Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 5: GOVERNMENT NOTICES

February 1, 2025

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Guidance on sampling and mitigation measures for controlling lead corrosion

Pursuant to subsection 55(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of Health hereby gives notice of the final guidance on sampling and mitigation measures for controlling lead corrosion. The technical document for these guidelines is available on the Water Quality - Reports and Publications web page. This document was publicly consulted for 60 days in 2023 and was updated taking into consideration the comments received.

January 31, 2025

Greg Carreau
Director General
Safe Environments Directorate
On behalf of the Minister of Health

ANNEX

Executive summary

Corrosion is a common issue in Canadian drinking water distribution and plumbing systems. Although there are no direct health effects linked to corrosion in distribution and plumbing systems, it may cause the release of lead and other contaminants that would be a concern for the health of people in Canada. This document focuses on lead as the main contaminant of concern for health. The results of lead monitoring are used as the trigger to initiate corrosion control programs to control or mitigate its release.

Corrosion is the deterioration of a material, usually a metal, that results from a reaction with its environment. In drinking water distribution systems, materials that could be affected by corrosion include metal pipes and fittings.

This guidance document was prepared in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water and assesses all available information on corrosion control in the context of drinking water quality and safety.

Assessment

The intent of this document is to provide responsible authorities, for example municipalities, with guidance on assessing corrosion and triggers for implementing corrosion control measures for distribution systems in residential settings. It also provides sampling protocols and corrective measures for multi-dwelling buildings, schools, daycare facilities and office buildings. These are intended for the authorities, such as school boards, building owners or employers, that are responsible for the health and safety of the occupants of such buildings. The goal of the guidance is to minimize exposure to lead at the tap.

This document briefly outlines the steps that should be taken to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, which may also reduce the consumer’s exposure to other corrosion-related contaminants such as copper.

This guidance is intended to complement the information provided in the guideline technical document of the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Lead.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

Appointments

January 24, 2025

Rachida Lagmiri
Official Documents Registrar

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

Appointments

Instrument of Advice dated December 20, 2024

January 24, 2025

Rachida Lagmiri
Official Documents Registrar

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby designate the following persons of the Vancouver Police Department as fingerprint examiners:

Ottawa, January 13, 2025

Craig Oldham
Director General
Crime Prevention Branch

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Revocation of designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby revoke the designation of the following persons of the Vancouver Police Department as fingerprint examiners:

Ottawa, January 13, 2025

Craig Oldham
Director General
Crime Prevention Branch

PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE

Appointment opportunities

We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada’s diversity. The Government of Canada has implemented an appointment process that is transparent and merit-based, strives for gender parity, and ensures that Indigenous peoples and minority groups are properly represented in positions of leadership. We continue to search for Canadians who reflect the values that we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. Together, we will build a government as diverse as Canada.

We are equally committed to providing a healthy workplace that supports one’s dignity, self-esteem and the ability to work to one’s full potential. With this in mind, all appointees will be expected to take steps to promote and maintain a healthy, respectful and harassment-free work environment.

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following positions.

Current opportunities

The following opportunities for appointments to Governor in Council positions are currently open for applications. Every opportunity is open for a minimum of two weeks from the date of posting on the Governor in Council appointments website.

