Regional Report to WCCOctober 16, 2014

Marion Axmith, Executive Director

Canadian Chlorine Chemistry Council

• 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• 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

• Link to TSB Report: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/R13D0054.pdf

Communications• 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 DirectorCanadian Chlorine Chemistry Council

4 Forest Ridge DriveToronto, Ontario, M6B 1H1

CanadaTelephone: 416.456.4619

Email: marionaxmith@rogers.comWeb: http://www.cfour.org