Vancouver city councillor mulls ban on plastic bags; Premier willing to talk

VANCOUVER – A municipal councillor in Vancouver says the city is talking to the provincial government about banning plastic bags.

Coun. Andrea Reimer made the comments the day after her colleagues in Toronto voted to ban the distribution of plastic bags altogether as of Jan. 1, 2013.

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Reimer says plastic-bag bans are difficult to implement because of the bureaucracy involved, and municipalities lack the powers to make such decisions.

Premier Christy Clark says she’s willing to help cities cut through the red tape but admits it’s not easy.

Reimer says if a ban does happen, plastic bags will be phased out gradually.

The tiny community of Leaf Rapids, Man., was the first community in Canada to ban plastic bags in April 2007.

(AM640, News 1130/The Canadian Press)