Minister's response to notice of objection: Upcycle the Gyres Society

APR 26 2017

Mr. Jose Luis Gutierrez-Garda
Project Director
Upcycle the Gyres Society
joseluis@upgyres.org

Dear Mr. Gutierrez-Garda:

Thank you for your email message of November 29, 2016, providing me with your notice of objection with respect to the proposed regulations for microbeads in personal care products. I regret the delay in responding.

Your notice of objection requests that I establish a board of review. More specifically, it objects to the coming into force dates that were included in the proposed Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations, which were published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on November 5, 2016, for a 75-day comment period that ended on January 19, 2017.

You outlined your support for the proposed regulations and urged the Government of Canada to expand the scope to include other sources of microplastics. You also raised questions about the responsible disposal of leftover inventory that contains microbeads.

I have carefully considered the issues set out in your notice of objection and your request that I establish a board of review. I decline the establishment of the board you requested.

Please be assured that the Government of Canada is committed to consulting with all stakeholders and the public on the development of these regulations, and that all issues brought forth will be considered in an open and transparent manner. To that end, Environment and Climate Change Canada will summarize the comments received during the consultation period, including yours, and describe how these matters have been addressed in the regulatory impact analysis statement that will be published with the regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Reducing plastic pollution in lakes and rivers will help to protect the long-term health of the environment. For more information on the Government of Canada's actions on microbeads, please visit the microbeads web page.

I appreciate your bringing the concerns of the Upcycle the Gyres Society to my attention. Please accept my best regards.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, P.C., M.P.