If Health Minister Tony Clement were a mom, Canada surely would not allow the potential carcinogen Bisphenol A to remain in baby formula containers, according to MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis. In a Parliament Hill exchange December 5, Wasylycia-Leis told the house that the chemical, which Toxic Nation claims is a "hormone disruptor," is present in plastic baby bottles, and every can of infant formula on the market. She asked when Canada will ban it.

"We believe that science should be the judge on these issues," Clement fired back, noting that Bisphenol A is under review in Canada. "I am sure the homourable member is aware that the current standard for Bisphenol A is one-half of the tolerable intake limits that are found in the European Union and the United States."

Last month, both Mountain Equipment Coop and Lululemon Athletica banned Bisphenol A from the plastic water bottles they sell. The lobby group Toxic Nation, which is funded by Toronto legal group Environmental Defense, claims that one in three cans of baby formula sold in Canada contain toxic levels of the compound.

To Wasylycia-Leis, a slow government review isn’t good enough.

"As long as there’s some risk, we as a govenrment have to take responsibility," she told the Straight in a phone interview from her riding in Winnipeg North. "This is exactly why we need more women in politics.... Some of our politicians jeopardize the health and well-being of our children.... Why would I put my own children through that risk?"

Wasylycia-Leis was first elected provincially in 1986, and was the first MLA to breastfeed her baby in the Manitoba legislative assembly.