Payments, Chemicals, Water and Air-Travel Notices

Summary#

This Canada Gazette issue publishes a set of government notices from several departments. Key items include the Bank of Canada’s official oversight designation of Interac Corp.’s e-Transfer system, new chemical notification steps under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, a proposed drinking-water guideline for 2,4‑D, and an Interim Order with new COVID-19 rules for air travel.

What it does#

• Bank and payments

  • Designates e-Transfer (operated by Interac Corp.) as a system subject to the Payment Clearing and Settlement Act. The designation takes effect August 10, 2020. This gives the Bank of Canada powers to oversee the system because it could pose a payments-system risk.

• Chemical safety and reporting (Environment and Health)

  • Proposes to amend the Domestic Substances List so that the Significant New Activity (SNAc) rules in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 apply to three epoxide/glycidyl substances (commonly called AGE, o‑CGE and TGIC). A public comment period is open (the notice gives a 60‑day window).
  • Issues a formal Significant New Activity Notice (No. 20393) for a different, confidential substance (CSIN 19475‑3) that requires advance notification if it will be used in spray or aerosol consumer products or cosmetics that release particles ≤ 10 micrometres, and in quantities above specified thresholds. Transitional thresholds and specific testing / information requirements are included.
  • Publishes final screening assessments for five related substances and concludes they do not currently meet CEPA’s test for being “toxic,” while still applying SNAc controls in some cases.

• Drinking water (Health)

  • Publishes a proposed guideline technical document for 2,4‑D in drinking water and proposes a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 0.10 mg/L (100 µg/L). The consultation runs from August 7, 2020 to November 6, 2020 (a 90‑day comment period).

• Air travel and COVID-19 (Transport)

  • Issues the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID‑19, No. 4. Major measures include:
    • Required passenger notifications and confirmations about possible public‑health measures before boarding.
    • Health-question checks and bans on boarding for people reporting symptoms or recent COVID‑19 issues.
    • Mandatory temperature screening for flights to Canada and at several major Canadian airports (listed in the Order). A second screening is required after a 10‑minute rest if a high temperature is detected. A positive screen or refusal can bar a person from flying or entering restricted areas for 14 days unless they present a medical certificate.
    • Mandatory face masks for passengers, crew and many airport staff in specified circumstances, with some exceptions (infants, medical reasons, safety concerns).
    • Training, equipment‑calibration and record‑keeping requirements for carriers and screening authorities.
    • Designated penalties for contraventions, with maximum fines up to $25,000 for corporations and $5,000 for individuals for many breaches. Some parts came into force on July 30, 2020 at noon Eastern time.

• Trade and appointments

  • Publishes a final environmental assessment of the Canada‑United‑States‑Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and invites comment.
  • Lists a range of Governor‑in‑Council appointment opportunities across federal agencies.

Who's affected#

• Payments and finance

  • Bank customers and financial institutions that use or connect to e‑Transfer, plus other payment-service providers monitoring regulatory oversight.

• Chemical manufacturers, importers and product makers

  • Companies that make, import, formulate or sell consumer products, cosmetics, or hobby/DIY products that may contain the listed epoxy or glycidyl substances.
  • Suppliers and retailers of such products who may need to provide composition and safety information.

• Public health, water and utilities

  • Municipal water authorities and utilities, and communities that test and treat drinking water, because a new MAC for 2,4‑D could affect monitoring and treatment choices.
  • Farmers, landscapers and pesticide users (because 2,4‑D is a common herbicide).

• Travellers and aviation industry

  • Air carriers, airport operators, screening authorities, crew, gate agents and passengers using the airports named in the Order (major airports are included).
  • People planning to fly to, from, or within Canada: they will face pre‑boarding confirmations, health checks, mask rules and possible temperature screening, and could be barred from flying for 14 days after a failed screen.

• Civil society and businesses with trade interests

  • Environmental and trade groups interested in the CUSMA assessment.
  • Canadians who may want to apply for public appointments listed by the Privy Council Office.

If any specific applicability is unclear in a notice (for example exactly which products or mixtures trigger notification), the original notices say to consult the full text or contact the responsible department.

Why it matters#

• Consumer protection and systemic risk

  • Putting e‑Transfer under formal Bank of Canada oversight aims to reduce payment‑system risks for millions of users and the financial system.

• Early warning on chemicals

  • The SNAc measures are meant to make companies tell the government before they start new uses of certain chemicals in consumer or cosmetic products. That gives regulators time to assess human‑health or environmental risks before wider exposure happens.

• Drinking water safety

  • A proposed 0.10 mg/L guideline for 2,4‑D would guide provinces, territories and water systems on monitoring and treatment. Communities with agricultural runoff concerns may need to respond if levels approach the guideline.

• Travel and public health

  • The Transport Interim Order creates uniform expectations for travellers and airlines during the pandemic: health screening, temperature checks, mask wearing, and record keeping. It can affect travel plans and impose compliance costs on carriers and airports. The fines make compliance enforceable.

• Transparency and participation

  • Several notices include comment periods or invite submissions (chemicals, 2,4‑D, CUSMA environmental assessment). Businesses and the public can respond or seek clarification while rules or guidance are still being finalized.

If you want the exact legal wording, thresholds, airport list, or dates for comment, consult the original Canada Gazette notices or the departments named in each notice.