Alliance building wins change on pesticides

For two years a coalition of Toxic Free Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment have been working for province-wide restrictions on the use of toxic pesticides — and now delegates to the Union of B.C. Municipalities have listened.
http://leas.ca/Alliance-building-wins-change-on-pesticides.htm

Right to Know Labelling Campaign

Toxic Free Canada, the new voice of LEAS, was launched across the country in time to support and celebrate Earth Day. For all the information about our national right to know labelling campaign, please visit our new website at www.toxicfreecanada.ca.

From plastic bottles to pesticides, Toxic Free Canada believes you have a right to know what harmful chemicals are in the products you and your family might be using every day. We give you the facts and practical solutions to stop your exposure to toxins at work, school and in the home.

http://leas.ca/Right-to-Know-Labelling-Campaign.htm

Toxic Free Aboriginal Communities

The community of Seton Lake has erected a pink cross to commemorate those lost to cancer, or suffering from it. We are working with community members and the band's environmental committee to study what toxins they are being exposed to.

http://leas.ca/Toxic-Free-Aboriginal-Communities.htm

Canada falls short on PBDE regulation

The federal government has exempted the deca form of PBDEs from its new regulatory ban, making Canada's regulations inferior to those in Europe and leaving Canadians vulnerable to the effects of this toxic chemical.
http://leas.ca/Canada-falls-short-on-regulation-of-PBDEs.htm

Bisphenol A and right to know

On April 18, Health and Environment Canada released their long-awaited screening asessment of

bisphenol-A, declaring the toxic chemical a dangerous substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Health Canada has proposed to ban polycarbonate baby bottles but no action has been proposed for many other products that contain BPA. How will consumers — especially pregnant woman wanting to avoid exposure — know what those products are? The issue has underlined the need for right to know hazard labelling that will identify products containing the toxic chemical.
Read the full story
http://leas.ca/BPA-assessment-underlines-need-for-right-to-know.htm

Industry sidesteps right to know

Public demand for right to know labelling has prompted the industry lobby group to propose listing ingredients by 2010. But the proposal would leave consumers without right-to-know hazard labelling.
http://leas.ca/Right-to-know-missing-from-industry-proposal.htm

LEAS project spurs green cleaning

Students and staff in two major Lower Mainland school districts will see their schools cleaned using non-toxic, environmentally-certified cleaning products, thanks to an innovative project initiated by the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and some green thinking by custodians and management in the Burnaby and New Westminster School Districts.

http://leas.ca/LEAS-project-greens-school-districts-cleaning.htm

Burnaby seeks action on pesticides

The Labour Environmental Alliance Society (LEAS) today applauded the action of Burnaby City Council in taking “an historic step to protect public health and the environment.” The council voted unanimously February 18 to frame a leading-edge bylaw controlling the use of cosmetic pesticides and also agreed to forward a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities urging the province to ban toxic cosmetic pesticides throughout the province.

http://leas.ca/Burnaby-Pesticide-Bylaw.htm

Breast Cancer Awareness

Almost every month, there is new evidence confirming the connection between exposure to toxins in the environment and breast cancer. And even more striking, much of that new evidence is showing that it is not only toxic exposures, but the timing of those exposures that may be a critical factor in the later development of breast cancer. Our latest newsletter, produced for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, helps you and your family take steps to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals that may promote breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness PDF
http://leas.ca/Breast-Cancer-Awareness.htm

LEAS on CBC News

CancerSmart author Sean Griffin explains that right-to-know labelling of consumer products would help to ensure that manufacturers would remove hazardous chemicals from their products. LEAS Executive Director Mae Burrows says we need provincial and federal legislation to protect the public from unknowingly being exposed to toxins in common household products.

http://leas.ca/LEAS-on-CBC-News-November-19-2007.htm

Right to know labelling

Groups across the country have issued a joint position paper calling for new hazard labelling regulations that will give Canadians the right to know what toxic ingredients may be in the household and personal care products they use. But the chemical industry is opposing hazard labelling, claiming it will create trade irritants.

http://leas.ca/Groups-press-for-right-to-know-labelling-regs.htm

A green home

Using natural products to clean a house spares environment, protects your health – and smells positively edible.
http://leas.ca/A-green-home-is-good-enough-to-eat.htm

Cleaners and Toxins

A new, expanded and updated edition of the Cleaners and Toxins Guide is now available as LEAS continues its work with occupational health and safety committees to eliminate toxic cleaning products.

http://leas.ca/Cleaners-and-Toxins.htm

FAQs

We answer your questions about the government's decision on BPA, about water bottles, sunscreen, alternatives to polyurethane — and more.

http://leas.ca/Frequently-Asked-Questions.htm

Toxins in Household Products

Some of the ingredient in household cleaning products can be surprisingly toxic, and may include carcinogens and reproductive toxins.

http://leas.ca/Toxins-in-Household-Products.htm

Burrows honoured by Cancer Society

LEAS executive director Mae Burrows was honoured with a Partnership award from the Canadian Cancer Society.
http://leas.ca/Burrows-honoured-with-partnership-award.htm

CancerSmart en francais

LEAS has partnered with Option Consommateurs in Quebec to bring you the CancerSmart Guide in French, Diminuez les risques de cancer : Guide du consommateur averti.
http://leas.ca/Diminuez-les-risques-de-cancer--Guide-du-consommateur-averti.htm

Gift Card Program

Looking for that perfect gift for a special someone? Let LEAS make your gift giving easy!

With a tax-deductible donation to LEAS we will send a beautiful gift card to a loved one either by email, or a printed card sent by surface mail!

http://leas.ca/Gift-Card-Program.htm

Toxic Free Schools

We're working to get toxins out of the school environment. Check out these tools and resources for parents, teachers and students.
http://leas.ca/Toxic-Free-Schools.htm

Publications

Our Annual Report for 2007 is available for download.

http://leas.ca/Publications.htm