Joint Letter to Minister Dabrusin: Implementing the Right to a Healthy Environment
Published by:
David Suzuki Foundation and partners
Partners:
Environmental Defence,
Canadian Environmental Law Association,
Breast Cancer Action Quebec,
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment,
EcoJustice
Environmental rights, Climate solutions right to a healthy environment, policy and regulation, chemicals and toxins, Indigenous Peoples, human health and wellbeing
In July 2025, the David Suzuki Foundation and allied environmental and health organizations sent a letter to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin congratulating her on the release of the Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
The framework operationalizes the historic 2023 CEPA amendments that, for the first time, legally recognize the right to a healthy environment in Canadian law. The new framework is intended to guide how the right is upheld in practice. The letter expresses support for this milestone while emphasizing the need for meaningful action – not just symbolic recognition – to close protection gaps and reduce environmental injustices, particularly for vulnerable communities.
The groups raise concern that the department of Environment and Climate Change ability to implement the new framework could be significantly undermined by projected federal budget cuts, including a 50 per cent decline in departmental spending over the next wo years unless critical program funding is renewed.
To ensure Canada upholds its environmental rights commitments, this letter urges the government to:
- Renew the Chemicals Management Plan with a strong rights-based approach
- Support International recognition of Indigenous and environmental rights in a plastics treaty
- Classify PFAS as a toxic substance under CEPA
- Establish an Office of Environmental Justice
- Launch a Supply Chain Transparency Strategy
- Defend and strengthen CEPA regulations
“Putting the right into practice will help protect current and future generations, ensure environmental justice and support Canada’s international leadership on environmental and climate action.”
