Hunting season changes and phenols assessment

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice from Environment and Climate Change Canada covers two separate items. It announces proposed changes to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 for upcoming hunting seasons and opens a consultation on those changes (comments due February 12, 2024). It also publishes a draft assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 of 15 chemicals called the Substituted Phenols Group and proposes that 4 of those meet CEPA concern criteria, with a 60‑day comment period starting on January 13, 2024.

What it does#

• Migratory birds

  • Proposes changes to Schedule 3 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 to:
    • change hunting season dates for the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 seasons,
    • set daily bag and possession limits for certain migratory game birds,
    • make other related and minor administrative changes.
  • Is consulting on establishing a Sandhill Crane season in Ontario and Quebec, with the earliest possible start in the 2026–2027 season.
  • Invites comments on those proposals by February 12, 2024.

• Chemical assessment (Substituted Phenols Group)

  • Releases a draft assessment of 15 substances and proposes conclusions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999:
    • It proposes that the substances with CAS RNs 118-82-1, 128-37-0, 36443-68-2, and 61788-44-1 meet one or more criteria in section 64 of CEPA.
    • It proposes recommending that 118-82-1 and 61788-44-1 be added to Part 1 of Schedule 1, and that 128-37-0 and 36443-68-2 be added to Part 2 of Schedule 1.
    • For the other 11 substances the ministers propose to take no further action at this time, while considering follow-up tracking for the substances with CAS RNs 96-69-5 and 98-54-4.
  • Publishes a risk-management scope document for the 4 substances of concern.
  • Opens a public comment window of 60 days after publication (publication date January 13, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Migratory birds

  • Waterfowl and migratory game bird hunters across Canada will be directly affected if season dates or bag limits change.
  • Provincial and territorial wildlife managers, conservation groups, and organizations involved in game bird management will be part of the consultation process.
  • It’s unclear from the notice exactly which regions or species will see which specific changes until the detailed proposals are released.

• Chemical assessment

  • Companies that import or manufacture the listed substances, and industries that use them — for example in lubricants, fuels, plastics and rubber additives, paints and coatings, personal care products, and food packaging — may be affected by future risk-management actions.
  • Consumers could see changes later if products are reformulated or restricted, since the substances appear in common commercial and consumer uses.
  • Environmental and health stakeholders who follow chemical assessments and regulation will be interested in the proposed listings and the published risk-management scope.

Why it matters#

• Migratory birds

  • The changes aim to keep hunting at levels that are sustainable for bird populations. That matters to hunters, conservationists, and communities that depend on healthy wildlife populations.
  • A new Sandhill Crane season in Ontario and Quebec would be a notable change for hunters and for regional wildlife management.

• Chemical assessment

  • If the four substances are added to Schedule 1 of CEPA, the government can develop regulations or other controls. That can lead to limits on how those chemicals are used, imported, or sold.
  • The draft assessment flags environmental concerns such as persistence and bioaccumulation for some substances, and some potential health effects for others. Even where immediate action is not proposed, the notice signals closer monitoring and possible future restrictions.
  • Members of the public and industry have the chance to comment during the stated consultation periods before final decisions are made.