REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF DECEMBER 3, 2018

• Ministerial Condition 19767 published

The Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health (the ministers) have assessed information pertaining to the substance hexanoic acid, 3,5,5-trimethyl-, 2-ethylhexyl ester, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. (CASRN) 70969-70-9.

• Notice to provide information for risk management of certain coal tars and distillates

In December 2018, a notice was issued in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 152, No. 48 – December 1, 2018, under section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) in regards to coal tars and their distillates. This includes the 6 substances in this stream. Information received through this notice will be used to inform risk management activities for these substances. The following CASRN apply to this notice:

8007-45-2

65996-82-9

65996-89-6

65996-90-9

65996-91-0

65996-93-2

Every person to whom this notice applies is required to comply with the notice by 3:00 pm (EDT) March 14, 2019.

• Federal Fuels Regulations information sessions now available

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has confirmed the locations of the Federal Fuels Regulations Information Sessions.

• Calgary December 5-6
• Toronto December 11-12
• Montreal December 13-14

To register or for more information contact [email protected]

• Release of pan-Canadian industry survey on food fraud

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) welcomes this study as it offers a better understanding of industry’s perceptions when it comes to food fraud. The CFIA supports the initiative taken by industry to strengthen its measures to prevent and detect fraud. The CFIA takes food fraud seriously and is committed to collaborating with industry to discover better ways to address it. The CFIA works closely with the food industry to promote compliance and provides various tools to help companies verify that their food labels meet all the regulatory requirements, such as the industry labelling tool. Meanwhile, it is industry’s responsibility to make sure they comply with regulatory requirements.

• Call for papers for 2019 technical seminar

The 42nd AMOP Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response will be held from June 4 to 6, 2019 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The AMOP Technical Seminar is an international forum on preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from spills of oil and chemicals in the environment. It also deals with solutions for remediating long-term contaminated sites. AMOP is organized and sponsored by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

• Consultation on defining vulnerable populations launched

We are seeking input on a proposed definition of vulnerable populations within the context of chemicals management. This is a first step towards the development of a policy framework focused on enhancing the protection of vulnerable populations through the assessment and management of risks associated with certain chemicals, in particular under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).

• Alberta opens new office to improve supports for injured workers

The new, independent Fair Practices Office will provide a single point of access to help injured workers navigate the workers’ compensation system.

• Manitoba new whistle blower protections come into force December 1^st

Amendments to The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (PIDA) are coming into effect Dec. 1 to facilitate the disclosure and investigation of serious wrongdoing within public-sector entities and protect employees who report it, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today.

• Manitoba to harmonize occupational health and safety legislation with other provinces

Manitoba has become the first province to harmonize occupational safety and health regulations in several key areas to reduce barriers to interprovincial trade and increase labour mobility, while maintaining protections for workers, Premier Brian Pallister announced today following a meeting of Provincial and Territorial Trade Ministers in Montreal today.

• Ontario releases plan to protect the environment

Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations: A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan will help protect the Ontario we know and love, ensuring its pristine beauty and strong communities can be enjoyed now and in the future. The new plan is posted on the Environmental Registry for public input for 60 days.

This government will hold polluters accountable with stronger enforcement and tougher penalties for breaking environmental laws. These made-in-Ontario emission standards will also consider factors such as trade-exposure, competitiveness and process-emissions and will include the authority to introduce exemptions for Ontario’s auto sector and other exposed industries as needed.

The plan additionally includes robust transparency measures that will ensure the public has real-time information about monitoring, incidents and enforcement activities.

• Golf Cart Injury in Plant Results in $90,000 Fine  

A worker employed by the company’s custodial services provider was critically injured when an industrial golf cart being used to perform custodial duties began travelling unexpectedly under its own power, pinning the worker against a column.

• Québec amends payments under the Workers Compensation Act

Notice is hereby given that the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, at its meeting of 15 November 2018, adopted the Regulation respecting the table of income replacement indemnities payable under the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases and of indemnities payable under the Workers’ Compensation Act for 2019.

• New Brunswick introduces bill to align workers compensation with the rest of Canada

This Bill will ensure the sustainability of the workers’ compensation system in our province and align New Brunswick’s legislation with the rest of Canada.

• United States, Mexico, and Canada Conclude Negotiations on a Trilateral Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

Building on President Trump’s signing of the historic United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of State announced today that the governments of the United States, United Mexican States, and Canada concluded negotiations on a new Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA). The ECA will support implementation of the environmental commitments in the USMCA and will modernize and enhance the effectiveness of environmental cooperation between the parties.

• Mexico changes cannabis legislation

This article discusses a number of changes to the cannabis legal landscape which have taken place in Mexico over the past few weeks.

• European companies to provide more information on nanomaterials

A specific revision of the REACH information requirements for nanomaterials has now been adopted by the European Commission. The amendments clarify what information companies placing substances in nanoform on the market need to provide in their registration dossiers. The new rules apply as of 1 January 2020.

Safety Share

• Using ladders safely this holiday season

Tips on using ladders safely:

• Select the right ladder for the job and ensure it is long enough to extend one metre above the upper landing.
• Place the ladder on a firm, level surface and inspect it before each use to ensure it’s in good working condition, looking for cracks or loose rungs.
• Maintain three points of contact while climbing a ladder: two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot.
• Don’t work from the top two rungs of the ladder or have more than one worker on a ladder at once.
• Don’t carry heavy or bulky objects while climbing up or down a ladder.
• Wind, rain, and snow may pose hazards that need to be addressed.
• Check for power lines and ensure a minimum distance of three metres can be maintained at all times before starting work.