Environment Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I call the meeting to order.

Welcome, everyone, to the second meeting of our study on federal freshwater policy.

I want to thank all the departmental officials for being here. We had our first meeting on Tuesday and heard from four departments. I guess you sense what we're trying to accomplish here, which is better coordination among departments that deal with freshwater issues at the federal level.

I'm very pleased to see the departments we have today; I think it'll be very interesting. We have the Department of Health, the Department of Indigenous Services, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Global Affairs Canada.

On that note, I'd like to say that personally I've always felt that as a water nation and as a country seen as a water nation by the rest of the world, we have a role to play internationally in terms of helping the world achieve global water security. In fact, I almost see that as the new Canadian peacekeeping, in a way. We're really looking forward to hearing what Global Affairs has to say among the others here today.

Each department has seven minutes to make a statement, and then we'll go to rounds of questioning for about an hour and a half. I really look forward to what everyone has to say. Thank you again for being here.

We'll start with the Department of Health. Greg Carreau, welcome back. We've had you here before.

[Greg Carreau, Director General, Safe Environments Directorate, Department of Health]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. It's my pleasure to be here today to speak to you about the role that Health Canada plays in fresh water. My name is Greg Carreau, and I am the director general of the safe environments directorate at Health Canada.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we are meeting today is the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.

I welcome this opportunity to discuss Health Canada's role with respect to improving water quality in Canada.

Health Canada is the federal government lead for human health matters related to drinking and recreational water and is responsible for pesticide regulation.

All drinking water and many recreational water sites originate from fresh water. For this reason, freshwater quality affects the quality of drinking water and recreational water. Under the Department of Health Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Health Canada developed science-based guidelines for contaminants that could be found in drinking water and recreational water.

Health Canada also regulates pesticides under the Pest Control Products Act to prevent unacceptable risks to individuals and the environment from their use. Protection of the environment under the act includes assessing and preventing unacceptable risks to fresh water. Pesticides are approved for use in Canada only after stringent, science-based evaluation that ensures risks are acceptable.

In delivering this important mandate related to fresh water, Health Canada collaborates with other federal departments and all levels of government. With respect to drinking water and recreational water, Health Canada works closely with provinces, territories and other federal departments to develop the water quality guidelines. These guidelines are non-regulatory and used by provinces, territories and other government departments to establish and implement their regulations and policies. Federal departments with responsibilities for water safety, like the Department of National Defence and the Correctional Service of Canada use the guidelines to meet their obligations.

When requested, Health Canada also advises jurisdictions on the potential health effects of contaminants in fresh water following spills and other contamination events.

Though not involved in the provision of drinking water in first nations communities, Health Canada provides Indigenous Services Canada with source-to-tap advice on drinking water issues.

Health Canada also supports the Public Health Agency of Canada in determining the burden of waterborne disease.

Regarding the management of pesticides, Health Canada's pest management regulatory agency closely collaborates with provinces, territories and other federal departments; non-government organizations; academic institutions; and the private sector on freshwater challenges that relate to pesticides.

Health Canada collaborates with its international partners on activities and agreements related to chemical management that lead to protection of fresh water as well, such as the Stockholm Convention and the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes water quality agreement. The department also works with international governmental and non-governmental organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization on water quality issues.

Sound science is critical for Health Canada to meet its responsibilities related to freshwater, including an understanding of the drinking water supply from the source to the consumer's tap in order to promote clean, safe and reliable drinking water.

A sound scientific understanding of the presence of chemicals, pesticides and other substances in fresh water is needed to understand their potential impact on human health. The department has identified a number of emerging science issues related to fresh water, including the health effects and water treatment options of perfluorinated substances, or PFAS for short; the causes of cyanobacterial blooms, also known as blue-green algae, in source water; the presence of bacteria, viruses and parasites in groundwater; and the presence of pesticides in source water.

To address these emerging areas, Health Canada is investing in research and monitoring and is collaborating with academics, other government departments, different levels of government and the international community.

