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Name of Horizontal Initiative:
Chemicals Management Plan
Name of Lead department(s):
Health Canada/Environment Canada
Lead Department Program Activity:
Sustainable Environmental Health/ Substances and Waste Management
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative:
FY 2007-2008
End date of the Horizontal Initiative:
FY 2010-2011
Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date):
$299.2 M
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is part of the Government's comprehensive environmental agenda and is managed jointly by Health Canada (HC) and Environment Canada (EC). The activities identified in this plan build on Canada's position as a global leader in the safe management of chemical substances and products, and focus upon timely action on key threats to health and the environment. It includes risk assessment, risk management, monitoring and surveillance, as well as research on chemicals which may be harmful to human health or the environment.
The CMP also puts more responsibility on industry through realistic and enforceable measures, stimulates innovation, and augments Canadian competitiveness in an international market that is increasingly focused on chemical and product safety.
HC and EC collectively manage the CMP funding and ensure that it is aligned with human health and environmental priorities.
The following program areas were involved in CMP activities in 2010-2011:
In Health Canada:
In Environment Canada:
For more information, see the Government of Canada's Chemical Substances Website at: http://www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/
Shared outcome(s):
High-level outcomes for managing the CMP include:
Governance structure(s):
Federal Partners | Program Activity | Names of Programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Actual Spending 2010-11 |
Expected Results for 2010-2011 | Results Achieved in 2010-2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Canada | Sustainable Environmental Health | a. Risk Assessment | $9.9 M | $3.5 M | $3.5 M |
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A key component of the CMP is taking immediate action on approximately 200 of the highest priority chemicals identified in the Challenge program. Through the "Challenge" Initiative - industry and stakeholders were challenged to provide information on chemicals and on safe management practices for 196 of the highest priority substances found in commerce. The Government of Canada has now released information on all Challenge substances identifying those that are a potential concern to human health or environment, completed the collection of information under section 71 from industry on all substances, published draft or final screening risk assessments on 192 of the 196 substances in the "Challenge", and initiated risk management action on 45 substances that may pose a risk to our health and/or the environment. The majority of CMP risk assessments that were scheduled for publication during 2010-2011 were completed. These included the release of the final Screening Assessment Reports for Batches 8 to 10 and draft Screening Assessment Reports for Batches 10 to 12, including additional substances from Batch 1 (CHPD), Batch 6 and Batch 8. In total, draft risk assessment reports were published for 47 substances, or classes of substances, and final assessment reports were published for 43 substances, or classes of substances. Several reports for non-Challenge substances were also published in the Canada Gazette, Part I (final Screening Assessment Report on Ethylene Glycol and final State of the Science report on DecaBDE; draft Screening Assessment Reports on Quinoline, PFOA, PFCAs and HBCD). There was also a follow-up Assessment report on Aniline published in 2010-2011. During 2010-2011, three draft Screening Assessment Reports covering approximately 70 petroleum substances that have been identified as being restricted to petroleum refineries and upgrader facilities were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. Strategies and methods to assess the remaining substances (or groups of substances) within the Petroleum Stream are currently being developed. As part of the Challenge, risk management approaches were published for nine substances in Batches 8 to 10 that were determined to be harmful to human health or the environment (approaches for Batches 11-12 are planned for 2011-2012) and risk management scopes were published for 13 substances in Batches 8 to 11 that were proposed to meet one or more criteria of section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA, 1999) (Batch 12 scopes are partially complete). Proposed risk management instruments were developed for Batches 1 and 2 and have been published for comment, as per planned timelines. In total, 34 risk management instruments have been applied to CMP Challenge substances during 2010-2011. This year, actions taken or proposed for substances that were determined