Environment committee  The member has raised a number of issues the member that I'd like to come back to. First of all, with respect to the accountability in the measures, part of the plan that was announced speaks to bio-monitoring, which will be looking at what levels we're finding in people. In tandem with that, as we move forward with the risk assessments, we will be able to set measures.

Environment committee  Yes. So as we do an assessment, we'll say we do not like a substance, or we do but we would never want to see it above this level. This program of bio-monitoring will then allow us to track progress. So risk assessments will set those levels and will allow us to move forward. With respect to the pace, the other thing I should point out is that Canada is the only country in the world at this point in time that has been able to come forward, as far as I know, with a plan to the meet the SAICM commitment, which is the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.

Environment committee  I wasn't trying to interrupt the witness.

Environment committee  There are similarities and differences. Without question, the issue of transparency on the new substances side is less than it is on the side of existing substances. I would remind members that we have discussed that in the past. The issue is confidential business information with which industry is able to come forward.

Environment committee  Given the funding that was announced, rather than current funding?

Environment committee  There is a significant acceleration. We're moving from the two departments doing about 10 assessments a year, which would cover a number of substances larger than that--there could be more--to moving forward with between 15 and 30 through the challenge program every quarter. There are a couple of things that make the answer to your question a little difficult in terms of a precise time, but if we talk about a number of specific things that will happen, there have been 500 priorities that have been identified, and those are being acted on immediately.

Environment committee  I haven't finished.

Environment committee  There will be 1,200 rapid screening assessments; there are the 500 that have been dealt with in very quick order. What we have then committed to is saying we will continue that process with those that are still left in the 4,000, the other 2,500 to 2,800. We have also said to industry that we're happy not to have to wait to continue to do that.

Environment committee  On the question of overlap, to be frank with the committee, we do try, and I appreciate Mr. Khatter's comments about certain parts of the department, in his view, shirking their responsibilities. The issue here becomes this: are those different parts of the department looking at the specific use, the material in use concept, and do they consider that appropriate?

Environment committee  I think that's fair to say. I'd also note, as was pointed out, that the Hazardous Products Act is one of the pieces of legislation the department would like to update. It is getting on there.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, I have one final point. Under the proposed amendments to CEPA, Canada's Clean Air Act tries to make sure it is very clear that CEPA would deal with products that emit air pollutants, and that is also to provide clarity that CEPA could deal further with products in that regard.

Environment committee  Presently, the way the department views the distinction is that the Hazardous Products Act would deal with the product in its entirety. It could deal with the individual ingredients in it, but it tends to deal with the product itself. For example, there has been a lot of attention to baby walkers and those sorts of things.

Environment committee  Absolutely, that's correct. A large part of the announcement that was made on Friday and the intentions of how the departments plan on using CEPA is to require industry to provide us data on how they're safely using these substances, satisfy us, and that they know how they're using these chemicals.

Environment committee  I do not disagree with that comment. In fact, I think the challenge from the ministers of health and the environment, with their notice of intent over the weekend—while we don't necessarily use those exact words—is getting at how industry is using those products, what are appropriate uses, and what are inappropriate uses.

Environment committee  Thank you very much for that question. There's been a very compelling presentation here this afternoon about areas where there are views that there's clearly room for improvement. We could talk about PBDEs, lead, PFOS, Goof Off, and each one of those is probably worthy of a little bit of exploration, but we should focus on the proposed solutions, which I think are quite helpful and a good starting point.