For some, the Canada’s ban on plastics is just a return to how things used to be. For others, the switch will prove to be costly, just as prices are rising across the country
After the federal government announced a ban on certain single-use plastics, Niagara this Week spoke with a farmer, a drinks brand and a small takeout owner to see what they’ve been doing to eliminate plastic, and how the ban might affect them.
On June 20, the federal government announced that it was moving forward with a ban on certain single-use plastics, including checkout bags, cutlery, certain food service containers, ring carriers, stir sticks and certain straws.
Announcing the change, Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change, said: “By the end of the year, you won’t be able to manufacture or import these harmful plastics.
“After that, businesses will begin offering the sustainable solutions Canadians want, whether that’s paper straws or reusable bags. With these new regulations, we’re taking a historic step forward in reducing plastic pollution, and keeping our communities and the places we love clean.”
Tom Neufeld, who has farmed in Niagara for over 40 years, is “totally in favour” of the federal ban on certain single-use plastics and just sees it as a return to the way things were.
“It’s foolish for us to think ‘what are we going to do now?’ We did it for years. It’s just a return to what it was,” he said.
When Neufeld sells his produce at farmers’ markets, he uses paper bags, just as he has been doing for years.
“There’s no debate that we’ve got to stop using plastic,” he said.
He believes that the government’s ban will help encourage people to make the switch away from plastic.
“Any kind of a nudge helps,” he said. “It’s good government.”
“It’s the new way of the world,” said Britt Stanton, marketing co-ordinator at Drink Collab, a collection of small-batch alcoholic drinks brands. People are “trying to find new ways of doing their job” sustainably.
Both Nick Pappas, marketing and brand manager, and Stanton are big believers in innovative ways to be environmentally friendly and said that there is a big shift in the drinks industry to be sustainable.
“You have to be ahead of the game” when it comes to the environment, said Stanton.
For the past two years, Pappas has pushed back against plastic. When they serve drinks in disposable cups, they use a material made from corn byproducts that breaks down naturally, and they serve food on biodegradable bamboo plates.
They admit that it costs around twice as much for the environmentally friendly materials, but Pappas considers it an acceptable “sustainability cost.”
Farah Dandach-ElDika owns the Lebanese Mezzah in Smithville. She recently opened her business in May and, although she supports the spirit of the ban, she has concerns about finding good, cost-effective replacements.
She agrees with the fact that we need “a better environment and … a better Earth.” But she says the ban is “a good decision and not at the same time.”
“I have a big issue now,” she said, regarding replacing the polystyrene plates and plastic cutlery that she already uses. She is especially concerned about takeout containers, which must be made from a material that won’t fall apart when it gets moist.
She also laments the timing of the policy, when the “cost of everything now is so expensive.” She estimates that any decent replacements will be at an additional cost.
The government, she said, should subside the switch. “They have to help out as a government,” she said. “Give us support.”
But Dandach-ElDika is already thinking about ways to reduce plastic use. She’s considering an initiative to encourage people to bring in their own bags for takeout and rewarding them with a treat.
Chris Pickles, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Grimsby Lincoln News
Residents in the small town of Druzhkivka, south of the eastern Ukrainian industrial city of Kramatorsk, wake up to three suspected missile attacks which ripped apart a supermarket's shop front and left a massive crater in front of the store.View on euronews
News bulletin 2022/07/09 23:44View on euronews
News bulletin 2022/07/08 22:11View on euronews
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to allow it to put in place guidance that prioritizes deportation of people in the country illegally who pose the greatest public safety risk. The emergency request to the court follows conflicting decisions by federal appeals courts in recent days over a September directive from the Homeland Security Department that paused deportation unless individuals had committed acts of terrorism, espionage or “egregious threats t
Shinzo Abe, a divisive archconservative who was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and, even after leaving office, a powerful and influential politician, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday,. (July 8)
Gavin McKenna, 14, has become the first Yukoner to be the first overall draft pick for the Western Hockey League.
News bulletin 2022/07/08 12:11View on euronews
The Halifax Board of Police Commissioners is exploring the rules around how police remove people who are living in public spaces. That was after a public request for a formal policy on how police engage with unhoused people living in public spaces. Robyn Tress, a community activist, asked for a policy on police interactions with homeless people. She said it stems from what she's seen in the city's parks and streets. "It never ceases to amaze me the ability of this municipality to invent new ways
News bulletin 2022/07/09 21:11View on euronews
Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey says she was drugged at a celebration after the World Aquatics Championships, saying she doesn’t recall four to six hours of the night and woke up with bruises and other injuries.
