Performance measurement for toxic substances

Performance measurement evaluations provide Canadians with information on the effectiveness of risk management actions in place for substances found to be toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). The risk management, human health and environmental objectives are systematically evaluated using robust data and expert analysis.

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Performance measurement evaluation reports

Performance measurement evaluation reports are available for:

Rolling workplan

The following table provides a high- level rolling workplan of performance measurement evaluations of risk management strategies for certain substances underway or to be initiated over the next four years. Substances were selected as set out in the Performance Measurement Evaluation Strategy for toxic substances. Note that the substances listed and timeframes outlined in this table may be subject to change. This rolling workplan is provided for information purposes only.

Timing Substances Targeted Component of the Evaluation
Evaluations in progress Benzene Health
Hexavalent chromium compounds Health
Inorganic arsenic compounds Health
Inorganic cadmium compounds Health and Ecological
Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates Ecological
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Health
Upcoming evaluations (to be initiated in 2022/23 through to 2023/24) Dioxins and Furans Ecological
Ethylene Oxide Health
Inorganic arsenic compounds Ecological
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) Ecological
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and its precursors Ecological
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Health and Ecological
Trichloroethylene Health and Ecological

Performance measurement evaluation strategy

Performance measurement evaluation is an important part of the overall chemicals management process. Following risk assessment and risk management implementation phases, performance measurement will help ensure that Canadians can have confidence that their health and the environment are being protected from harmful substances. Providing results to Canadians on how well risk management strategies and tools have performed will enable stakeholders and the public to better understand how effectively their health and the environment are protected from toxic substances.

The 2018 fall report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) to the Parliament of Canada on toxic substances found that Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada needed to better assess how well their risk management actions have been working. The CESD report suggested that both departments create a long-term strategy to measure how successful their actions are in managing the risks of toxic substances. The departments have developed a Performance Measurement Evaluation Strategy that sets out the approach to evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken on substances found toxic under CEPA 1999. The Strategy outlines the decision-making process of which substances are ready to be evaluated, and factors that would be considered when conducting performance measurement evaluations.

Reducing the risks posed by toxic substances

The Government of Canada aims to reduce the risks posed by toxic substances to Canadians and their environment through risk management actions under the Chemicals Management Plan, such as: regulations, release guidelines, pollution prevention planning notices, environmental performance agreements, recalls and safety alerts or substances described on Health Canada's cosmetic ingredient hotlist. These actions result from risk management strategies implemented by the Government of Canada to help protect Canadians and their environment from the risks posed by certain toxic substances.

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