to be harmful to human health or the environment under the Challenge included final additions to Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (16 CMP substances from Batches 3-9 were added to the Health Canada's Cosmetics Ingredient Hotlist on March 2011; to date, 25 CMP substances have been added to the Hotlist from Batches 1-9) targeted dietary surveillance activities for substances of concern where food is the main source of exposure, and proposed listings and delistings of some food additives from the Food and Drug Regulations. As well, 16 proposed CEPA instruments for substances determined to be harmful to human health or the environment in Batches 1 to 3 were published in Canada Gazette, Part I, including Proposed Pollution Prevention Notices for four substances [Bisphenol A, Isoprene, Siloxanes (D4) and TDI]. For substances where current exposure is not of concern, but where there are concerns that new activities or uses resulting in additional exposure could harm human health or the environment, the Significant New Activity (SNAc) regulatory instrument under CEPA, 1999 provides for information gathering and assessment prior to this new activity or use being initiated. SNAcs were either proposed or implemented for 55Challenge substances concluded to either not meet section 64 of CEPA 1999 or to not be in commerce in Canada. There were also approximately26 proposed or implemented SNAcs for Challenge substances that met one or more criteria of section 64 of CEPA 1999. The Government of Canada continued to seek advice and input from the CMP Stakeholder Advisory Council (members include non-governmental organizations and industry). HC and EC co-chaired aface-to-face meeting in May 2010 where the Council provided advice and input on CMP related activities. Advice and input from the CMP Stakeholder Advisory Council, as well as other stakeholders, was also sought at a workshop on selecting the next round of substances for the CMP which was held in November 2010. Environmental monitoring programs have been integrated and augmented under the CMP to provide a truly national program, capable of meeting the government's existing monitoring commitments as well as being responsive to emerging chemicals of concern. Environmental monitoring and surveillance of chemicals in air, food, water, sediments, fish and birds, as well as releases from wastewater and landfills is coordinated by an EC led working group (including HC representation). The HC CMP Monitoring and Surveillance Initiative supports multi-year projects to advance our knowledge related to the following priorities: national biomonitoring programs, targeted population biomonitoring studies, biomonitoring supportive research, and targeted environmental monitoring. Nineteen multi-year projects were funded under this initiative, with ten initiated in 2010-2011. Projects included:
The CHMS is a national survey carried out by Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, to collect information from Canadians about their health. Health Canada is responsible for the biomonitoring component, in which blood and urine samples are collected to provide nationally representative information on exposure to environmental chemicals. In 2010-2011, Health Canada published the Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada which provides full biomonitoring results for chemicals measured during Cycle 1. Except for lead, these results provide the first ever nationally representative biomonitoring data of all the chemicals measured. The second Cycle (2009 -2011) of CHMS is currently underway and includes children aged 3-5 years, and an indoor air component. The data is being collected from 18 sites across Canada. Planning for Cycles 3 and 4 has also been initiated. The Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study is a national five-year study that is recruiting approximately 2,000 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy, who are then followed through pregnancy and up to eight weeks after birth. This study is measuring the extent to which pregnant women and their babies are exposed to environmental chemicals, assessing what pregnancy health risks, if any, are associated with exposure to heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and manganese), and measuring the levels of environmental chemicals and some of the beneficial components (nutritional and immune constituents) of breast milk. Results of the study will inform risk management decisions and identify potential sources of exposure and predictors of exposure to environmental chemicals. To better understand the exposure and effects of a variety of chemicals that were identified as priorities under the CMP, and to ensure the alignment of activities with priorities, a research program with a competitive allocation process has continued. The CMP themes and priorities addressed the following areas: effects, exposure, tool/model development, endocrine disrupting compounds, metals, mixtures, perfluorinated alkyl compounds, brominated flame retardants and the approximately 3000 remaining priority substances. Other CMP activities undertaken in FY 2010-2011 included:
