Chemical, Water, Blood and Aviation Notices

Summary#

This Canada Gazette, Part I (published January 21, 2023) collects several government notices. Key items include a ministerial condition allowing a specific industrial chemical to be made or imported for oil-well injection under strict rules; a final drinking-water guideline for the insecticide malathion; a change to who is officially allowed to take blood samples in northern territories; and an aviation interim order about COVID-19 testing for certain flights.

What it does#

• Ministerial Condition No. 21338 (under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999) lets the notifier manufacture or import the substance sulfonic acids, branched alkane hydroxy and branched alkene, sodium salts (Confidential Substance Identity Number 18520-7) — but only for injection into petroleum reservoirs for oil production. Conditions include:

  • limits on who can receive the substance and a requirement that recipients agree to the same use restriction;
  • a requirement to give the Environment Minister information at least 120 days before any manufacturing in Canada, including process details and facility address;
  • rules for disposal of waste by deep‑well injection, incineration, or engineered hazardous waste landfill in line with local laws;
  • obligations to report any accidental release and to keep records for at least five years.
  • These conditions came into force December 28, 2022.

• The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality – Malathion (final) set a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 0.29 mg/L (290 μg/L) for malathion in drinking water. The guideline:

  • explains health evidence (kidneys were the most sensitive organ in animal studies),
  • notes that measured concentrations in Canada are generally well below the MAC and that about 25,000 kg of malathion was sold in Canada in 2018,
  • describes treatment and testing options municipal systems or homeowners can use if removal is needed.

• The Attorney General of Canada updated who can be officially designated as qualified technicians to take blood samples in the North. The new classes include:

  • registered or licensed nurses or nurse practitioners qualified to draw blood, and
  • medical laboratory professionals, phlebotomists, combined lab/X‑ray technicians or paramedics who are qualified to draw blood.
  • This replaces an older designation dating back to August 11, 1986.

• An interim aviation order, Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID‑19, No. 74, requires private operators and air carriers operating certain flights to refuse boarding unless travellers provide:

  • a negative COVID‑19 test result from a specimen collected no more than 2 days before the flight’s scheduled departure, or
  • a positive COVID‑19 test result from a specimen collected between 10 and 90 days before departure.
  • The rule’s evidence requirements list the personal details, testing provider, collection date, test method and result. The order took effect at 00:01:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 5, 2023.

• The Privy Council Office published a long list of current Governor‑in‑Council appointment opportunities and said each posting is open for a minimum of two weeks.

Who's affected#

• Oil and gas companies, chemical manufacturers, and importers connected with the specified chemical for reservoir injection. Also any firms that might receive or handle the substance under transfer.
• Municipal water utilities, provincial/territorial drinking‑water authorities, and private well owners in areas where malathion might be found in source water.
• Health and laboratory workers in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut who draw blood — especially registered nurses, nurse practitioners, lab technologists, phlebotomists and paramedics.
• Air travellers and air carriers/private operators involved in the types of flights covered by the interim COVID‑19 order.
• Canadians interested in federal board and agency appointments.

If any part of who is affected is unclear from the notices, the Gazette text notes the roles and criteria but does not always list every specific organization or company.

Why it matters#

• The ministerial condition lets a specific chemical be used for enhanced oil recovery, but only under strict controls. That affects environmental risk management, waste handling, and who can legally handle the material.
• The malathion guideline gives health authorities and water operators a clear safety benchmark (0.29 mg/L) and practical advice on testing and treatment. That helps communities decide when to investigate and fix contamination.
• The Criminal Code designation clarifies who can lawfully take blood samples in Canada’s northern territories. That affects police, health services, and people involved in investigations or medical testing.
• The aviation interim order affects travellers and airlines by enforcing recent COVID‑19 test rules for boarding certain flights. It sets precise time frames for acceptable test results and defines what counts as valid evidence.
• The appointments notice is a routine government recruitment step, which matters for people seeking public‑sector leadership roles.