Health Canada welcomes the creation of the Canada water agency and sees it as complementary to our work on drinking and recreational water quality as well as on pesticides. The agency’s role to further scientific research and support water quality monitoring will contribute to preventing the contamination of drinking water from source to tap, thereby reducing risks to health.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer any questions the committee may have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Mr. Carreau.

Before turning the floor over to the representatives of the Department of Indigenous Services, since I've been a bit remiss, I'd like to properly welcome Mr. Cannings, who is here this morning on behalf of the New Democratic Party.

Will Mr. Barbosa or Mr. Bergeron be speaking for the department? It will be Mr. Barbosa.

You have the floor for seven minutes.

[Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Department of Indigenous Services]

Thank you.

Kwe. Good afternoon. Bonjour.

Before I begin, I would like to note that we are meeting on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin people.

My name is Nelson Barbosa. I am the director general of the community infrastructure branch within Indigenous Services Canada.

Thank you for inviting me to appear before the committee today.

The responsibility of managing drinking water in first nations is shared between first nations communities and Indigenous Services Canada. Indigenous Services Canada provides support for the delivery of safe, clean drinking water through its first nation water and waste-water enhancement program. The department provides advice and financial support to first nations to upgrade, repair, replace and operate first nations water and waste-water systems in order to meet established water and waste-water standards.

From 2016 onward, by 2024 Canada will have committed over $5.6 billion to build, repair, manage and maintain water systems on reserve. Between 2016 and June of this year, more than $3.45 billion of targeted funding was invested to support 1,213 water and waste-water projects, of which 541 are now complete and 672 are ongoing. These projects will serve 471,000 people in 591 first nation communities.

First nation communities are responsible for the planning, procurement, design, construction, commissioning and day-to-day operation and maintenance of their water and waste-water systems. Although ISC financially supports first nations to upgrade, repair and replace their water systems, ISC programs and policies play a minimal role with respect to freshwater management and protection.

However, they intersect as they relate to source water protection on reserve. Source water protection measures are an integral component of a multi-barrier approach toward the management of safe drinking water. The department's mandate focuses on improving the health and quality of life of first nations on reserve, and the department's focus has been on helping communities provide better water and waste-water services to their residents.

In terms of waste water, the department also provides funding and support to first nations to construct, operate and manage waste-water treatment systems on reserve. The key federal regulations overseeing the release of treated waste water are the “wastewater systems effluent regulations”, or WSER. These regulations are administered and enforced by Environment and Climate Change Canada under the authorities of the Fisheries Act, which prohibit the deposit of deleterious substances in fish-bearing waters.

The department is actively engaged in activities that contribute to Canada's achievement of United Nations sustainable development goal number 3 of good health and well-being, and goal number 6 of clean water and sanitation. Continued work to resolve all long-term drinking water advisories directly contributes to goal number 6, which aims to ensure that all Canadians have access to clean drinking water. In turn, this also contributes to the overall betterment of health and well-being in first nations communities.

To accomplish both goals, the department works closely with first nation partners on the operation and maintenance of their water systems. By providing adequate long-term funding and technical support, the department is actively ensuring that first nations' drinking water systems meet established standards. To report on Canada's progress in achieving these commitments, the department works closely with its partners at ECCC.

In terms of collaboration with other federal agencies, the department also works closely with Health Canada, which is responsible for the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality. These guidelines were developed in partnership with the provinces and territories through the federal-provincial-territorial committee on drinking water and are used by most jurisdictions as the basis for establishing drinking water quality requirements in order to protect the health of people residing in Canada.

Currently there are no federal regulations governing drinking water or waste water on reserve. The Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which came into force in 2013, was repealed in June 2022 due to first nations' concerns. Significant efforts are now under way to replace this act. Since the summer of 2022, the department has met with more than 140 first nations and first nations organizations to share information with, listen to and work with first nation partners to explore how to address their needs and priorities in the new proposed drinking water and waste-water legislation. The department continues to work directly with rights holders, including modern treaty and self-governing first nations, through their own representative institutions and first nations organizations, as well as the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water. These efforts aim to ensure that the new proposed legislation will be responsive to first nations' priorities in terms of drinking water.

