Lynx Designation and COVID Vessel Rules

Summary#

This Gazette issue collects several government notices, including the Bank of Canada’s designation of Lynx (the wholesale payments system operated by Payments Canada) and a Transport interim order that restricts some passenger vessels because of COVID‑19. It also includes an Environment interim order that fixes how automakers get greenhouse‑gas credits for 2017–2021 model years, a one‑year rule letting people quickly deliver found dead migratory birds for testing, and a list of federal appointment opportunities. The Lynx notice was signed by Tiff Macklem on August 18, 2021 and the dead‑bird permission takes effect on August 21, 2021.

What it does#

• Designation of Lynx

  • Designates Lynx under the Payment Clearing and Settlement Act as a system that could pose systemic risk.
  • The designation takes effect on the day Lynx begins operations.

• Interim Order modifying vehicle emissions rules

  • An Interim Order (under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999) changes how the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations work for 2017 to 2021 model years.
  • It lets companies recalculate or newly calculate CO2‑equivalent credits or deficits for those model years using revised multipliers for advanced‑technology and natural‑gas vehicles.
  • It also sets a minimum all‑electric range of 16.4 km (10.2 miles) for plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles to count under the change.
  • The order is meant as a short‑term correction while the regulations are fixed.

• Temporary possession of found dead migratory birds

  • Under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, people are allowed, for one year from August 21, 2021, to temporarily possess found dead migratory birds so they can be delivered quickly to provincial/territorial authorities or labs for disease testing (for example, avian influenza).
  • All other rules against possessing migratory‑bird carcasses remain in force.

• Interim Order No. 6 — passenger vessel COVID‑19 restrictions

  • Interim Order No. 6 (under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001) generally prohibits passenger vessels that are certified for more than 100 people and that have overnight berths from navigating, mooring or berthing in most Canadian waters.
  • It forbids passenger vessels from entering Arctic waters from other waters.
  • Exceptions exist for vessels in distress, government/research vessels, essential service vessels, certain foreign vessels in innocent passage, and other listed cases.
  • Passenger vessels that provide essential services may operate if they carry no more than 50% of their certified passenger capacity or if they implement specified COVID‑risk measures and notify the Minister.
  • The order replaces Interim Order No. 5 and is set to cease on February 28, 2022, with sections banning certain vessels ending earlier on October 31, 2021.

• Appointment opportunities

  • The issue lists many Governor‑in‑Council appointment openings across federal boards, agencies and Crown corporations and invites applications.

Who's affected#

• Banks and other financial market participants that will use or connect to Lynx (participants of Payments Canada).
• Automobile manufacturers and importers who report fleet greenhouse‑gas credits or deficits for 2017–2021 model years, especially sellers of electric, plug‑in hybrid, fuel‑cell and natural‑gas vehicles.
• People and organizations (wildlife finders, vets, provincial labs, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative) who handle found dead migratory birds and deliver them for testing.
• Operators of passenger vessels and ferries, port authorities, coastal communities, tourism and cruise businesses, and travellers — especially those involved in overnight passenger services or Arctic routes.
• Canadians interested in federal leadership roles listed in the appointment opportunities.

Why it matters#

• Designating Lynx signals that the Bank of Canada and federal government will formally oversee a key national payment system. That matters for the safety and stability of large financial transactions between banks and other market infrastructures.
• The vehicle‑emissions interim order fixes a technical problem so automakers get the credits they were intended to receive for low‑emission and advanced‑technology vehicles. That can affect how manufacturers meet Canada’s emissions rules and how quickly cleaner vehicles are rewarded.
• Letting people temporarily possess and quickly deliver found dead migratory birds helps public‑health and animal‑health authorities detect and track avian disease outbreaks sooner. Faster testing can guide responses to avian influenza risks.
• The passenger‑vessel restrictions aim to reduce COVID‑19 spread on large and overnight passenger ships while still allowing essential services and limited operations under strict conditions. This affects cruise operations, ferry schedules and communities that rely on marine links.
• The appointment notices are how many important federal boards and agencies fill leadership roles; they signal ongoing efforts to recruit diverse candidates to public governance.