Canada's New Government improves protection against hazardous chemicals

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today unveiled Canada's new Chemicals Management Plan. The plan takes immediate action to regulate chemicals that are harmful to human health or the environment.

Prime Minister Harper said the plan is part of the government's comprehensive environmental agenda, which includes the Clean Air Act, support for public transit and action on renewable fuels. "The Chemicals Management Plan we are unveiling today will make Canada a world leader in assessing and regulating chemicals that are used in thousands of industrial and consumer products," said the Prime Minister. "It includes realistic and enforceable measures that will improve our environment and protect the health and safety of Canadians."

"Since 1994, new chemicals have not been manufactured in Canada or imported here without undergoing a scientific risk assessment," Minister Ambrose explained. "Now that same rigorous assessment will be applied to 'legacy chemicals' that were introduced between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 1986."

"Canada was the first country to complete categorization of 23,000 legacy chemicals last September," added Minister Clement. "It will be the first, now, to take action. We have established clear priorities and now we are taking action to protect the health of Canadians."

"Moving forward, we will improve product labelling programs as well as deal with imported products which use chemical substances that are prohibited here in Canada," Minister Clement indicated.

Canada's New Government intends to commit $300 million over four years to implement the Chemicals Management Plan. To provide Canadians with the latest information about hazardous chemicals, the Government is also launching a new Web portal that can be found at http://www.chemicalsubstances.gc.ca.