ISC remains committed to ensuring sustainable access to clean drinking water and effectively treating waste water in order to build a sustainable foundation for water now and into the future.

I look forward to our dialogue and questions.

Meegwetch. Nakurmiik. Qujannamiik. Merci. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you very much, Mr. Barbosa.

I now yield the floor to Mr. Norris, from the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

[Kevin Norris, Director, Resilient Agriculture Policy Division, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for inviting my department to speak to the committee's study on fresh water in Canada.

My name is Kevin Norris, and I am the director of the resilient agriculture policy division, which is located in the strategic policy branch at AAFC. I'm joined by my colleague Catherine Champagne, who is an environmental scientist and the manager of earth observations in the science and technology branch.

I'd like to begin by acknowledging that I'm speaking to you today from the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people here in Ottawa.

As members are aware, Canada's fresh water is becoming an increasingly precious resource. It plays an essential role in the well-being of Canadians and in the health and sustainability of the environment and the economy. Farmers across the country are keenly aware of how critical having a reliable, good-quality water supply is to their operations for producing high-quality food and other agricultural products, and how important it is to protect that resource.

Water management issues in agriculture tend to vary by region and by industry. For example, irrigation is essential for agriculture in areas where natural precipitation is low or variable, such as in the Prairies, whereas issues of excess moisture and the need for drainage are more pertinent in areas of eastern Canada.

The challenges associated with increasing temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and extreme climate-related events becoming more frequent and intense provide opportunities to see how we can better manage water in Canada's rural landscape. For example, this can be witnessed through recent events across the country during the 2021-to-2023 growing seasons, including impacts from droughts, extreme heat, wildfires and flooding. Region-specific challenges such as these are expected to grow in intensity and generate additional costs. Addressing them can be difficult, as potential solutions often involve multiple jurisdictions.

Canadian farms depend on a clean and reliable source of water. Nevertheless, the sector realizes the impacts it can have on freshwater quality and quantity. Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides play an essential role in food security by helping to drive increases in crop yields over time, while also providing social and economic benefits to Canadians. However, when these inputs are used to excess or improperly managed, agricultural production can impact the quality of water through sediment loading, runoff and leaching of excess nutrients, pathogens and pesticides. We have seen the impact of such practices on agricultural land in several areas of the country where large-scale lake and ecosystem health has been impaired, including in the Great Lakes and around Lake Winnipeg. Use of poor-quality water on farms also poses risks to food safety and animal health.

Impacts from climate change are also expected to influence production and increase risks to water quantity and quality. Anticipated seasonal shifts in temperature and precipitation impact water quantity and risk creating insecurity in on-farm water supplies. This could result in greater competition for this resource and increased reliance on costly irrigation and require effective risk management strategies and water resource management.

As a result of climate change, wetter than normal winters and springs in combination with hotter, drier summers increase the movement of nutrients, such as those from fertilizers, to surface water and groundwater. This increases the risk of algal blooms and eutrophication of surface waters and has a direct impact on water quality.

The use of beneficial management practices on farms can help mitigate these environmental impacts to water, enhance sustainable agricultural production and support climate resiliency. There are management practices that improve nutrient management or improve water use efficiency, such as precision technology, cover crops and the expansion of riparian areas. These can all contribute to reducing agriculture's environmental impact on Canada's fresh water.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has a long history of researching, developing and promoting sustainable management of water resources. We conduct and fund collaborative agricultural research and technology development, provide timely data and analysis on agro-climatic conditions through the “Canadian Drought Monitor”, and work with provinces and territories to accelerate the adoption of practices and programming that support climate change adaptation and water management.