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b. Risk Management | $50.1 M | $16.1 M | $12.8 M1 | ||||
c. Research | $26.6 M | $6.8 M | $5.0 M2 | ||||
d. Monitoring & Surveillance | $34.0 M | $13.8 M | $13.7 M | ||||
e. Program Management | $5.4 M | $1.4 M | $1.3 M3 | ||||
Consumer Products | a. Risk Management | $12.6 M | $5.4 M | $4.2 M4 | |||
Pesticide Regulation | a. Risk Assessment | $9.9 M | $3.3 M | $3.3 M | |||
b. Risk Management | $13.6 M | $4.7 M | $4.7 M | ||||
Health Products | a. Risk Assessment | $3.3 M | $1.5 M | $1.5 M | |||
b. Risk Management | $12.5 M | $4.3 M | $3.5 M5 | ||||
c. Research | $2.5 M | $1.4 M | $1.4 M | ||||
d. Monitoring & Surveillance | $1.1 M | $0.6 M | $0.6 M | ||||
e. Program Management | $0.1 M | $0.1 M3 | |||||
Food & Nutrition | a. Risk Assessment | $3.8 M | $1.4 M | $2.1 M | |||
b. Risk Management | $6.2 M | $2.1 M | $0.5 M | ||||
c. Research | $1.2 M | $0.4 M | $2.1 M | ||||
d. Monitoring & Surveillance | $2.0 M1 | ||||||
Total | $192.7 M | $66.8 M | $62.3 M |
Federal Partners | Program Activity | Names of Programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Actual Spending 2010-11 |
Expected Results for 2010-2011 | Results Achieved in 2010-2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Environment Canada | Chemicals Management | a. Risk Assessment | $13.1 M | $4.8 M | $4.8 M |
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b. Risk Management | $64.9 M | $24.4 M | $18.6 M6 | ||||
c. Research | $2.1 M | $0 M | $0.0 M | ||||
d. Monitoring & Surveillance | $26.4 M | $7.8 M | $7.8 M | ||||
Total | $106.5 M | $37.0 M | $31.2 M |
Comments on Variances:
Results achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
N/A
Contact information:
Suzanne Leppinen, Director
Horizontal and International Programs
Safe Environments Directorate
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
Ph: (613) 941-8071
suzanne.leppinen@hc-sc.gc.ca
Stewart Lindale, Director
Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Environmental Stewardship Branch
Environment Canada
Ph: (819) 934-2358
Steward.Lindale@ec.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative:
Implementation of an Action Plan to Protect Human Health from Environmental Contaminants
Name of Lead department(s):
Health Canada
Lead Department Program Activity:
3.1 Sustainable Environmental Health
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative:
2008-2009
End date of the Horizontal Initiative:
2012-2013
Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date):
$84.6M
Description of the Horizontal Initiative:
Recent surveys show that Canadians are concerned about environmental contaminants. There is a clear need to ensure that Canadians have credible information on the impact of chemicals in the environment and the steps that they should take as a result.
The Government has already taken steps to address environmental contaminants through the Chemicals Management Plan and the Clean Air Agenda, focusing on substances which have known potential for harming human health and the environment. Both industry and stakeholders have been supportive of these initiatives but continue to insist that decisions be made based on scientific evidence. This requires mechanisms such as monitoring, surveillance and research to ensure that the effectiveness of interventions to address known potential risks can be assessed and that emerging risks can be detected.
The Action Plan to Protect Human Health from Environmental Contaminants is designed to further protect the health of Canadians from environmental contaminants while increasing the knowledge-base on contaminant levels and potential impacts on health, in particular:
$13.1M has been allocated to Health Canada from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 to develop an Environmental Health Guide for Canadians, as well as tailored guides for First Nations and Inuit communities. The objective of the guide is to help make Canadians aware of the risks that harmful environmental contaminants may pose to their health along with direct actions that they can take to reduce these risks and improve their health.
$54.5M has been allocated to Statistics Canada from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 towards conducting the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) and $5.6M has been allocated to Health Canada from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 to conduct the First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI). The CHMS is used to collect information from Canadians about their general health and lifestyles and includes the collection of blood and urine specimens to be tested for environmental contaminants among other things. The CHMS will not provide data on First Nations on-reserve or Inuit communities. The FNBI will focus on these communities.
