Environment groups in both countries say Canada is violating the Basel Convention, an international treaty which prevents developed nations from dumping their waste on the developing world without permission
Some environmental groups in the Philippines are planning a protest Monday outside the Canadian embassy in Manila to keep attention on the issue, which ramped up in the wake of Duterte’s statements.
A working group was established last fall to negotiate an end to the impasse and, after Duterte’s threats, there finally seemed to be some progress. Canadian officials, including John Holmes, the ambassador in the Philippines, said Wednesday that Canada is going to bring the trash back but that there were still some complex legal issues to overcome. The main issue is who pays, with Canada believing it can’t go after the Canadian company involved until the materials are back on Canadian soil.
Salvador Panelo, presidential spokesman and chief legal counsel, said in a statement Thursday that Canada’s response was vague and reiterated that the Philippines has given Canada until next week to act. “The 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be put to naught if Canada will not act with dispatch and finality the resolution of this undiplomatic episode to which we take outrage,” Panelo said.
“That it even considered performing such outlandish disposal of its garbage to an ally is dangerously disruptive of our bilateral relations.”Earlier this week, a Global Affairs official said it’s unlikely Canada will find a solution by next week. On Friday, he said Canada is still working hard to find a way “for the garbage to be returned to Canada quickly.
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