Diquat guideline; critical habitat protections

Summary#

This Canada Gazette (Part I, Vol. 156, No. 4) issue, published January 22, 2022, contains several government notices. They include habitat protection steps for two endangered birds and one endangered fish, new drinking-water guidance for the herbicide diquat, a local forensic appointment, and an open call for federal board and commission candidates.

What it does#

• For the fish Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population), Department of Fisheries and Oceans says the species’ critical habitat inside these federally protected areas will be covered by the protections in the Species at Risk Act starting 90 days after publication: Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, Saint‑Vallier Bird Sanctuary, Montmagny Bird Sanctuary, Cap‑Saint‑Ignace Bird Sanctuary, L’Islet Bird Sanctuary, and Trois‑Saumons Bird Sanctuary.
• Health Canada publishes final drinking-water guidance for the herbicide diquat:
  • The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) is 0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L).
  • Health notes that more than 500,000 kg of diquat (active ingredient) was sold in Canada in 2018, that routine monitoring generally finds levels below detection, and that eye damage (cataracts) was the key health concern in animal studies.
  • Treatment methods that can remove diquat include granular activated carbon, membrane filtration (nanofiltration or reverse osmosis), and oxidation.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada says critical habitat for the endangered Cerulean Warbler inside Philipsburg Bird Sanctuary will be covered by the Species at Risk Act protections 90 days after publication. The department invites contact for clarification but notes some location details may be withheld to protect the species.
• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness designates Steve Veale of the Lethbridge Police Service as a fingerprint examiner (designation dated January 5, 2022).
• The Privy Council Office posts open application opportunities for a range of Governor in Council appointments (several CEOs, commissioners, and board members across federal agencies and Crown corporations).

Who's affected#

• People and groups working, boating, fishing, or managing land in and around the named bird sanctuaries and the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area.
• Municipal and provincial drinking-water authorities, small system and private well owners, and water-treatment operators because of the new diquat MAC and treatment guidance.
• Farmers and others who use or handle diquat, since the guideline relates to health-based limits and monitoring expectations.
• Local forensic and policing partners in Lethbridge (related to the fingerprint examiner designation).
• Canadians who might want to serve on federal boards or commissions—especially people from under-represented groups, since the appointment process explicitly seeks diverse candidates.

Why it matters#

• Protecting identified critical habitat for the Striped Bass and Cerulean Warbler may change what activities are allowed or how they are carried out in those protected areas. That can affect local users and conservation efforts.
• The diquat guideline gives a clear health-based limit (0.05 mg/L) for drinking water. Water managers can use it to decide on testing and treatment; private well owners may consider household treatment options if there’s a concern.
• The fingerprint examiner appointment is an everyday administrative step that keeps forensic services staffed and functioning.
• The Privy Council Office’s call for applicants shapes who leads public bodies. That affects how those organizations are run and what priorities they pursue.