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CEPA 1999 Parliamentary Reviews. Presentation for “DOJ Day” Canadian Bar Association November 3, 2006. EC and HC undertook significant preparations for the current 5 year reviews. Departmental preparations included: Internal analysis of how the legislation is affecting programs
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CEPA 1999 Parliamentary Reviews Presentation for “DOJ Day” Canadian Bar Association November 3, 2006
EC and HC undertook significant preparations for the current 5 year reviews • Departmental preparations included: • Internal analysis of how the legislation is affecting programs • External evaluations of implementation of the Act • Broad-based stakeholder engagement: • public workshops in six cities across Canada • web-based stakeholder engagement • Issues Paper tabled with the Parliamentary Committees in October (available on CEPA Registry)
What we heard during stakeholder discussions • Fundamentally sound Act • More effective implementation will address many concerns • Some issues may need a legislative change to be resolved • Concern that Review may distract from implementation • Some concerns about adequacy of resources to support implementation of the Act
Overall departmental messages… • CEPA 1999’s basic architecture is sound • Review represents opportunity to make a good Act better • Past six years have been spent putting in place many significant elements of CEPA 1999 and results are now emerging • e.g., Use of new risk management tools, such as Pollution Prevention Plans
Government released paper on CEPA Issues • Twelve technical Issues Paper raised by Government and 3 issues broader than CEPA • Technical issues relate to making Act more efficient • Broad issues: federal lands and operations aboriginal lands; biotechnology • CEPA is not the only legislation to address these issues
Five-year review has begun… • Two reviews of CEPA 1999 currently underway • House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development • began hearings on Review of CEPA on May 10, 2006 • Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources • began hearings on Review of CEPA on May 16, 2006
House of Commons Review • Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development has heard from the following groups: • Industry Coordinating Committee • Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association • Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association • Canadian Environmental Law Association • Canadian Fertilizer Institute • Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control • Environment Canada, Health Canada, Justice Canada & Statistics Canada • International Joint Commission • Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Developoment • Great Lakes United/Canadian Environmental Network • Ivey Foundation • Mining Association of Canada • Pollution Watch • Environmental Defence • Canadian Medical Association • Ontario Medical Association
House Committee Fall Work Plan This Fall, the House Committee plans to hold at least 10 meetings to deal with issues under 6 broad topics
Senate Review • Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources has heard preliminary views from the following: • Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers • Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association • Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association • Canadian Environmental Network • Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters • Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development • Environment Canada, Health Canada & Justice Canada • Pollution Probe • Pollution Watch • Sierra Legal Defence Fund • Hon. Charles Caccia, P.C. • Committee has chosen to examine the successes and shortcomings of CEPA by way of case studies • Mercury, perfluorinated chemicals and air pollution (Smog).
Many of the Government’s issues are being brought forward by others • House Committee list of issues derived from what they heard from others • Most relate to issues Government raised • Unclear how quickly Committees will complete their work