PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
GREATER CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN THE CONTROL OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
Ottawa, September 20, 2010 -
As emerging science is discovering previously unknown carcinogenic and other adverse effects on human health and the environment caused by toxic substances, Environment Canada and Health Canada need to exercise more caution in their management of risks related to these substances, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented to the House of Commons today.
In the fall of 2009, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development released a performance audit examining how Environment Canada and Health Canada manage the risks that seven toxic substances pose to the environment and human health, as well as the measures taken by both departments to control, reduce, and prevent these risks. The audit found that after overseeing the control of lead and mercury for over 30 years, Environment Canada and Health Canada still do not have integrated risk management strategies for these two toxic substances. As well, the audit contained several observations that raised questions about the timeliness of federal government actions, as the two departments do not have a process or specific criteria in place for determining if, or when, risk management actions should be changed based on new scientific findings.
The Public Accounts Committee believes that greater caution must be exercised in the control of toxic substances by the two departments. The Committee is alarmed that the risk related to long-term, low-dose exposure to many of the audited toxic substances is unknown and strongly recommends that Health Canada take greater action to identify and address these risks.
The continuing high levels of mercury in some Inuit and wildlife populations in Canada’s North are also a major cause for concern, with cross-border movement of mercury playing an increasingly significant role in exposing Canadians to the toxic substance. As a result, it will be important for Environment Canada’s annual performance reports to include an update on the status and nature of international negotiations regarding mercury under the United Nations Environment Programme. Moreover, the Committee calls on Environment Canada to move forward in implementing regulations on the control, manufacturing and sale of products containing mercury.
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