Governor in Council appointment opportunities
Position Organization Closing date
Director Bank of Canada  
Chairperson Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation  
Chairperson Canada Industrial Relations Board  
Vice-Chairperson Canada Industrial Relations Board  
Chairperson Canada Infrastructure Bank  
Director Canada Lands Company Limited  
President Canada Water Agency  
Chief Executive Officer Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization  
Assistant Chief Commissioner Canadian Grain Commission  
President Canadian High Arctic Research Station  
Chief Commissioner Canadian Human Rights Commission  
Permanent Member Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission  
Director Canadian Tourism Commission  
President Canadian Tourism Commission  
Chairperson Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police  
Vice-Chairperson Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police  
Director Defence Construction (1951) Limited  
Reviewer Department of Citizenship and Immigration  
Member Employment Insurance Board of Appeal February 3, 2025
Vice-Chairperson Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board  
Chairperson First Nations Infrastructure Institute  
Director First Nations Infrastructure Institute  
Director (Federal) Halifax Port Authority  
Member Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada  
Member Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council  
Commissioner of Official Languages Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages  
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions  
Ombudsperson for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces Office of the Ombudsperson for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces  
Member Payments in Lieu of Taxes Dispute Advisory Panel  
Chief Public Health Officer Public Health Agency of Canada  
Principal Royal Military College of Canada  
Director Sept-Îles Port Authority  
Administrator Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund and Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods  
Co-chair Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council  
Member Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council  
Chairperson The Jacques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc.  
Secretary The National Battlefields Commission
Member Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada  
Chairperson VIA Rail Canada Inc.  
Chairperson Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority  

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CONTROLLED DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES ACT

Notice of intent: Proposal to amend the regulations for precursors and designated devices under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Context

A dangerous and unpredictable illegal drug supply made up of powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and other emerging synthetic drugs is driving overdose deaths and harms, and having devastating impacts on people, families, and communities. Between January 2016 and June 2024, there were a total of 49 105 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues continue to be major drivers of the overdose crisis, with 79% of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths from January to June 2024 involving fentanyl.

In addition to the devastating public health and social harms associated with the consumption of illegal synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, Canada is concerned with the impact of illegal synthetic opioids on public safety, including security challenges associated with their illegal production, diversion, trafficking, and related crimes. While Canada strictly controls synthetic opioids and the precursor chemicals used to produce them, the illegal drug market is constantly evolving in an attempt to evade these controls.

New tools are needed to support law and border enforcement in their efforts to address the illegal importation of precursor chemicals and the illegal importation, production, and trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs by organized crime groups. Through Canada’s Border Plan, the Government of Canada will increase support to law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept and address fentanyl and precursor chemicals. As part of this work, Health Canada is proposing to advance amendments to the regulations for precursor chemicals and drug equipment.

Regulatory framework for precursor chemicals and drug equipment

Made under the criminal law power, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) has a dual purpose of protecting public health and maintaining public safety. Under the CDSA, activities with controlled substances are generally prohibited unless authorized through regulations or an exemption. The objective of the regulations under the CDSA is to authorize certain activities with controlled substances and precursors (for example their use in industry or medicine), while minimizing the risk of their diversion to illegal markets.

Made under the CDSA, the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR) provide a framework through which otherwise prohibited activities with controlled precursor chemicals are authorized. Many precursor chemicals can be used in ways other than in the production of illegal drugs, including the production of consumer goods such as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, flavouring agents, petroleum products, fertilizers and paints. In Canada, precursors are controlled under Schedule VI of the CDSA and subject to the PCR.

Precursor chemicals are split into Class A and Class B precursors. Class A precursors are chemicals that are essential to the production of a controlled substance, while Class B precursors are common essential reagents such as solvents, acids, and bases. To legally conduct activities with Class A precursors, you must hold a valid licence issued by Health Canada. For Class B precursors, there are registration requirements.

In 2017, legislative amendments were made to the CDSA to prohibit the unregistered importation of certain “designated devices,” or drug equipment, that can be used in the illegal production of synthetic drugs. The list of devices that are subject to these importation controls, which is set out in Schedule IX to the CDSA, currently includes pill presses and encapsulators but not their component parts.

Proposed regulatory amendments

In order for law enforcement to better target illegal activity, including the import and export of precursor chemicals, and to better equip Health Canada so that precursor chemicals are handled effectively and remain in legal distribution channels, Health Canada is proposing to advance amendments to the PCR and Schedule IX to the CDSA that would increase oversight of precursors, strengthen Canada’s regulatory framework, and increase Health Canada’s regulatory flexibility and agility. Further details about the proposed amendments can be found below.