$5.9M has been allocated to the Public Health Agency of Canada from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 to enhance surveillance of congenital anomalies.
$5.5M has been allocated to the Public Health Agency of Canada from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 to conduct surveillance of developmental disorders.
Shared Outcome(s):
Governance Structure(s):
All action plan initiatives take advantage of governance and management structures already established for ongoing government programs such as: the Canadian Population Health Statistics Program, the Chemicals Management Plan, the Healthy Living and Chronic Disease initiative of the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as components of existing national surveillance systems developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada in partnership with stakeholders.
Each program within Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada is fully responsible for the management of initiatives they are leading within the action plan. Consultations and stakeholder involvement are governed through consultative structures and interdepartmental committees already established.
A tripartite governance structure with Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada is used to oversee the implementation of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The CHMS will use the existing Canadian Population Health Statistics Program as a governance structure, which includes senior officials from all three federal organizations.
Federal Partners | Program Activity | Names of Programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending 2010-11 |
Actual Spending 2010-11 |
Expected Results for 2010-2011 | Results Achieved in 2010-2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Canada | Sustainable Environmental Health | Environmental Health Guide for Canadians | $13.1M |
HECS: $0.385M FNIHB: $0.7M PACCB: $1.6M |
HECS: $0.271M FNIHB: $0.392M PACCB: $1.075 |
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HECSB/PACCB Continuation of the Environmental Health marketing campaign / Distribution of The Environmental Health Guides The 2010-11 Environmental Health Marketing campaign focused primarily on providing information on-line as recent research indicates that Canadians prefer to receive information related to the environment on-line.
In 2010-11, the First Nations and Inuit Environmental Health Marketing campaign focused on providing tailored information directly in communities and on-line as recent research indicates that First Nations and Inuit community members prefer to receive information related to the environment through these channels.
FNIHB/PACCB The First Nation Environmental Health Home Guide has been distributed to all First Nation household across the country and the Inuit Environmental Health Home Guide will be distributed to Inuit communities.
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First Nations and Inuit Health Programming and Services | First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative | $5.6M | FNIHB: $1.17M | FNIHB: $1.126M |
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Public Health Agency of Canada | Surveillance and Population Health Assessment | Enhanced Congenital Anomalies Surveillance | $5.9M | $1.2M | $0.950M |
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Surveillance of Developmental Disorders | $5.5M | $1.4M | $0.183M |
|
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Statistics Canada | Social Statistics | Canadian Health Measures Survey | $54.5M | $14M | 13.532M |
CHMS cycle 1 data release (including tables, fact sheets and research articles) media coverage will be monitored. In addition, access to the website and requests for information will be tracked. The CHMS micro-data files will be available to external researchers through Statistics Canada Research Data Centres located in Canadian universities. CHMS cycle 2 data collection response rate is monitored regularly to ensure adequate representation of the Canadian population by age group and sex. In addition, ongoing data quality control and data quality assurance activities (including health experts' observations of the data collection procedures) are performed to ensure a high data quality level. CHMS cycle 3 content specifications will be based on extensive consultation with federal partners and health experts through the tripartite governance structure with Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada as well as their working committees; and the CHMS advisory committees (Expert, Physician, Laboratory and Quality Assurance and Quality Control). Feasibility studies will be conducted to ensure adherence to existing resources and operations limitations while maintaining a high response rate and quality data. |
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Sub-Total (Health Canada) | $18.7M | $3.855M | 1.738M | ||||
Sub-Total (PHAC) | $11.4M | $2.6M | 1.133M | ||||
Sub-Total (Statistics Canada) | $54.5 M | $14M | 13.532M | ||||
Grand Total: | $84.6 M | $20.455M | 16.403M |
Comments on Variances:
Health Canada
HECS/PACCB: Expenditures were reduced through alternate delivery approaches, cost efficiencies, and partnerships.