The department's renewed strategic plan for science provides a vision on how future research and development will help to ensure a sustainable, resilient and profitable agriculture and agri-food sector by 2050. One of the key priorities under the strategy is to increase the resiliency of agro-ecosystems and improve soil health and water quality. For example, our current research includes improving water use efficiency through the development of more climate-resilient crop varieties and on-farm technologies.

We are also exploring nature-based solutions, such as protecting and restoring wetlands and buffers to manage water supply and agricultural runoff.

Additionally, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's living lab initiative is bringing together farmers, scientists and other stakeholders to co-develop, test, implement and monitor new climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices and technologies. This will have important co-benefits for conserving water resources.

In addition to AAFC's research on fresh water, we support the adoption of beneficial management practices that reduce agriculture runoff and promote the sustainable use and management of on-farm water resources in several of our programs. This includes the agricultural clean technology program and the on-farm climate action fund.

The sustainable Canadian agriculture partnership is a new five-year, $3.5-billion investment, which includes $2.5 billion in programs and activities that are cost-shared among the federal and provincial and territorial governments. These are critical to protecting water resources and are designed to raise producers' awareness of environmental risks and accelerate the adoption of regionally appropriate on-farm technologies and practices to reduce these risks.

AAFC is also developing a sustainable agriculture strategy to set a shared direction for collective action in improved environmental performance of the sector and to support farmer livelihoods and maintain the business vitality of the sector over the long term.

Water is one of five priority focus areas under the strategy. The strategy will create connections between environmental programming and policy in agriculture—including the Canada water agency—to provide more clarity and less overlap and to fill policy gaps while considering farming realities.

AAFC is not responsible for any legislation or regulations related to fresh water. However, our continued leadership in agricultural science and innovation, as well as our ongoing collaboration with other government departments, provinces and territories, indigenous peoples and stakeholders will be essential to supporting the sustainable management of Canada’s freshwater resources.

AAFC remains committed to helping the agriculture sector contribute to the protection and sustainable management of Canada’s water resources, to adapt effectively to climate change and to continue to feed Canada and a growing global population.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Mr. Norris.

We'll go now to Global Affairs and Mr. Cronin.

[Niall Cronin, Executive Director, United States Transboundary Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My name is Niall Cronin. Since September 2022, I have been executive director of the U.S. transboundary affairs division at Global Affairs Canada.

Like my colleagues, I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people.

The division where I work provides a broad range of analysis and advice to Global Affairs senior officials and ministers, as well as to other federal departments, on water and other issues affecting Canada's bilateral relations with the United States.

Canada’s relationship with the United States is of primordial importance. As President Biden said in his address to Parliament last March, “No two nations on earth are bound by such close ties of friendship, family, commerce and culture.” The President’s in-person visit and the joint statement that followed confirm that our two nations stand united in this moment, finding solutions to global challenges side by side.

As noted in the March 24 statement from Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden, the Government of Canada announced a new, historic $420-million commitment to “protect and restore” the Great Lakes, which make up the “world's largest freshwater ecosystem.” In conjunction with U.S. funding announced in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, our combined contributions represent “the largest single investment in the Great Lakes in history”.

Canada-U.S. co-operation in this area is long-standing. Over a century ago, our nations signed the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, which sets out the rights and obligations of both Canada and the United States with respect to the use, protection and management of waters through which the international boundary passes, as well as waters that flow across the boundary.

The Boundary Waters Treaty established the International Joint Commission, or IJC, which is an independent binational organization consisting of six commissioners, with three appointed by each country. Through its boards, the IJC oversees the operation of dams, diversions and bridges that affect the natural level and flow of water across the boundary.

The IJC also assists with the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The two governments can refer issues to the IJC to study and make recommendations.

My team also provides advice on other Canada-U.S. treaties related to transboundary waters. These include the Columbia River Treaty, the agreement for water supply and flood control in the Souris River basin, and the 1950 Niagara treaty, which established minimum flows over Niagara Falls.

