Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Canada’s Supreme Court to hear appeal of single-use plastics ban
Canada’s Supreme Court will hear an appeal of Ottawa’s single-use plastics ban.
The federal government introduced the ban after classifying plastic-manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act in 2021.
It covers six types of disposable plastics, including straws, grocery bags, stir sticks and six-pack rings.
A plastics industry group challenged the classification, and a federal court struck it down in 2023.
An appeal court restored the federal government’s order in January, saying its decision was reasonable and did not infringe on provincial or territorial jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court’s hearing will decide whether that order can stand, but no hearing date or final decision is given.
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal of the federal ban on single-use plastics.
The ban followed Ottawa’s decision to list plastic-manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
A 2023 Federal Court ruling struck down the listing, but the Federal Court of Appeal upheld it in January.
The federal government used the listing to ban the manufacture and import of six types of single-use plastics.
The Supreme Court’s announcement leaves the ban in place pending the appeal.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of Canada will hear the appeal. The federal government and the plastics industry are on opposing sides.
- What
- The court will hear an appeal of the federal ban on single-use plastics.
- When
- The top court announced the appeal on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The Responsible Plastic Use Coalition challenged Ottawa’s decision to classify plastic-manufactured items as toxic. The appeal concerns whether the federal government could make that designation.
Federal government
Responsible Plastic Use Coalition
Toxic classification
Federal government
Ottawa says its listing of plastic-manufactured items as toxic was reasonable.
Responsible Plastic Use Coalition
The coalition challenged the order; a 2023 Federal Court ruling found the classification too sweeping.
Jurisdiction
Federal government
The government’s position prevailed at the Federal Court of Appeal, which said the ban did not infringe on provincial or territorial jurisdiction.
Responsible Plastic Use Coalition
The 2023 Federal Court ruling said the federal government was trespassing on provincial jurisdiction.
The Liberal government listed all plastic-manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Federal Court Justice Angela Furlanetto struck down the ban after a challenge by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition.
The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the government's order to list plastics as toxic.
The Supreme Court of Canada said it would hear an appeal of the ban.
- Appeal court
- Federal Court of Appeal upheld the listing in January 2026
- Industry challenger
- Responsible Plastic Use Coalition
- Ban basis
- Listing of plastic-manufactured items as toxic
- Banned categories
- Six types of single-use plastics, including straws and grocery bags
- Supreme Court announcement
- October 15, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
predicated on an incorrect premise
a classic example of a court engaging in a 'line-by-line treasure hunt for error.'
unreasonable and unconstitutional