Ensuring Accessibility Under the Federal Plastic Straw Ban

Whereas the regulations for the federal plastic straw ban include some provisions intended to ensure accessibility, but will introduce new and significant barriers for persons with disabilities that will conflict with and be paramount to current provincial and municipal plastic straw prohibition regulations in British Columbia, by prohibiting: - As of December 20, 2023, restaurants and other food vendors from giving out flexible plastic straws, and retailers from displaying packages of flexible plastic straws sold for personal use; and - As of June 20, 2024, plastic straws attached to beverage containers; And whereas the above aspects of the federal plastic straw ban regulations are misaligned with the intent of the Accessible Canada Act and the Accessible British Columbia Act, which empower the federal and provincial governments to set accessibility standards to make an inclusive and barrier-free Canada and British Columbia, and require federally and provincially regulated organizations, including BC local governments, to adopt accessibility plans to name and remove the barriers for individuals connected with these organizations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM and the Province of British Columbia request that the Government of Canada amend the federal Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations SOR2022-138 before December 20, 2023 to ensure barrier-free and inclusive services for persons with disabilities by allowing: - Food vendors to provide a flexible plastic straw to a customer who requests one for accessibility needs; - Retailers to display packages of flexible plastic straws and sell them without customers having to request them; and - Flexible plastic straws attached to beverage containers like drink boxes and pouches.