The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act has very stringent requirements for work that happens with pathogens of different risk groups. There is a list of pathogens according to their safeguards, and the requirements for them.
The recently announced budget also includes indications of new legislation being brought forward to enhance the regulations further, given the postpandemic requirements for Canada to have domestic laboratory capabilities, health and life sciences capabilities and biomanufacturing capabilities to provide health security for us against future health threats and future potential pandemics.
The processes under the HPTA require licensing. They require clearances for all personnel. They require a graduated approach to be put in place that limits how and with what those new facilities would be able to work. There is inspection and on-site monitoring that is required. The clearance processes have also been enhanced.
Any application for a potential new laboratory requiring that it would be subject to the HPTA, including level 3 and level 4 labs, would require stringent regulation. Licenses and approvals would not be granted for their operation without having detailed planning in place.