Managing transboundary watersheds is complex and spans multiple jurisdictions. My team and I regularly work with federal and provincial counterparts, indigenous peoples, and officials from the State Department and the U.S. embassy. We collaborate closely with other federal departments and agencies that work directly on fresh water-related issues in Canada. It is through these engagements, binational agreements and our support for the International Joint Commission that we are able to address important transboundary water issues with the United States.

With that, I will be pleased to answer your questions.

Thank you again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you very much, Mr. Cronin.

We'll go now to Mr. Kram for the opening round of questions. You have six minutes.

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all of the witnesses for being here today.

I remember in the early 2000s that in the community of Walkerton, Ontario, there was a major incident with the water treatment plant. There was a boil water advisory in place for a couple of weeks. People were so outraged. Some people were fired, and a couple of people eventually went to jail.

I'm surprised, then, to see on the website of Indigenous Services Canada that there are still 26 reserves across Canada that have boil water advisories in place. These are long-term boil water advisories that have just been allowed to languish for months and years.

How is it possible that we still have these boil water advisories on reserves in Canada?

[Nelson Barbosa]

Thank you for the question.

One long-term drinking water advisory is too many. I would say there are currently 28 long-term drinking water advisories in 26 communities, as you mentioned. All of those drinking water advisories have a plan in place in order to lift them. Since 2015, there have been 143 long-term drinking water advisories lifted, and another 259 short-term water advisories—which are water advisories under a year—that have been lifted.

To the question on modalities or reasons, there are largely two principal reasons that these long-term drinking water advisories are in place, and there are plans and actions to see them come to an end.

The first is infrastructure. I mentioned that by the end of next year, this department will have provided $5.6 billion, largely in infrastructure funding to support the end of these long-term drinking water advisories, but also to support the administration of water affairs in all 634 first nations across Canada. Infrastructure is increasingly expensive. These systems, in some cases, take years to develop, plan and replace. We are committed to working in partnership with first nations in order to see the best pieces of infrastructure meet the best health and water outcomes for any particular community.

The second modality—to answer your question of “Why?”—is largely about the operations and maintenance of water systems. The operations of these facilities are managed by first nations, but they are truly complex pieces of infrastructure. We have several programs to support first nations in the administration of their water affairs.

We recognize that there are currently 28 long-term drinking water advisories. We are pleased that we have seen success over the last number of years, but we are by no means at the end of this process. We continue to work in partnership with first nations in order to see that progress come to an end.

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Why does it cost so much money and why does it take so much time, compared to other water treatment facilities all across Canada?

[Nelson Barbosa]

In terms of comparability, I'm not sure it costs so much more money. These water systems are similar to what you would find in a municipal environment. Some water systems cost over $100 million and some water systems cost considerably less than that. There are 634 first nations. Clearly, funding is a key component of seeing those long-term drinking water advisories come to an end.

On the partnerships and plans that are in place, they are led by first nations and supported by Indigenous Services Canada. We are there to support the implementation of those plans and the wishes of first nations. Resources are certainly a core component of our progress in bringing long-term drinking water advisories to an end, but it's also partnership.

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Okay, but if these water treatment facilities are similar to water treatment facilities in other municipalities, why don't we see long-term boil water advisories in other municipalities across the country? Why is it always only on indigenous reserves?

[Nelson Barbosa]

I can't speak to the provincial dynamics. There are water challenges happening in provinces and territories right now. I won't speak to those effects.

I can speak to how each of the 28 advisories is different. In some cases, it's a localized response. In some cases, we're talking about it being community-wide. In some cases, we're talking about the repair of an existing piece of water infrastructure. In some cases, we're talking about a complete reconstruction. Each of these modalities is quite different.

I don't want to sound repetitive, but partnership with each particular community is why we have seen success and why that success needs to continue to grow to zero.

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Okay, but if the mayor or the city councillors of Walkerton, Ontario, allowed their boil water advisories to go on for years and years, they would get fired the next time they had to run for re-election.

Is there a similar mechanism for first nations communities? Who gets fired when these projects are dragging on for far too long?

