Sault city council to discuss plastics ban
A pair of Sault Ste. Marie city councillors are hoping to get their council colleagues to support a ban on single-use plastics.
A motion to that effect will be debated at the next city council meeting, and if passed, will see a ban on plastic grocery bags, straws, stir sticks, cutlery and food containers used by restaurants.
Councillors Donna Hilsinger and Corey Gardi are behind the motion. Hilsinger said the Sault can show environmental leadership by implementing the ban.
"We know that plastics are hurting our environment, and we feel that it's important for us to do something about that," said Hilsinger. "Do something to take somewhat of an ambitious step in something that can make a big difference."
"I think single-use plastics present a challenge and a problem to marine life," said Gardi. "Us being right on the Great Lakes, the St. Marys River, I think we need to be conscious of that type of pollution that we create and limit it to the greatest degree that we can."
Gardi said he's disappointed in a campaign by the city to encourage individuals and businesses to voluntarily discontinue the use of single-use plastics. He said the initiative was not properly communicated to community partners.
"The school boards, post-secondary institutions, the PUC, some larger employers here in town," said Gardi. "I wasn't really sure as to how much communication there was even within the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie."
Hilsinger said she is optimistic the motion will pass.
"I do anticipate that most, if not all, members of council will wholeheartedly endorse this and we'll get on to doing our part in the world," she said.
The motion will be debated at the Nov. 15 meeting of Sault Ste. Marie city council. If it passes, a ban on single-use plastics would be put into effect on May 1 of next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.