Environment committee  I don't have the specific time frame. We will see them out and we are expecting they will be coming forward in the near future. The ministers will be considering them in terms of the timeline for putting them out for public consultation.

Environment committee  I anticipate they will be coming forward this year.

Environment committee  We have already shared the approach that we're using in terms of the nature of the modelling that would be done. We worked quite closely with stakeholders in understanding their issues, how they operate and what the potential implications are. We did that over the course of the last year or so.

Environment committee  That's right. You will see them concurrently; when the draft regulations come, the RIAS comes with them. They go hand in glove.

Environment committee  Good morning. I am pleased to be joining you. I am in charge of the Environmental Protection Branch at the Department of the Environment. Our purpose is to monitor, prevent and manage pollution from various sources, to prevent air and water pollution, and to manage risks associated with chemical substances.

Environment committee  Perfect. Absolutely.

Environment committee  Yes, and those are important considerations. Again, then, it's about looking at it as we undertake the science assessment to help us determine what the nature of the risk is, the areas we should be targeting for action and then the nature of the action that should be done. We look at issues such as textiles and the plastics that then can be derived from those.

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. It's one of the things my colleagues at Public Services and Procurement Canada are working on. There are two things. One, we are putting in place a policy within Environment and Climate Change Canada—and we hope to have that policy in place by the summer—that will deal with the purchases that we make within our department and the nature of the materials we can use, including the use of single-use plastics.

Environment committee  Yes. With respect to that, I would defer to my colleagues at DFO with respect to whether or not they view it to be a success, because they are leading on the issue of ghost fishing gear and other marine sources of plastic pollution.

Environment committee  What I can say is that there have been some targeted investments made domestically as well. When I talked about the innovation challenges, the domestic challenges, the ones that were put forward domestically represent $12 million in domestic investment. We'll look to providing further information to you on the financial contributions.

Environment committee  Thank you for that question. I think the fact that you're bringing stakeholders together to talk to the issue from a variety of perspectives, and then to reflect on what you're hearing, is very helpful and valuable. As we've heard, this issue requires everyone to come together to work to deal with it in an effective way.

Environment committee  Our colleagues at Health Canada put a focused effort into having people understand the health risks associated with smoking as well. There's a broader issue there that needs to be considered, but we'll think about that part of the issue as well.

Environment committee  With respect to plastics, a variety of actions are occurring. Depending on the jurisdiction, there may be someone who's very far out in what they're doing, for instance, on single-use plastic. There may be somebody else who's much more progressive in what they're doing with fiscal measures to influence behaviours or with extended producer responsibility.

Environment committee  Countries are taking a variety of actions via a variety of bodies. When Environment and Climate Change Canada takes action, for instance, we take action under the authorities that we have. Each country has a variety of authorities, so I can't actually give you a like-by-like answer because we don't have a like-by-like analogy.

Environment committee  You mentioned several things. As for the EcoAction community funding program, it takes place every year. We issue calls for proposals. Bids received are evaluated, and funds are allocated. With respect to bids for plastic waste, several grants and contributions were offered. The proposals have been evaluated.