FNIHB/PACCB: The First Nation and Inuit Youth Guides and the First Nations Spring and Summer Guides were delayed; therefore funds that were planned for printing and distribution of these guides were not spent by the end of fiscal year. Delays in staffing also contributed to the variance.
PHAC: Start-up work took longer than expected. In 2010-2011 the Public Health Agency of Canada created a new unit to develop and support a national surveillance network and a national advisory committee to oversee the surveillance network. The Unit has started to lay the ground work and has begun to demonstrate progress towards the objectives of building a network to support national surveillance of developmental disorders (focusing on ASDs) across the country.
Results Achieved by Non-federal Partners:
Heath Canada: Partnerships within the First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative
*NB: As this is a HC/AFN partnership, many of the results achieved were a collaboration between both Parties.
Contact Information:
Suzanne Leppinen
Director, Chemicals Policy Bureau
Safe Environments Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Product Safety Branch, Health Canada
613-941-8071
Suzanne.Leppinen @hc-sc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative:
Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategy for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children.
Name of Lead department(s):
Health Canada (HC)
Lead Department Program Activity:
First Nations and Inuit Health Programming and Services
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative:
ECD component- October 2002.
Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) component- December 2004
End date of the Horizontal Initiative:
ECD component - ongoing.
ELCC component - ongoing
Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date):
ECD: $320 million 2002-03 to 2006-07 ($60 million in 2002-03 and $65 million thereafter). Ongoing: $65 million per year.
ELCC: $45 million 2005-06 to 2007-08 ($14.5 million in 2005-06; $15.3 million in 2006-07; $15.2 million in 2007-08). Ongoing: $14 million per year.
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The ECD Strategy for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children was announced on October 31, 2002. The Strategy provides $320 million over five years to: improve and expand existing ECD programs and services for Aboriginal children; expand ECD capacity and networks; introduce new research initiatives to improve understanding of how Aboriginal children are doing; and work towards the development of a "single window" approach to ensure better integration and coordination of federal Aboriginal ECD programming. In December 2004, as first phase of a "single window", Cabinet approved an additional $45 million over three years (beginning fiscal year 2005-06) and $14 million ongoing to improve integration and coordination of two ECD programs-- Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve (AHSOR) and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative (FNICCI). The objectives of these funds are to increase access to and improve the quality of ELCC programming for First Nations children on reserve, and improve integration and coordination between the two programs through joint planning, joint training and co-location. The Strategy also includes Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)-funded child/day care programs in Alberta and Ontario.
Shared outcome(s):
The ECD component complements the September 2000 First Ministers F/P/T ECD Agreement. It seeks to address the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children by improving the developmental opportunities to which Aboriginal children (and their families) are exposed at an early age (0-6 years). The ELCC component complements funding released to provinces and territories under the March 2003 Multilateral Framework for Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) to improve access to ELCC programs and services.
