Efforts to ban single-use plastic bags in Saanich have hit a snag after Saanich council defeated a recommendation that asked staff to seek legal advice on the issue.

Council Monday voted 5-4 against a recommendation to B次元官网网址渙btain legal advice on banning single use plastic bags and setting minimum pricing for single use plastic bags.B次元官网网址�

Mayor Richard Atwell, Couns. Karen Harper, Fred Haynes, Colin Plant and Leif Wergeland voted against the recommendation from the planning, transportation, and economic development advisory committee. Couns. Susan Brice, Judy Brownoff, Dean Murdock and Vicki Sanders supported the recommendation.

CouncilB次元官网网址檚 decision came representing the plastic bag industry launched a petition against the City of Victoria that looks to overturn that

The Canadian Plastic Bag Association (CPBA) claims the municipality lacks the authority to pass such a ban or to impose minimum fees for paper or reusable bags. The CPBA claims the move will B次元官网网址渟ignificantly impactB次元官网网址� its members who manufacture and supply bags for the Victoria market.

Atwell said it would be a waste of staff resources to seek an internal legal opinion before the case against the Victoria bylaw had played out, a point Haynes echoed. Saanich has a fiduciary duty, he said, stressing that the question of whether Saanich should single ban single-use bags is a different question. Harper agreed. It would not be a good use of staff time, she said. It does not make sense to seek a legal opinion now, when the final legal opinion will not be available until a court has ruled on the challenge.

Supporters of the recommendation, however, expressed fears Saanich could lose momentum by delaying. Saanich will need an internal legal opinion on way or another, said Brownoff. Victoria, she said, is moving ahead with its ban, notwithstanding the court challenge. Brice said Saanich has a chance to create a B次元官网网址済roundswellB次元官网网址� in favour of the ban by B次元官网网址減ushing it as close as possible to the line without green-lighting it.B次元官网网址� Sanders, meanwhile, said parts of the industry have already accepted the new direction.

Without making a prediction, Murdock said the case will come down to the question whether Victoria has the authority. B次元官网网址淚 suspect it is going to come down to the rationale they provided in presenting the regulation. Environment is a funny thing. It seems like all levels of government do in fact have the authority. It just depends on the rationale.B次元官网网址�

Efforts to ban single-use plastic bags date back to early 2017 when council received a presentation from , who urged council to reduce and eventually eliminate plastic bags, citing a long list of harmful effects.

They include the death of sea birds, sea mammals and fish. Single-use plastic bags have also received criticism for contributing to climate change by using non-renewable hydro-carbons. Finally, scientists have linked the central chemical compound in the manufacturing of plastic bags, Bisphenol A B次元官网网址� or BPA B次元官网网址� with pregnancy problems, prostrate problems and behaviour problems in children.

Formal efforts started to take shape in when Brice tabled a notice of motion that led Saanich to investigate its own ban based on a . It would ban retailers from offering single-use plastic bags free of charge, but does not set any specific charges itself, while spelling out various exemptions.

While it is not clear how many single-use plastic bags currently circulate through Saanich, the number is likely high.

, a not-for-profit society registered in British Columbia, estimates that Canadians use up to 15 billion bags every year, or about 17,000 bags a minute. Naturally, many will end up in local landfills.

A City of Victoria report captures this problematic issue. B次元官网网址淭he volume of single-use plastic bags entering the waste stream and escaping collection systems is a growing concern for cities, and should be addressed by improved waste management schemes and more sustainable consumer behaviour,B次元官网网址� said Fraser Work, director of engineering and public works.

CouncilB次元官网网址檚 decision comes against the backdrop of local communities heading into different directions on the issue of single-use plastic bags.

While Victoria with banning single plastic bags, , a stand

Outside the Greater Victoria region, Nanaimo , as did .

But these efforts have also generated opposition from the and , which appears to have won a temporary rear-guard victory.