One person was killed in a single-vehicle collision Saturday morning around 3 a.m., according to the Ottawa Police Service. The vehicle was travelling east where regional road 174 and Highway 417 split. Officers are currently investigating. As of Saturday afternoon, no details had been released about the person who died.
A Russian cargo plane has been sitting on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson International Airport for months, because it’s not allowed to take off. Mike Drolet reports on why it’s being grounded, the huge fines being accumulated and the aviation lawyer making sure this aircraft doesn’t end up back in Russian hands.
Step by Step How To Make Spaghetti Napolitan, Original Japanese Spaghetti. “Spaghetti Napolitan” is a popular westernized Japanese pasta dish that makes for an easy, healthy dinner. After being inspired by spaghetti and ketchup military rations, a chef in Yokohama at the New Grand Hotel whipped up the recipe and named it after Naples, Italy. For vegetarians, substitute the chicken consumé and bacon/sausage for powdered or paste vegetable broth and cubed yellow squash, tomatoes, or zucchini. Y: I really love this recipe because it’s super easy to make and has lots of vegetables in it. I personally like frying thinner noodles on high heat at the very end in extra oil for a more savory taste, but make sure to keep stirring so as not to burn it! ============================================================= ❥ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvC... ❥ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hungrycooki... ============================================================= ★ Ingredients for 2~3 Servings ・2~3 Cloves of Garlic ・½ Onion, sliced ・¼~½ Bell Pepper, sliced ・2~3 White Mushrooms, sliced ・2 Sticks of Asparagus, diagonally sliced (Optional) ・3 Berkshire Pork Sausage, diagonally sliced* ・2 Slices of Bacon, finely sliced ・200g or half a box of Spaghetti ・½ Tbsp Chicken or Vegetable Consommé ・4 Tbsp of Ketchup ・1 tsp Worcester Sauce ・3 Tbsp of Olive Oil ・2 Pinches of Herbes de Provence (Optional)** ・2 Pinches of Nutmeg (Optional) ・1 Pinch of Brown Sugar or 2 tsp of Honey ・Pepper ・Salt ★ Cooking Recipe 1) Heat a pot of salted water for the spaghetti (it’s said that the water should taste like the sea when cooking spaghetti) 2) Prepare vegetables and meat while your water is heating up. 3) Once the water has come to a rolling boil, add your spaghetti. Don’t forget to set a timer! 4) While heating the pan on medium-low heat, add olive oil and minced garlic, stirring until fragrant. 5) Raise the heat to medium and add your vegetables to the pan and cook until softened. Once the onions are transparent and soft, add your meats. 6) After your meat has cooked through, season with Herbs de Province, Nutmeg, Brown Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Chicken Consommé, Ketchup, and Worcester Sauce. 7) Add about 3 Tbsp or ¼ cup of pasta water to your pan to help the sauce and veggies stick to the pasta. Add pasta and sear on medium-high heat until most of the water has evaporated. Keep the pasta moving so it doesn’t burn! 8) Plate your finish spaghetti and top with Parmesan, fresh or dried parsley, and tabasco sauce and chili flakes if you like it spicy. 9) Enjoy!
"Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich was denied bail and will remain in custody after a justice of the peace ruled she breached a condition of her original release. Lich is facing multiple charges of mischief and obstructing police for her role in the massive protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks last winter.
The federal government has formally apologized to descendants and relatives of the men of the No. 2 Construction Battalion Saturday afternoon, 106 years after the formation of the historic battalion that faced anti-Black racism during the First World War. The Nova Scotia-based battalion was the first military unit in Canada made up of mostly Black personnel. The battalion was primarily used in non-combat situations to clear trees, build roads, and maintain railway tracks. Prime Minister Justin T
Tornado warnings and watches are currently in effect for portions of Manitoba. The main risk zone for supercells and a tornadic threat this afternoon will be in the west and central parts of the province.
In the best of times Stampede can take a bite out of your wallet. Even more this year as Calgarians, like many across the country, face record levels of inflation. But there are a few ways to enjoy the show while getting the best bang for your buck. Value days essential for savings According to communications manager Kristen Anderson, the best way save is through the Stampede's slate of value days. "That really gives people an option to get onto the grounds for free admission but also just at a
Here's the latest for Friday July 8th: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fatally shot; Funerals planned for some parade shooting victims; Biden to take executive action to protect abortion access. Mississippi's last abortion clinic closes.
Canada faces a tough choice this weekend between angering Germany and offending Ukraine as it ponders the fate of a large turbine that has been undergoing repairs in the workshops of Siemens Energy Canada. The turbine normally drives gas through the Nord Stream One pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany. Last month, while undergoing scheduled maintenance at a Siemens Energy facility in Montreal, the turbine was caught up in sanctions the Trudeau government brought against its owner, Russian o
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.View on euronews