, and UNDRIP? As we know with past strategies or commissions, recommendations and calls to action do not get done without pressure and accountability. This strategy will be no different. Although the report is scheduled to be tabled by June 2026, we will continue doing the work to support environmental justice and stopping environmental racism. In the meantime, the federal government has created an online mechanism to engage in consultation and collect feedback called Advancing Environmental Equity, which can be accessed at www.enviroequity.ca
To learn more about environmental racism, check out our toolkit here.
Are you interested in providing your insight or feedback regarding Bill C-226, or how the government can address environmental racism? Send us an email at ask@lwic.org