Waivers, Port Borrowing, Appointments

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published July 27, 2024) reports three kinds of government actions: the Minister of the Environment granted a number of waivers for information normally required when importing or making new substances and living organisms; the Minister of Transport increased borrowing limits for three port authorities; and the Privy Council Office posted a batch of open appointments with application deadlines. The practical effect is that specific companies were excused from supplying certain test data, three ports can borrow more for projects, and many federal board and agency jobs are open for applications.

What it does#

• Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999:
  • The Minister waived some information requirements for a set of companies that filed notifications about living organisms. Companies named include Canadienzyme Inc., Cordex Biologics Inc., Janssen Inc., Qeen Biotechnologies, and Solid Biosciences. The waivers mostly relate to:
    • tests of antibiotic susceptibility, and
    • tests of effects on aquatic and terrestrial plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates likely to be exposed.
  • The Minister also waived specific test-data requirements for substances for companies including 3313045 Nova Scotia Company, Milliken & Company, NextStar Energy Inc., Sika Canada Inc., and Wego Chemical Group. The waived data types include:
    • octanol/water partition coefficient,
    • density,
    • water solubility, and
    • hydrolysis rate as a function of pH.
• Under the Canada Marine Act:
  • Halifax Port Authority: replaced its borrowing limit so aggregate borrowing cannot exceed $160,000,000 (supplementary letters patent effective July 10, 2024).
  • Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority: replaced its borrowing limit so aggregate borrowing cannot exceed $100,000,000 (supplementary letters patent effective July 10, 2024).
  • Saguenay Port Authority: added a project-specific additional borrowing limit of $36,800,000 for the construction of a mechanized bulk material handling system (the Conveyor Project). The authority may also borrow up to $11,000,000 temporarily to cover interim expenses until reimbursement from Investissement Québec (supplementary letters patent issued July 12, 2024).
• From the Privy Council Office:
  • A long list of Governor-in-Council appointment opportunities was posted. Some listed deadlines include:
    • Employment Insurance Board of Appeal positions: September 19, 2024,
    • Parole Board of Canada: August 9, 2024.
  • Every posting is open for at least two weeks from the date it was posted.

Who's affected#

• The named companies that received waivers (see list above). They no longer have to submit the specific tests or data itemized in the notice for those filings.
• Businesses and researchers that import or manufacture organisms or substances not on the domestic list. They are the group generally subject to these information requirements.
• The Halifax Port Authority, Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, and Saguenay Port Authority, which can now borrow more under their letters patent.
• Local communities, businesses, contractors, and users of those ports could see effects if the ports use the extra borrowing for projects (the notice names the Saguenay Conveyor Project).
• Canadians interested in federal board, commission, and agency jobs — several positions are open and have deadlines.

Why it matters#

• Waivers under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 mean some companies did not have to supply certain environmental or laboratory test data for specific new-substance or new-organism filings. The notice lists what was waived but does not give detailed reasons in the public text. The Gazette also notes that roughly 400 regulatory declarations and about 100 waivers happen each year, so this is a routine part of how the government handles new-substance notifications.
• Increasing borrowing limits under the Canada Marine Act gives the named ports more financing room for capital projects. That can make it easier for a port to start or speed up construction or other investments, such as the Saguenay Conveyor Project.
• The appointment postings from the Privy Council Office are the public opportunity to apply for a range of federal leadership roles. The specified deadlines are important for anyone who wants to apply.