Governance structure(s):
Federal Partners | Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2010-11 |
Actual Spending for 2010-11 |
Expected Results for 2010-11 |
Results Achieved in 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Health Canada Electronic Link: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnihb-dgspni/fnihb/ |
First Nations and Inuit Health Programmi-ng and Services | a. Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve (AHSOR) |
$107.595 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $21.519/year). $21.519/year ongoing. Committed in 2002. ELCC $24.000 (2005-06 through to 2007-08, $7.500 in 2005-06, $8.300 in 2006-07; $8.200 in 2007-08). $7.500 in 2008-09 and ongoing Committed in 2005. |
$21.519
|
$27.374 (ECD and ELCC) |
Program expansion and enhanceme-nt Increase integration, coordinatio-n, access, and quality |
AHSOR programming was expanded in 15 new First Nations Communities in British Colombia. In partnership with Health Canada's Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative, over 200 Early Childhood Education (ECE) workers are working towards their ECE accreditation.Work continues with partner departments to improve integration and coordination among AHSOR, HRSDC FNICCI, and AAND- funded daycares in Alberta and Ontario. |
Electronic Link: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/famil/preg-gros/intro_e.html | First Nations and Inuit Health Programmi-ng and Services |
b. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
|
$70.000 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $10.000 in 2002-03 and $15.000 thereafter). $15.000/ year ongoing. Committed in 2002. |
$15.000 | $12.862 | Program expansion and enhancement |
Integration between programs that support maternal and child health was increased across First Nation and Inuit communities, resulting in better coordination and collaboration across programs. Programs focused on maintenance and program integrity through training, leading to increased retention of community workers and also the completion of special studies to support evaluation and on-going improvements to FASD activities and programming. |
First Nations and Inuit Health Programmi-ng and Services | c. Capacity Building |
$5.075 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $1.015/year). $1.015/ year ongoing. Committed in 2002. |
$1.015 | $0.915 | Increased capacity | As part of the 2002 Federal Strategy's capacity-building component, Health Canada provides funding to build capacity and expertise relating to early childhood development to National Aboriginal Organizations. In 2010-11, funds were provided to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Métis National Council (MNC). As well, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada provides funding to Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. In 2010-11, funding enabled these organizations to contribute to the development of the Federal Strategy through strategic planning and capacity building in their own organizations.Horizontal training funding was provided to regions to support training for ECD workers in AHSOR and FNICCI sites. HC is working to develop a training strategy for community based workers, including ECD workers, that will lead to culturally appropriate training and certification of providers of healthy child development programming on reserve. | |
2. PHAC Electronic Link: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/programs-mes |
PA 1.4 Health Promotion SA 1.4.3 Childhood and Adolescence Programs |
a Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) |
$62.880 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $12.576/ year and ongoing. Committed in 2002. |
$12.576 | $10.977 | Program expansion and enhancement by increasing number of special needs and parental outreach workers; enhance special needs training; serve another 1000 children | Outreach pilot programs were developed by AHS sites to expand delivery to Aboriginal families who may not have access to the program. Training on Early Childhood Development (ECD), special needs, and school readiness screening provided to all 128 sites to improve child outcomes. |
PA 1.4 Health Promotion SA 1.4.3 Childhood and Adolescence Programs |
b Capacity Building |
$2.500 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $0.500/year) and ongoing Committed in 2002 |
$0.500 | $0.365 | Horizontal coordinatio-n, engagemen-t and developme-nt of tools and resources to build capacity | Monthly conference calls and two annual face-to-face meetings with the Aboriginal advisory council result in improved capacity, stakeholder engagement and knowledge /tool development (early literacy toolkit) and exchange activities. | |
3. HRSDC |
Lifelong Learning- Health Human Resources (HHR) Lifelong Learning- Health Human Resources (HHR) |
a. First Nations and Inuit child Care Initiative (FNICCI) |
$45.700 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; $9.140/year) and ongoing. Committed in 2002 ELCC $21.000 (2005-06 through to 2007-08; $7.000/year). $6.500/ year ongoing. Committed in 2005 |
$9.140 $6.500 $4.240 Aboriginal UEY:2010/11 $181,168 |
Program expansion and enhanceme-nt Increase program integration, coordinatio-n, access and quality. |
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b. Research and Knowledge |
$21.200 (2002-03 through to 2006-07); $4.240/year and ongoing. Committed in 2002Aboriginal UEY:From 2004/05 to 2010/11, $700,000 per fiscal year |
Aboriginal UEY: |
Information on the well-being of Aboriginal children through an Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) and the Aboriginal component of "Understanding the Early Years" (UEY) |
Aboriginal UEY Results 2010/11:-The UEY Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) Project (Aboriginal UEY) has built some capacity in data collection, analysis and dissemination of the project's results;
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4. AANDC | The people- social developme-nt | a. Family Capacity Initiatives |
$5.050 (total for 2002-03 through to 2006-07; 1.010/year) 2007-2008 and ongoing. Committed in 2002. |
$1.010 | 0.984 | Support horizontal work with ECD partners by funding research and capacity-building. | |
Total |
ECD (2002-03 to 2006-07): $320.000 ($60.000 in 2002-03 and $65.000/year thereafter); $65.000/year ongoing. ELCC (2005-06 to 2007-08): $45.000 ($14.500 in 2005-06; $15.300 in 2006-07; $15.200 in 2007-08); and $14.000/year ongoing. |
ECD: $65.000/year ongoing. ELCC: $14.000/year ongoing. |
Interdepartmental ECD ADM Steering Committee;
Interdepartmental ECD Working Group.
