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Tofino and Ucluelet add polystyrene to plastic ban

Plastic straws will now be allowed when requested.
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Tofino and Ucluelet have revised their synchronized single-use-plastics bans to include styrofoam and allow restaurants to provide straws to anyone who requests one.

Both districts crafted unified bylaws last year, prohibiting local businesses from supplying plastic straws and plastic bags to customers, however those bylaws have been updated in the wake of a similar plastic-bag-ban in Victoria being overturned by the B.C. Supreme Court after a challenge from the Canadian Plastic Bag Association.

READ MORE: Tofino and Ucluelet revise single-use plastics bans after Victoria loses appeal

The crux of the supreme court’s decision to rule Victoria’s bag ban invalid was that the City’s local government had not consulted the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy before implementing the new law.

Following that ruling, Tofino and Ucluelet acted proactively to protect themselves against a potential challenge from the CPBA by revising their bylaws and sending them to the ministry for review.

Tofino’s Manager of Corporate Services Elyse Goatcher-Bergmann explained the ministry responded and requested that a provision be added to allow people who request a straw to be provided with one.

“They would like to see more proactive accessibility measures included in this type of bylaw,” she said.

READ MORE: Tofino and Ucluelet officially ban plastic bags and straws

She added that the original bylaw did include provisions to allow customers to bring their own straw, but the ministry requested more robust inclusion, particularly for people unable to use a hard surface straw. Goatcher-Bergmann noted that paper straws are incompatible with hot beverages.

“So, we are now allowing a plastic straw to be provided upon request and we’ve also made it very clear that there is no need to ask someone for any kind of medical history or reason why they’re requesting that straw,” she said.

She clarified that the new bylaw does not require businesses to provide straws, but rather allows them to.

She added the new bylaw would be resubmitted to the province for review.

Ucluelet submitted the same bylaw in tandem with Tofino and Ucluelet mayor Mayco Noel said the unified prohibition is an example of the West Coast’s solidarity.

“From plastics, to housing, to COVID-19 strategies, we need to have a regional approach and that is the end goal for these municipalities…We need to try to make sure there’s some unity between the two areas to respect each other because, really, we’re one,” he said. “It’s about being united, breaking down barriers and following each others’ lead…On the staff to staff level, there’s nothing but cooperation and there’s some great things happening in the background.”

READ MORE: West Coast leaders unite in the fight against COVID-19

The push to ban plastic straws and bags on the West Coast was led by Surfrider Pacific Rim and chapter manager Lilly Woodbury told the Westerly News she was happy with the added accessibility provision.

“Accessibility has always been of utmost importance to Surfrider Foundation, from working towards fairer beach access for all individuals to ensuring the campaigns that we lead create changes that are equitable for all people,” Woodbury wrote in an email to the Westerly News. “With this in mind, some folks with diverse abilities may not be able to use a metal or paper straw for drinking purposes, they depend on plastic straws for the unique properties of this material. So, not all people will require or be asking for plastic straws, just the people who need them.”



andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

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Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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