December 9, 2006

Feds take on toxic threat
Ante up $300M to regulate chemicals

Jon Willing

Ottawa Sun

A $300-million federal plan to regulate harmful chemicals will protect humans and the environment from toxic materials, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says.

Harper, who unveiled the plan at the Ottawa Hospital's General campus yesterday, said "realistic" measures will make Canada a world leader in chemical product assessment.

The plan involves assessing 200 high-priority chemicals that could be dangerous to humans or the environment. The feds will challenge industry to provide new information about how it's managing the substances.

These hazardous chemicals will be released in groups of 15-30 every three months, for a six-month comment period, before the government decides on a course of action.

The plan is being hailed by health and environment advocates, and even the chemical industry.

Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, said "the writing is on the wall" for 200 chemicals identified as potentially harmful.

"These things are in consumer products in our homes, they're in the food that we eat," Smith said. "These things are regularly included in many seemingly innocuous things around our homes and offices."

Smith also hailed the decision to place a solvent used in the rubber-making process on a virtual elimination list under the Environmental Protection Act.

GET U.S., EUROPE ON SIDE

Gordon Lloyd, vice-president of technical affairs for the Canadian Chemical Producers' Association in Ottawa, said the next challenge is getting the U.S. and Europe to co-operate with similar plans, especially since Canadian chemical production accounts for only 2% of the global industry.

The federal timetable is challenging, but manageable for companies, Lloyd said, adding: "We hope it's going to improve public confidence in chemicals."

The feds also intend to work with stakeholders on disposing pharmaceutical and personal care products and reducing contaminants in the food supply.

The cost of the plan is spread over four years. Harper said the investment will save money in the long run by reducing health and environmental cleanup costs.