Review the timeline of events in the history of the bromine ban in Canada, and you'll come across this article from The Walrus, published in January 2005:
Slowly — tragically, too slowly — politicians are starting to heed the mounting evidence to support claims that the flame-retardant chemicals swirling invisibly through our homes can cause neurological damage in children and impair hormone production in adults. According to some of the latest studies, even minute doses of brominated fire retardants impair attention, learning, memory, and behaviour in laboratory animals.
Scientists at Environment Canada and Health Canada are so concerned that in May they recommended that the federal government remove octa-bde and penta-bde, two of three types of pbde formulations, from the market. The European Union, California, and in August New York State, have banned the two formulas. But there was no mention of pbdes in October’s Speech from the Throne, in which the Liberal government outlined their environmental initiatives. So far, Canadian politicians seem more interested in talking to the pbde-industry lobby than in taking immediate action to end what some researchers believe could become one of the worst toxic-contamination disasters in history.
Government scientists made their results known when they recommended the government move to restrict the use of two pbde mixtures, largely used in polyurethane foams and rigid plastics in consumer appliances. And they suggested more research be done on the third mixture, known as deca-bde, just as production of deca-bde is being ramped up around the world in response to the bans against penta-bde and octa-bde.
Even so, in the face of a stiff industry lobby, no one is sure when, or if, Environment Minister Stephane Dion will move to implement the advice of his own scientists and ban the penta-bde and octa-bde formulations from the market, let alone sharply limit the use of deca-bde.
Of course, now we know that one of the lobbyists for the bromine industry in January 2005 was none other than John Duffy, a senior Liberal Party strategist.
Paul Webster was unsure if Stephane Dion would act on what seemed like solid science. As it turned out, he did not. Ultimately PBDEs were banned by Minister Rona Ambrose, under the current Conservative government.
On the other hand, Stephane Dion did name his dog Kyoto, so clearly there is a level of environmental action his is capable of undertaking.
