Bilateral agreements: Wastewater

There are both shared and overlapping powers for the federal and provincial governments in regard to water pollution control in Canada. Inter-governmental cooperation is a necessity in managing water pollution. Therefore, Environment and Climate Change Canada negotiated bilateral agreements with 3 provinces and Yukon.

Administrative agreements

Under an administrative agreement, the province administers certain activities for the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations ("the regulations") in a province for Environment and Climate Change Canada, in order to establish a single window for regulatory reporting. Both the provincial regime and the federal regime remain in place.

Administrative agreements in effect

• New Brunswick
• Saskatchewan

Equivalency agreement and Order-in Council

Where a provincial or territorial regulatory regime is deemed to be equivalent in effect to the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations and a bilateral equivalency agreement with the province or territory is in place, the Governor in Council can make an Order in Council to declare that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations do not apply in the province or territory.

Equivalency agreements and Order-in Council in Force

• Quebec
• Yukon