跳转到主要内容

万锦市禁用塑料的想法只是一句空洞的口号

The idea of banning plastics in Markham is nothing but a rhetoric
来源: Bob Mok



知道渥太华迟早会禁止使用塑料,许多市政当局都主动采取行动,制定法律以应对即将到来的联邦立法。想要了解渥太华立法的意图,请参阅我的“加拿大为禁用塑料做好准备了吗?”一文(http://chinesenewsgroup.com/news/667563)
In anticipation of the Federal Government's push to ban plastics, many municipalities are taking the initiatives to make laws to deal with the impending legislation's. For the Federal Government's intentions, see earlier articles here: http://chinesenewsgroup.com/news/667563

万锦市是最早研究禁止使用塑料是否可行的城市之一。 2019年10月7日,万锦市提出了一个动议,并在下一次总务委员会开会时做出对一次性塑料用品的决定。区域议员杰克·希思(Jack Heath)提出了这项动议。

Markham becomes one of the first municipalities to study the feasibility of plastic bans. On Oct 7, 2019 the City of Markham introduced a motion for the next General Committee meeting for a City of Markham Single-Use Plastics Declaration. Regional Councillor Jack Heath was the Council member behind this motion.

该动议说,在动议通过的三个月后,万锦市的企业将不再向消费者提供一次性废弃的塑料用品。以下是动议的细节:

Within that motion, it proposes to eliminate single-use plastics by businesses serving consumers in Markham within three months of the adoption of the declaration. Details are as follows:



a)为了最大程度地减少塑料袋的使用,企业将根据规定提供其他材料制做的袋子。商家可以向消费者收取这些袋子的费用。

a) In order to minimize the use of plastic film retail shopping bags, businesses will substitute a non-plastic alternative to be provided on request. Charging a fee for such a product would also be permissible.

b)对于塑料吸管,塑料搅拌棒,塑料饮料塞和其他类似产品,只有出于医疗和便利才能使用这些塑料产品。即使有必要使用此类产品,如消费者要求,商家则必须提供非塑料替代品。

b) For plastic straws, plastic stir sticks, plastic drink stoppers and other similar products, an exception would be made for medical and accessibility purposes. If such products are necessary, it would be permissible to substitute a non-plastic alternative to be provided on request.

c)咖啡杯和饭店外卖食品容器塑料,塑料涂层或聚苯乙烯外卖容器和盖子可用非塑料或非塑料涂层的替代品代替。

c) coffee cups and restaurant take-home food containers plastic, plastic-coated, or polystyrene take-out containers and lids may be substituted with non plastic or non plastic-coated alternatives.

d)允许用非塑料替代品取代用于装饮料,啤酒和其他产品的六包装塑料环或类似塑料包装。
 
d) Substituting plastic six-pack rings or similar items used for carrying pop, beer and other products with non-plastic alternatives would be permitted.

e)可应消费者要求,提供一次性包装的调味品和一次性塑料用具。

e) Single-portion condiments and single-use plastic utensils may be supplied to consumers on request.



禁用塑料的措施适用于万锦市所有零售商店,食品店,包括餐馆和杂货店,便利店,啤酒和烈性酒商店,临时活动供应商等。万锦将监督措施的执行情况。此外,该措施还将通告总理,环保部长,各省和特区的省长,环保厅长,省和特区的各个党的党魁,加拿大的各个城市,所有省级和市级协会,以及在万锦做生意的企业。

This declaration shall apply to all retail stores, food premises such as restaurants and grocery stores, convenience shops, beer & liquor outlets, temporary event vendors, etc. across the City. Markham will monitor for noncompliance and use its enforcement powers to achieve compliance. Furthermore, this declaration will be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Premiers and Ministers of the Environment in each of the provinces and territories, party leaders in the 14 jurisdictions, all municipalities in Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, all provincial and municipal associations, and all impacted Markham businesses.