[Nelson Barbosa]

Indigenous Services Canada partners with first nations, and first nations implement the response. I won't speak to the governance practices that happen in first nations communities or in self-governing first nations.

There are interim supply options when a long-term water advisory is in place. For example, one that's often pointed to is bottled water. That is an option in order to provide water in lieu of having it from the tap, but there are other options as well. Many communities have reverse-osmosis systems in order to provide water in lieu of water from taps. There can be interim measures to replace or repair existing infrastructure while other infrastructure is replaced.

The binary choice of having a boil water advisory or a long-term drinking water advisory and not having water from the tap is sometimes not the case. There can be interim supply options. There can be bottled water provided to the community, based on the request of the chief and council, while long-term solutions are put in place. The plan considers not only the long-term replacement of the particular asset or infrastructure in question but also what the interim supply will be in order to provide water now while also looking at the long-term picture.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thanks. That was a good line of questioning, I think.

We'll go now to Ms. Taylor Roy.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all our witnesses for being here.

I too am interested in this question of the boil water advisories. I'm very proud to hear that since 2015, 143 long-term advisories and 259 short-term advisories have been lifted. Perhaps you can explain a little bit more about the relationship between Indigenous Services Canada and the first nations themselves and about their governance in terms of moving forward with these projects.

You mentioned that there are plans in place for all of these and that there is funding in place. It seemed that the last questions were about whose responsibility it was. I'm assuming that our government is working nation to nation with these first nations and that they are the ones who make the decisions about how it's done, when it's done and what is done. Is that correct?

[Nelson Barbosa]

In terms of leadership in the water space, first nations, as I mentioned in my remarks, ultimately bring water advisories into place and lift them. In order to do that, they oversee procurement, infrastructure and the operation and delivery of their water systems.

Partnership is critical, and I think that's why we've seen success since 2015. As you've mentioned, we've supported the first nations in administering their own affairs and lifting 143 long-term drinking water advisories and preventing more long-term drinking water advisories by lifting 259 short-term water advisories. Partnership is where we're seeing success, and I think we can really point to that in terms of the progress made to date.

Ultimately, the plans being put in place are plans that are being put forth by first nations and rights holders themselves, and the role of ISC is multi-faceted. Funding is one of those things, which the previous line of questions really got to. However, it's also technical expertise in ensuring that the right piece of infrastructure meets the service needs of a particular community, as well as partnership with colleagues that are around the table here today to support, kind of, the guidelines, safety and regulations for that water.

In totality, partnership is critical now more than ever. Partnership is really why we've seen success, and I think that partnership will hopefully get us to the point where one day we can be in front of you here at this table and say that we have reached zero in terms of long-term drinking water advisories.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much. I think we'll all look forward to that day very much.

My next question is for Greg Carreau from Health Canada.

I'm interested in the.... I won't try to say them; I'll just say PFAS. I'm interested in what we are doing about these forever chemicals. I know that there's a lot of work that has been done—there are reports—but do you think that there is more to do, and do you believe that there is an issue with these chemicals in our drinking water?

[Greg Carreau]

The government has been doing quite a bit in the area of PFAS, starting in the early 2000s, by assessing some subclasses of those chemicals that are used in commerce and are sometimes found in drinking water supplies. Pursuant to the assessment of those subclasses, regulations and prohibitions were put in place under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm sorry. There's a point of order.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Just for clarification, what are we talking about? Can you define what PFAS are, please?

[Greg Carreau]

Indeed. I apologize.

PFAS, or perfluorinated compounds, are a broad class of chemicals—upwards of 5,000 chemicals—used in a variety of applications, including in aqueous film-forming foams. They have been found through contamination events in drinking water supplies, thereby finding their way into some drinking water. From a broad perspective, between 2006 and 2015, Health Canada, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, has taken action under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to prohibit many subclasses of that broad class of substances. More recently, it published a report on the state of the PFAS, a comprehensive review of the science of those 5,000 chemicals in which it was proposed that there were risks to both health and the environment.

From a drinking water—