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Success stories

Policies that encourage conservation are good for people, public health and the environment.

Back in the 1980s, depletion of the earth’s ozone layer was a pressing environmental concern. Widely-used substances like hairspray - it was the big hair ‘80s after all - were depleting the ozone layer of earth’s atmosphere. The ozone layer helps prevents the most harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the planet. Scientists believed that the depleted ozone layer was causing increases in skin cancer and damage to plants from increased UV exposure.

In 1987, several countries gathered in Montreal and hammered out an international agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances. Canada was at the lead of these efforts. Because of this policy, the ozone has started to heal.

Remember leaded gasoline? Since its introduction to gasoline in the 1920s, thousands of Canadians were harmed by lead, which is a neurotxin. By enacting policies to protect the health of Canadians, leaded gasoline was gradually phased out by 1990. Car and oil companies cried that removing lead would ruin cars and cost billions, forcing the country into an economic disaster. If anything, banning leaded gasoline made Canada more innovative and healthier. Similar benefits will happen if we adopt policies that prevent environmental problems from occurring.

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