There are tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals being produced today, and while these twelve are among the worst, a treaty that lacks a dynamic process for adding substances to the list for action internationally will do little to protect human health and the environment. Unfortunately, Canada's abysmal domestic framework for dealing with toxic substances will greatly constrain it from advocating a strong process for adding substances to the POPs treaty list. Canada can move now to exert its leadership on the POPs issue in a number of ways. Secondly, the Government of Canada could exert bold leadership internationally by committing to a process for adding new substances to the POPs list that goes well beyond the small list it has acted upon domestically. This would be consistent with Canada's acknowledged leadership on the issue, and would prevent its certain erosion.
Political intervention is necessary at the highest level to put the government back on track.
The environment and its human inhabitants deserve no less. Craig Boljkovac has been on the CELA Board since 1991. He currently works on toxics issues full-time in Ottawa for World Wildlife Fund Canada.