CEPA 1999 Preparations for the 5Year Parliamentary Review

1
CEPA 1999 Preparations for the 5-Year
Parliamentary Review

• Presentation by
• Environment Canada to
• Canadian Environmental Network
• 18 February 2004

2
CEPA 1999

• CEPA 1999 is a key part of federal environmental
  legislation
• In 1999, further commitments were made to
• focus on pollution prevention
• use new tools to encourage innovation and promote
  instrument of choice
• increase federal accountability
• take a systematic approach to dealing with legacy
  of thousands of un-assessed chemicals
• recognize role of others but enables federal
  leadership in setting national standards, acting
  as safety net, action where best situated
• CEPA 1999 is among the worlds leading pieces of
  environmental legislation

3
Objectives of CEPA 1999

• Protection of environment, including its
  biological diversity and human health
• Contribute to sustainable development through
  pollution prevention
• Effective management of toxic substances, fuels,
  engine emissions, nutrients, export/import and
  interprovincial movement of hazardous wastes, and
  disposal at sea
• Virtual elimination of releases of substances
  determined to be most dangerous
• Achieve highest level of environmental quality

4
Why a CEPA 5-yr Review?

• A 5-yr review clause is built into CEPA 1999
• The Act states that every 5 years after it comes
  into force, a Parliamentary Committee must
  undertake a comprehensive review of the
  provisions and operations of the Act
• 5 year anniversary of CEPA coming into force is
  March 31, 2005

5
Approximate Timeline for Pre Post Review Period

• Preparations for the Review
• Now to March 2005
• Parliamentary Committee Review
• March 2005 Sept 2006
• Committee has 1 year to conduct review and
  prepare report with recommendations
• Government Response
• April 2006 September 2006
• Government has 150 days to respond to the report
• Bill Phase (?)
• to be determined from Government Response

6
Context for preparing for the CEPA Parliamentary
Review

• Continued Push for Better Federal-Provincial-Terri
  torial Cooperation
• Building a Strong Economy for the 21st Century in
  a Global Context
• Improving economic and environmental conditions
  for Aboriginal Peoples
• Commitment to Fiscal Prudence

7
Proposed Products for the Parliamentary Committee

• Guide to Understanding CEPA 1999
• Evaluation of CEPA 1999 Implementation
• Environment Canada (EC)/ Health Canada (HC)
  Ministerial Advice
• Summary of the successes, challenges and barriers
  faced by the departments in implementing CEPA
  1999
• Suggestions for the future
• Advice will be informed by experience of federal
  departments, other jurisdictions and stakeholders
• First draft for public consultation will be based
  on EC/HC experience implementing the Act
• Supplementary Issue Papers as required (maybe
  annexes to Advice paper)

8
Timelines for Consultations
Jan 04
Mar 05
Jan 05
Jul 04
EC/HC Experience Paper
Internal Discussions Dec 03-Feb 05
OGD Discussions Jan 04 Jan 05
CCME Discussions Jan-Oct 04
Aboriginal Discussions Feb-Oct 04
Pre-Review Consultation Process
Multistakeholder Discussions Feb-Oct 04
EC/HC Ministerial Advice Paper
National Workshop Series
9
What are we hearing?

• Not a major review
• Issues raised with approach to Risk
  Assessment/Risk Management of Existing Substances
• Other opportunities to respond to Smart
  Regulations
• better international and federal/provincial/territ
  orial cooperation.