Blue Dot key messages & story
Key messages:
• More than 110 nations recognize their citizens’ right to live in a healthy environment.
But not Canada.
• The right to a healthy environment is the simple yet powerful idea that all Canadians
deserve to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food.
• This is about protecting the people and places we love.
• I support this movement because I believe that every Canadian deserves a future that is
healthier and more secure. With people from all walks of life coming together, we can
make it happen.
The Blue Dot story:
• We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with some of the largest reserves of fresh
water, natural spaces and remaining populations of wild animals. This image of Canada is a
deep part of who we are — it is our identity.
• Most Canadians believe that nature is essential to our survival, and 85 per cent of us agree that
our Charter of Rights and Freedoms should include the right to live in a healthy environment.
• Despite this, Canada is falling behind when it comes to protecting the people and places we
love, ranking 24th out of 25 wealthy industrialized nations on environmental performance.
• Canada was once a leader on the environment and social justice. We could be again. No one
should suffer from preventable environmental impacts.
• We need to ensure our economy creates sustainable jobs that leave communities prosperous
and secure, without having to deal with grave environmental damage to the air, water and
land.
• No matter who you are or where you live, every Canadian deserves the right to fresh air, clean
water and healthy food.
• That’s why I’m joining the Blue Dot movement.
• I want to help create a future where the people and places I love are protected, where
preserving air, soil and water quality are among our highest priorities.
• This is what this campaign is all about — recognizing that we are deeply connected to the
world around us and that if we value something so deeply, our highest laws should reflect that.
• Freedom of expression and of the press, the right to vote and the right to life, liberty and
security of the person are indispensable for Canadians. So too is our right to live in a healthy
environment.
• Canadians value the environment, and they are looking for ways to protect it without having
gains rolled back.
• With people from all walks of life coming together, we can make it happen.
Figures and statistics:
•
More than 20,000 Canadians die prematurely every year because of exposure to
environmental hazards.
•
Half of all Canadians live in areas where they are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution.
•
Canada has no national safety regulations for drinking water or binding air quality standards.
•
More than 110 nations recognize their citizens’ right to live in a healthy environment. In over
80 per cent of these countries, it’s already led to stronger environmental laws and improved
protection.
•
The total costs of pollution in Canada are more than $100 billion a year.