Lenore Zann

A private member’s bill that would require the federal government to examine the links between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk passed third reading in the House of Commons Wednesday with the support of the Liberals, NDP and Greens.

Her entry into environmental justice came by chance in 2012 when an activist asked Ingrid Waldron to research environmental racism in Nova Scotia.

Elizabeth May is taking the fight to address environmental racism back to the House after a Liberal MP’s bill died on the order paper last fall.

More than 20 environmental organizations are calling on the government to reintroduce and prioritize a bill that would address environmental racism in Canada when Parliament reconvenes on Nov. 22.

A private member’s bill aiming to address environmental racism successfully passed through committee Monday and will be reported to the House of Commons this week.

A new tool that measures the environmental quality of any urban street in Canada — and maps it out in colour — illustrates vividly the many neighbourhoods in the country that have poor environment scores, neighbourhoods that are often home to racialized communities.

An NDP MP also wants to see a national strategy on fresh water, while a Liberal MP wants another national strategy to redress environmental racism.