Transcript Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council Conseil canadien de l

Regional Report to WCC
October 16, 2014
Marion Axmith, Executive Director
Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council
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Mandate
Stakeholder Outreach
Issues
Advocacy
World Chlorine Council
C4 Mandate
• An alliance of associations & companies
committed to the responsible manufacture &
use of chlorine
• Facilitates dialogue & enables informed,
science-based public policy decisions in
Canada
Stakeholder Outreach
• To support & promote safe drinking water
disinfection with chlorination.
– Ten events conferences tradeshows per year
– Stakeholders  Public Health Inspectors; First
Nations/Aboriginal groups; Canadian Water &
Wastewater Association; Pool & Hot Tub Council;
Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors;
Government – Health Canada, Environment
Canada
– Direct engagement ~1,500 – 2,000 stakeholders
Stakeholder Outreach
• National First Nations Infrastructure Conference
“Drinking Water Chlorination” presentation
• Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corp. Water
Symposium on Drinking Water Quality
• CWWA Conferences on Wastewater Research, Drinking
Water, Government Trends
• CACD Emergency Preparedness Day – 400
students/teachers/parents
• CI Conference & WCC Meetings
• C4/CCD Meetings
– Assembly of First Nations; Heath Canada; CWWA & CIAC
PMRA Registration of Chlorine
• Registration of chlorine for wastewater treatment
– Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (Health
Canada)
– Raised by a regional officer at an Ontario Wastewater
Treatment Plant in 2013
– Chlorine has never been registered as a pesticide in
Canada
– Awaiting decision by PMRA’s Science Management
Committee as to whether chlorine will require
registration for this application
Issue – Rail Safety
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Tragic oil train derailment & explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Québec July ‘13
claimed 47 lives
$200 million spent so far on clean up + costs rebuilding of town, class action
lawsuits, etc.
Criminal charges filed against 3 railway staff
Transport Canada launched review of nation’s rail liability, insurance &
compensation regime (CI & CIAC have responded to Govt. review)
Jan. ‘14 Transport Canada proposed new regulations for DOT 111 tank cars to
incl. thicker steel, additional fittings & head shield protection
Aug. ‘14 Transportation Safety Board filed Report which cites 18 factors
contributing to the accident. Recommendations include:
– Better securement of unattended trains
– More thorough audits of safety management systems to manage safety
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Link to TSB Report: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapportsreports/rail/2013/R13D0054.pdf
Communications
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C4 letters on safe storage and handling of pool chemicals sent to hospitals, hotels,
fire departments, municipalities, etc. in response to incidents outlined in Chlorine
Watch
C4 letter re: Norovirus Posters sent to Vancouver Hospital following norovirus
outbreak
Water Quality & Health Council articles published in Canada incl:
– Fred Reiff’s “Battling Biofilms in Aging Water Infrastructure” published in two
Newsletters Jan. ‘14 & Spring 2014
– “The Article on Pool Chemical Safety Video in The Chemunicator - Summer
CACD Magazine
C4 Ad created for CWWA Conference Program on “Chlorinated drinking water has
helped keep Canadians safe for more than 100 years. Here’s to the next 100
years!”
Norovirus Posters now available in English/French/Spanish posted on C4 website
Pool Chemical Safety video translated into French
C4 website updated
Advocacy
• To advocate with Government on policy & regulatory developments
to enable officials to make responsible and informed decisions
about chlorine chemistry.
– Maintain relationships with Industry Coordinating Group (ICG) on
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) & monitor Chemical
Management Plan – no serious concerns related to chlorine
substances currently
– ICG’s CEPA Update Conference http://cepa-icg.ca
– Govt Chemicals Management Plan Progress Report can be accessed
through link:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/default.asp?lang=En&n=5C49C89D-1
• Maintain relationships with Health Canada, Environment Canada,
Transport Canada, as required
– C4 & CCD Meeting with Health Canada in April/14
World Chlorine Council (WCC)
• Support WCC’s Strategic Plan & goals
• Participate in the WCC Global Advocacy & Science
Team (GAST) focused on Stockholm, Rotterdam &
Basel Conventions; UNEP Mercury Program &
Minamata Convention; chlorine &
asthma/disinfection by-products; UN Sustainable
Development Goals in post- 2015 agenda
• Government of Canada has formed a Minamata
Convention Working Group
Contact Information
Marion Axmith, Executive Director
Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council
4 Forest Ridge Drive
Toronto, Ontario, M6B 1H1
Canada
Telephone: 416.456.4619
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cfour.org