Evidence of meeting #19 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was elimination.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Gordon Lloyd  Vice-President, Technical Affairs, Canadian Chemical Producers' Association
Derek Stack  Executive Director, Great Lakes United
Joel Weiner  Senior Adviser, International Joint Commission
Hugh Benevides  Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association, PollutionWatch
Jim Houston  Environmental Adviser, International Joint Commission
Kapil Khatter  Director, Health and Environment, PollutionWatch
Cynthia Wright  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
Steve Clarkson  Director, Bureau of Risk and Impact Assessment, Department of Health

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Mario Silva

No, that's what the meeting is. It's to discuss what we're going to do.

Monsieur Harvey.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

I repeat my question.

10:55 a.m.

Director, Bureau of Risk and Impact Assessment, Department of Health

Steve Clarkson

There is a group called the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, which has been concerned with, and has looked at, the issue of contaminants like pharmaceuticals and personal care products in source water for drinking water.

There is a group in Health Canada that is concerned with...from the result of CEPA 1999 and its provisions for exemptions, or recognition of other acts, such as the Pest Control Products Act, as CEPA equivalent. The Food and Drugs Act did not meet those requirements, so there is an effort under way to look at environmental impacts of a number of chemicals that were identified as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and so on.

That is why I said yes. I am not involved in any of that work directly, but I do know also that several provinces were concerned about the pharmaceuticals showing up in source water and a potential impact on drinking water. I know work is going on, but I can't give you any details.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

How much time is left?

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Mario Silva

There are still two minutes.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

Since a little while ago, we have been talking about reducing emissions at the source, which is clearly simpler, to my mind, than having to clean it up once it has got into the environment.

On the weekend, I spilled a glass of wine on a carpet. Until I had to clean up the mess, I had never realized how much a wineglass could hold. I think it is probably the same thing once a product has spilled into the environment. When the time comes to decontaminate, it is definitely more complicated.

I do not understand how it is that still today people wonder whether certain products should be completely withdrawn rather than running the risk of spilling them and watching them end up in the environment.

10:55 a.m.

Senior Adviser, International Joint Commission

Joel Weiner

In 1990, the International Joint Commission, in one of its semi-annual reports, had a few words to say on this subject. Here is exactly what it said in English:

We said it was time for a choice; should we “continue attempts to manage persistent toxic substances after they have been produced or used, or...eliminate and prevent their existence...in the first place?”

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Mario Silva

Mr. Benevides, do you have a short remark to end the meeting?

10:55 a.m.

Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association, PollutionWatch

Hugh Benevides

Mr. Chair, I only hope the member is not proposing the banning or prohibition of wine. That's my only concern.

10:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Mario Silva

On that note, it is 11 o'clock. I want to thank the witnesses for coming forward.

The meeting is adjourned.