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Archived [2022-03-21] Summary report of the Chemicals Management Plan Stakeholder Advisory Council Meeting, May 29-30, 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC) meeting is to provide stakeholders the opportunity to offer advice and input to Government on the implementation of the CMP, and to foster dialogue on issues pertaining to the CMP between stakeholders and government, and among different stakeholder groups.

Meeting objectives

The objective of the May 2018 CMP SAC meeting was to:

Opening remarks

The Co-chairs welcomed the member of the CMP SAC and the observers. The Co-chairs provided an overview of the agenda and explained that this meeting would follow a special format, as there would be a VP Panel.

The Co-chairs welcomed Dave Saucier, Responsible Distribution Canada (RDC), as member of the CMP SAC, replacing Angie Clark formerly the RDC representative.

Day 1

Agenda item 1: Endocrine disrupting chemicals

Government officials provided an overview of Health Canada (HC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) activities in the areas of endocrine related effects from the perspective of risk assessment, research, monitoring and surveillance and international engagement with a focus on CMP.

Input from SAC members was sought on how to advance and communicate strategy on EDCs under the CMP; specifically, the type of information that would be of interest and how could or should it be communicated.

Members suggested the use of the precautionary principle and being transparent about when it is applied, noting that other legislation has codified its application. Furthermore, members noted that while more data and evidence is good, we need to avoid analysis paralysis and be more proactive in the application of the precautionary principle.

Members noted that if the Government considers EDCs to be significant from a public health impact perspective there is more that they can be doing.

Members noted that Canada is not only a contributor but also an international leader in chemicals and has an opportunity to lead on EDCs.

Members expressed that communications should be available in plain language, transparent and meaningful to address barriers to understanding. Plain language communication would increase public confidence and demonstrate to the public how the CMP is achieving its objective. Members acknowledged and appreciated the EDC fact sheet produced by Health Canada. Members also spoke about the importance of reducing barriers to understanding and accessing information on EDC for the general public.

The New Substance Notification Regulations were discussed in the context of how to apply an EDC lens to both the risk assessments and risk management under CMP, and also the regulatory process for new substances.Members suggested this is an area that could benefit from a review to consider how an EDC lens could be applied to the regulatory process.

Action Items

Day 2

Agenda Items 2, 3, 4: Vulnerable populations panel

Anne Rochon-Ford, National Network on Environments and Women’s Health, provided an overview of the VP Panel, organized with SAC colleagues Shannon Coombs, Fe de Leon, Eric Loring, Barb MacKinnon, Sandra Madray, Muhannad Malas, Joshua McNeely, Elizabeth Nielsen, Curtis Scurr, and Don Spady. The key impetus behind the creation of the VP Panel was to inform SAC members about how chemical exposure may affect VP in order to strengthen protection going forward.

Panelists came from across Canada to share their lived experiences about the impacts of chemicals exposures. A wide variety of perspectives were represented on the panel including: indigenous at risk communities, occupations at elevated risk, pregnant women and newborns, youth, individuals living with chemical sensitivities, and low-income Canadians (see the list of panellists below).

Co-chairs welcomed the panellists and thanked them for sharing their stories.They noted a high level of interest within the SAC and across the CMP program in this special SAC meeting with staff in both HC and ECCC gathering to watch the live web cast.   The importance of better protection for VP was noted in the context of planning for the future of chemicals management in Canada (post 2020 planning) and the Parliamentary Review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Members Joshua McNeely and Fe de Leon introduced individual panellists and moderated the panel. During the discussion after the panel, members noted that having the opportunity to hear from the panellists and to focus on chemicals management through a vulnerability lens was very valuable.An important theme was the need to better engage communities and VP in the CMP and the conversation under way to plan the future of chemicals management in Canada post 2020. Panellists were invited to share their views. Co-chairs also noted an upcoming opportunity to provide input to a consultation paper by HC on a CMP approach to VP.

Guest Presenter: VP Research

Dr. Bruce Lanphear, Simon Fraser University, was invited to speak at the CMP SAC as a subject matter expert in VP research. Dr. Lanphear presented “The Impacts of Pollutants on Human Health: No Safe Levels?” to the CMP SAC.

Abstract

Over the past three decades, in a series of studies on some of the most extensively studied pollutants or toxic chemicals, scientists have found that the amount of pollutant linked with the development of a disease or death – which is central to determining "safe" or "hazardous" levels – is proportionately greater at the lowest dose or levels of exposure. These results, which are contrary to the way agencies assess the risk of toxic chemicals, indicate that we have underestimated their impact on death, disease and disability. If widely disseminated pollutants – like radon, lead, airborne particles, asbestos, tobacco and benzene – do not exhibit a threshold and are proportionately more toxic at the lowest levels of exposure, we will need to achieve near-zero exposures to protect public health.

Observations on VP panel and implications for CMP – SAC discussion

The Co-chairs and SAC members reflected on observations on the VP panel and the implications for the current CMP and the CMP post 2020. Members and the Co-Chairs indicated that the panel was successful in deepening understanding of issues and challenges facing vulnerable populations and where there may be opportunities to improve protection.  Points raised included the need for:

Regarding occupational exposure, the discussion explored jurisdictional complexities. Members and Co-Chairs noted the CMP can play a role, however, and this needs to be collectively addressed moving forward. HC officials added that discussions on this topic were under way now with provinces and territories. Co-chairs noted that the day had given the program much to reflect on and that it had strengthened their resolve to move forward. They committed to short term deliverables, including follow-up with the panellists.

Action items

Closing remarks

The Co-chairs thanked SAC members for the valuable discussions and for their active participation. Members were also encouraged to reach out to the CMP SAC secretariat or staff at any time.

The next meeting is proposed for November 2018, with a webinar background information session scheduled four weeks in advance of the meeting.

Chemicals Management Plan Stakeholder Advisory Council Members

Visit the CMP SAC members' web page for biographical information.

Co-chairs

Council members present

Council members absent

Members of the VP panel

Observers

Government officials

Speakers

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