Introduction

The Government of Canada adopted the Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulations (EIHWR) in 1992 under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1988 (CEPA '88). The EIHWR were intended to protect Canada's environment from the risks posed by unregulated traffic in hazardous wastes and to implement Canada's international obligations to protect the environment of other countries from uncontrolled hazardous waste exports from Canada

A number of developments, including changes to the international control regime and enhanced authorities in CEPA '99, along with a normal requirement to periodically review the operation of government regulations, have led to the initiation of an anticipated three-year process to amend and renew the EIHWR.

In preparation for these amendments, Environment Canada (EC) undertook a number of background studies over the last two years. As a follow-up to these studies and prior to initiating broad consultations on the amendments, EC identified a need to begin the process of engaging stakeholders as key concepts and options are further defined. The goal of this process was to initiate consultations with stakeholders, including provinces, industry and environmental groups, as part of the regulatory development process, culminating in the preparation of a comprehensive Discussion Paper for use in the second round of broad based consultations in mid-2001.

There were three main objectives for this phase of consultations:

1. To inform a broad range of stakeholders and interested groups of the EIHWR amendment process and the key issues being addressed in that process.
2. To seek input from these stakeholders and groups on the key issues identified for discussion and, should they wish, additional issues of concern to them.
3. To collate this input and apply the information and views in a manner that assists EC in making decisions on the most novel and controversial of the anticipated amendments.

This stage of consultations will be followed by a comprehensive amendment proposal from Environment Canada that will be set out in a full consultation document and followed by a multi-stakeholder consultation in the fall of 2001.