Proposed Arsenic Air Objectives and Notices

Summary#

This issue of the Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 160, Number 21 (published May 23, 2026) contains several government notices. Key items include an order that removes three chemical identifiers from the federal non‑domestic substances list, a public consultation on proposed air-quality objectives for arsenic, a one-person RCMP fingerprint examiner designation, a consultation on tower‑siting rules, and a list of open Governor‑in‑Council appointment opportunities.

What it does#

• Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Order 2026-87-05-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List deletes these three CAS numbers from Part I of the list: 9011-12-5, 65870-97-5, 68525-95-1. The order comes into force on the same day as another related order (Order 2026-87-05-01) that amends the Domestic Substances List.
• Health Canada published proposed health-based air quality objectives (HBAQOs) for inorganic arsenic and opened them for public comment:
  • Short term (1 hour): 0.2 µg/m3 (to protect fetal development).
  • Long term (annual): 0.001–0.01 µg/m3, corresponding to a lifetime cancer risk between about 1 in 1,000,000 and 1 in 100,000.
  • The HBAQOs are non‑regulatory guidance. The consultation document was posted starting May 22, 2026 and comments are invited within 60 days.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has a personnel designation: Jessica Calvert was named a fingerprint examiner (Criminal Code authority).
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) launched Notice DGSO-001-26, a public consultation proposing changes to the tower siting process. Proposals include stronger public notification about new towers and creating an online tower information system. Comment deadlines are July 16, 2026 (initial) and August 25, 2026 (replies).
• The Privy Council Office listed open application windows for many Governor‑in‑Council appointments, with various closing dates in May and June 2026 for posts such as chairs, directors and presidents of several federal agencies and boards.

Who's affected#

• Companies that make, import or deal with the substances identified by CAS numbers 9011-12-5, 65870-97-5, 68525-95-1 — they will be affected by the change in listing status. It is not clear from the notice which businesses those CAS numbers represent.
• Communities near industrial sources of arsenic (for example, mines, smelters, energy facilities, waste incinerators) and people concerned about air quality. Public health authorities and local governments that use HBAQOs to assess and manage risk will also be interested.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and organizations that rely on forensic fingerprinting will notice the new examiner designation.
• Telecommunications companies, municipalities, landowners and residents near proposed tower sites — they may be affected if the tower siting process and notification rules change.
• Canadians interested in federal board and agency roles — the appointment notices list many opportunities with specific application closing dates.

Why it matters#

• Changing the lists under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 can affect which chemicals are prioritized for assessment, monitoring or regulatory action. Removing a CAS number from the non‑domestic list usually means it has moved to the domestic list or its regulatory status has been updated; the exact practical effect depends on related orders and context.
• The proposed HBAQOs for arsenic give health‑based targets that provincial, territorial and local authorities can use when assessing air quality and planning protections. Because arsenic is a known human carcinogen, the guidance — if adopted into policy or used in assessments — could influence cleanup, emissions limits or monitoring near industrial sites.
• The tower‑siting consultation could change how the public learns about new cell towers and how tower data are shared online. That could affect local planning decisions and public input on new installations.
• The appointment listings are how many federal boards and agencies fill senior positions; the notice signals where the government is seeking applicants and the timelines involved.
• The fingerprint examiner designation is a routine personnel action but matters to court and forensic processes that rely on certified examiners.