P.E.I. could become the first province to eliminate single-use checkout bags from retail stores, says Liberal MLA Allen Roach.
Roach tabled a private member’s bill during Tuesday’s evening session of the legislature that would largely prohibit businesses from providing the plastic checkout bags to customers.
Roach said there are already some jurisdictions in Canada that regulate the use of plastic bags through municipal bylaws.
However, if the act is passed, P.E.I. would be the first entire province to embrace the idea.
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“We’re a very small province. I think this is something we can do, and as a province we can certainly be a leader in the country,” said Roach.
The act’s stated purpose is to reduce the use by businesses of single-use checkout bags, to reduce waste and environmental damage and to promote responsible, sustainable business practices in P.E.I.
The act would only allow businesses to provide a checkout bag if customers confirm they need a bag. The store must then provide a paper or reusable bag and the customer would be charged a fee.
The act also states that businesses cannot deny or discourage customers from using their own reusable bags.
Roach said he also believes the public doesn’t need convincing on the issue, pointing to environmental concerns of plastic in the ocean and the growing number of individuals who have reusable grocery bags.
“I think a lot of Islanders are on board now,” said Roach. “We have to take it upon ourselves to look after our own environment and make sure we don’t end up with stockpiles of plastic… I think it’s really a good first step.”
If passed, the act would be gradually implemented, with a fee of 15 cents per paper bag and $1 for a reusable bag charged to customers starting on July 1, 2018.
Those fees would be increased to 25 cents for a paper bag and $2 for a reusable bag on Jan. 1, 2019.
The act also proposes that corporate offenders that contravene the act could see a fine ranging from $100 to $10,000. Individual offenders could be fined between $50 to $500.
Those fines would also start on Jan. 1, 2019.
The act would not apply to bags used to package prescription drugs, loose bulk items such as fruits or nuts, hardware, flowers, frozen foods and meats. Another exception would be large items that don’t easily fit into reusable bags.
Roach said it was important for the act to be gradually implemented, in order to give businesses who’ve already purchased bags a chance to “phase them out.”
“We’re not proposing that it’s going to be a hard hammer down, we’ll be looking for lots of time for people to catch on,” said Roach.