Increase oversight of precursors and strengthen Canada’s regulatory framework

1. Make suspicious transaction reporting to Health Canada mandatory

The PCR would be amended to require licensed and registered companies to report suspicious transactions to Health Canada. Currently, companies are required to keep records of suspicious transactions, but reporting to Health Canada is voluntary. This is a gap that has been identified through Health Canada’s discussions with law enforcement.

2. Require licensed and registered companies to conduct criminal record and background checks on key personnel dealing with precursors

Under the current regulations, senior personnel responsible for dealing with precursor chemicals are required to provide a criminal record check (CRC) to Health Canada. Concerns have been raised that organized crime groups might look to infiltrate licensed and registered companies or that individuals might seek to become licensed in order to divert precursors to the illegal market. To address this concern, Health Canada is proposing to add a provision to the PCR that would require licensed and registered dealers under the Regulations to take reasonable steps to prevent the diversion of precursors to the illegal market, including by conducting additional criminal record and background checks on individuals within their organization, which would include senior personnel and owners as would be prescribed by the regulations.

3. Condition-of-sale restrictions for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine — two precursors that can be used to produce methamphetamine

On May 17, 2024, the Minister of Health made the Interim Order Concerning the Sale of Certain Natural Health Products Containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine. This Interim Order imposes condition-of-sale restrictions for natural health products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as their only medicinal ingredients, and prohibits distributors from selling such products to retail stores other than pharmacies. Prior to the making of this Interim Order, Canadian law enforcement agencies had raised concerns regarding the broad availability of such products. Further, there was evidence to suggest that such products, in particular authorized 8 mg ephedrine formulations, were being used in clandestine laboratories to illegally produce methamphetamine.

In line with the Interim Order, Health Canada is proposing to amend the PCR to prohibit distributors (who must be licensed dealers under the PCR) from selling products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to retail stores other than pharmacies. Health Canada is considering condition-of-sale restrictions for health products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, including requiring certain products to be kept behind the counter and imposing possible limits on the amount of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine health products that could be sold to an individual by pharmacies. The proposed amendments would aim to minimize risks of diversion while at the same time ensuring that individuals can continue to access health products for the treatment of authorized indications (e.g. nasal congestion).

4. Expand registration requirements for designated devices to include the importation of component parts

In order to import “designated devices” set out in Schedule IX to the CDSA (i.e. pill presses and encapsulators) into Canada, a valid registration from Health Canada is needed. Concerns have been raised by law and border enforcement that these devices are being broken down into component parts to evade the registration requirements that apply to the importation of such devices. To address this gap, Health Canada is proposing to amend Schedule IX to ensure that the registration requirements also apply to the component parts of such devices.

Increase Health Canada’s regulatory flexibility and agility

5. Introduce new regulatory flexibilities so that Health Canada can respond to public health or public safety risks in a more agile and timely manner

At present, Health Canada can only add terms and conditions to a licence or registration for precursors at the time of issuance. Amendments to the PCR would be made to allow Health Canada to add or remove terms and conditions at any time. For example, a term and condition could be added to address an issue of non-compliance identified during an inspection. Amendments would also be made to allow for the partial suspension of activities on a licence or registration. These amendments would provide Health Canada with regulatory flexibilities needed to act quickly to address any identified risks to public health or public safety, including the risk of precursors being diverted to an illegal market.

Together, these proposed amendments would strengthen the current regulatory framework for precursor chemicals and designated devices and would provide law and border enforcement and Health Canada with additional tools to address risks to public health and public safety.

Submitting comments

Comments received in response to this notice will inform the development of the proposed regulatory amendments. This consultation will be open until March 3, 2025. Health Canada encourages all interested parties to share their views.

Comments may be submitted by email to csd.regulatory.policy-politique.reglementaire.dsc@hc-sc.gc.ca, with the subject line “Consultation — Precursor Chemicals and Designated Devices.”