万锦市环境咨询委员会(MEAC)的代表Kevin Boon于2019年10月22日在总务委员会上说,MEAC支持这一动议。他表示,MEAC支持禁止使用一次性塑料的倡议。万锦市退休区议员,康山居民瓦莱丽·伯克(Valerie Burke)在会上表示支持这一举动。她说,作为万锦市废物利用委员会和动物保护委员会的成员,她建议这两个委员会毫无保留地支持这项动议。

On Oct 22, 2019 Kevin Boon, a representative of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee (MEAC) addressed the Committee regarding the proposed motion and spoke in support. He indicated that MEAC supports the Single-Use Plastic-Free City initiative. Valerie Burke, a retired Markham ward councillor and Thornhill resident addressed the Committee with respect to the proposed motion and spoke in support. She indicated that she is a member of the City of Markham Waste Diversion Committee and Animal Care Committee and advised that both committees were in full support of this motion.



总务委员会原则上支持这一动议,但提出以下担忧:三个月的时间太仓促·收集宠物粪便的塑料袋咋办·该措施缺乏与受影响企业的磋商·对万锦当地企业的影响有多大·万锦有无立法权来执行该措施·有无立法律先例·监督和措施执行的钱从哪来·有无向公众宣传这一措施的重要性·有无对其他城市的做法进行研究。

The Committee discussed their support in principle to the proposed motion and discussed the following concerns: Timeline of three months is unreasonable · Elimination of plastic bags and pet clean up · Lack of consultation with affected businesses · Impact on local business owners · Legislative authority to enforce · Setting legal precedent · Financial implications relative to operations and by-law enforcement · Importance of Public Education · More research is required as to what are other municipalities doing.

总务委员会建议将该动议交给市府工作人员研究,并在2019年11月18日向总务委员会汇报。换句话说,他们发现该动议未经研究就草草出笼,根本就没有探讨其可行性和能否实现。

The Committee suggested that this motion be deferred to staff and report back at the November 18, 2019 General Committee Meeting. In other words, they found that they were jumping the gun on this issue without studying it thoroughly to ensure its feasibility and success.



当仔细阅读这份动议时,我们可以发现这份动议的许多地方使用了“允许”,“有无更多选择”和“要求”这些词。这意味着,除非收到消费者的投诉,禁止塑料的措施是自愿的。我无法确认这些措施能否执行,只能称是在“喊口号”。

When we look at the proposed actions within the declaration, we can identify the use of the words “permitted”, “alternative”, and “request” on many occasions. This means that compliance is voluntary and unless a complaint is received from the consumers, enforcement is futile. I cannot figure out the usefulness of this declaration and can only label it as a “rhetoric”.

由于没有征求当地企业的意见,因此,大多数在万锦做生意的企业对这些措施会对他们的经营活动和利润影响有多大一点也不清楚。也许他们应该组织一批人去是否游说,并参与万锦市有关禁用塑料的讨论,以表达他们的意见和不满。

Since the local businesses are not consulted, most are kept in the dark with respect to the impending impact on their business operations and their bottom-line profits. May be they should form a lobby group and get involve with Markham City Hall to provide their input and dissatisfaction.

我不知道万锦有无法律权限来制定禁用塑料的规定。几年前,多伦多曾禁止食用鱼翅,结果如何?难道我们还没有从鱼翅的争议中吸取教训?

I am not even sure if the City has the jurisdictional power on this subject matter. Have we not learned a lesson from the ban of shark's fin consumption from the City of Toronto a few years back?



与本文相关文章

网友评论

网友评论仅供其表达个人看法,并不表明大中资讯网立场。评论不可涉及非法、粗俗、猥亵、歧视,或令人反感的内容,本网站有权删除相关内容。

请先 点击登录注册 后发表评论
You must be logged in to join the discussion

©2013 - 2024 chinesenewsgroup.com Chinese News Group Ltd. 大中资讯网. All rights reserved. 
Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from chinesenewsgroup.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Chinese News Group Ltd.