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Commission Renewal: Blueprint for Change

Since accepting the position of President of the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission (HMIRC), sustaining the renewal process of the Commission has been my top priority. At this time, I am pleased to present our strategic plan entitled Commission Renewal: Blueprint for Change.

This strategic plan was the springboard for open, honest and challenging dialogue, and acted as a gathering place around which all our stakeholders met to review, reaffirm and enhance the services offered by the Commission. This involves sharpening the focus on results, increasing the transparency of our operations and modernizing our program delivery.

The past year has been a challenging one for HMIRC. We have faced critical and complex choices. In our efforts to modernize the Commission, we have gone through an internal process of revisiting and updating our mission, vision and operating principles. These elements form the framework for our renewal efforts. While acknowledging the discontent of some members of industry and the growing need for a more client-oriented approach to service delivery, the ultimate challenge continues to lie in our organization's commitment to meeting the needs and interests of both industry and workers, equally and without bias. This complementary dual role is the hallmark of HMIRC services.

Foreign based industries, which represent 40% of our clients, produce a substantial amount of chemicals that are used in the Canadian market. While there is a general willingness on the part of industry to comply with legislation, we find that many foreign clients possess little or no knowledge of the Canadian rules and requirements surrounding trade secrets and hazardous materials. Here, we have the unique opportunity to educate foreign companies on Canadian legislation. At the same time, our role in bringing them into compliance ensures better protection for worker safety. This is a prime example of how the Commission implements its complementary dual role responsibility. By helping foreign clients understand Canadian rules, we demonstrate our commitment to better client service while ensuring that Canadian workers know about the chemicals to which they’re exposed in the workplace.

As a model of industry, labour and government consultation, we are calling on all stakeholders to come together, as partners, in this renewal effort. By moving forward together, we can maximize the Commission’s ability to create an environment that achieves the proper balance between the right of industry to protect its trade secrets and the right of workers to know about the hazardous materials they encounter in the workplace.

Weldon Newton