A sign for Elections Canada is displayed outside an early voting station in Toronto on Friday, April 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to scrap a major part of the Liberal government’s environmental policy: the ban on single-use plastics. Speaking at a recycling facility in Montreal, Poilievre said that if elected on April 28, his government would reverse the 2022 ban on items like plastic straws, grocery bags, and cutlery.
He argued that the ban not only drives up costs for families but also leads to more food waste. Poilievre pointed out that plastic wrapping plays a crucial role in keeping food fresh. “Without plastic, fresh produce won’t last long. More spoilage means more waste and higher food bills,” he said.
The current ban doesn’t apply to food packaging, except for some takeout containers. However, the Liberal government has been pushing ahead with plans to require up to 60% of food packaging to be made from recycled plastic by 2030. Poilievre dismissed this as a “plastic tax,” suggesting it would increase packaging costs and add strain to household budgets.
Meanwhile, other political leaders were busy campaigning across the country as advance voting opened for the federal election. Liberal Leader Mark Carney was in Niagara Falls, focusing on cross-border trade and economic resilience. He warned against shrinking government roles in crises, calling for leadership that can encourage private investment when the market pulls back. “In tough times, the government must step up,” Carney said.
Carney also criticized Poilievre’s stance on plastics, accusing him of mimicking U.S. policies after President Donald Trump overturned a similar American ban. “Canada should make its own decisions,” Carney added, suggesting the banned items have affordable alternatives and don’t require plastic versions.
In Quebec, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh revealed his party’s platform for the province. Surrounded by candidates in Yamachiche, Singh focused on protecting local farmers, preserving food security, and supporting supply management in the dairy industry. He also emphasized the need for Quebec’s approval before any pipelines are built through the province.
Singh pitched his party as the only one standing up for ordinary Canadians. He accused Carney of favouring the wealthy through tax cuts and warned voters that core public services are at risk. Singh assured supporters that a fully costed NDP platform would be released soon.
Carney said the full Liberal platform would be published on Saturday.
The Bloc Québécois became the first party to release its complete platform. Although the Bloc cannot form the government as it only runs candidates in Quebec, the document outlined $133 billion in proposed spending over five years. Key promises include wage subsidies linked to the U.S. trade dispute, a major boost in public transit funding, and increased health transfers to provinces.
While some provinces and cities — like British Columbia and Montreal — have their own bans on single-use plastics, Poilievre's plan would still affect national policy. With environmental regulations becoming a bigger political battleground, plastic straws and grocery bags have unexpectedly taken center stage in the federal election conversation.