($ millions)
Comments on Variances:
Aboriginal Component of the Understanding the Early Years Initiative
Aboriginal UEY was allocated $300,000 in Grants and Contribution funding for fiscal year 2010/11 and $400,000 in Non-Salary Funding, for a total of $700,000. The UEY Prince Albert Grand Council Saskatchewan Project, the only Aboriginal UEY project had actual expenses for 2010/11 of $208,366, The variance ($491,634) is a result of the sun-setting of the UEY Initiative, which occurred on March 31, 2011.
PHAC - The variance between planned and actual spending results from various in-year operational limitations including: delays in staff recruitment; in-year adjustments to grants and contribution agreements resulting in less than full utilization of funds; and, the deferral of a planned National Training Workshop (as officials are exploring more effective and cost-efficient training strategies).
Results achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
N/A
Contact information:
Cathy Winters, Senior Policy Coordinator,
Children and Youth Division, Community Programs Directorate, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada Postal Locator 1919A Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa
Telephone: (613) 952-5064 Email: Cathy_winters@hc-sc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative:
Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan (the Action Plan)
Name of Lead Department(s):
The lead is shared between Health Canada (HC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Lead Department Program Activity:
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative:
Fiscal Year 2008-2009
End Date of the Horizontal Initiative:
Fiscal Year 2012-2013 (and ongoing)
Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date):
$489.4 million over five years ending in Fiscal Year 2012-2013 (and $126.7 million ongoing)
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The federal government is responsible for promoting the health and safety of Canadians. A key part of this role is ensuring that the products used by Canadians are safe. Adverse consequences associated with unsafe products impact not only the Canadian public, but also the Canadian economy. The Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan (Action Plan) is a horizontal initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening Canada's safety system for food, health and consumer products. A number of high-profile incidents, such as lead and ingestible magnets in children's toys, contaminants in imported food products, and the global withdrawal of some prescription medicines, have underscored the need for government action.
The Action Plan modernizes Canada's regulatory system to enable it to better protect Canadians from unsafe consumer products in the face of current realities and future pressures. The Action Plan bolsters Canada's regulatory system by amending or replacing outdated health and safety legislation with new legislative regimes that respond to modern realities, and by enhancing safety programs in areas where modern legislative tools already exist. The Action Plan ensures that Canadians have the information they need to assess the risks and benefits associated with the consumer and health products they choose to use, and to minimize risks associated with food safety.
The Action Plan is an integrated, risk-based plan and includes a series of initiatives that are premised on three key pillars: active prevention, targeted oversight and rapid response. We focus on active prevention to avoid as many incidents as possible and work closely with industry to promote awareness, provide regulatory guidance, and help identify safety concerns at an early stage. Targeted oversight provides for early detection of safety problems and further safety verification at the appropriate stage in a product's life cycle. To improve rapid response capabilities and ensure the government has the ability to act quickly and effectively when needed we work to enhance health risk assessments, strengthen recall capacity, and increase the efficiency in responding and communicating clearly with consumers and stakeholders.
Shared Outcome(s):
Governance Structure(s):
The Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have joint responsibility and accountability for results, and for providing information on progress achieved by the Action Plan.
A Governance Framework has been established and endorsed by all of the partner departments/agencies. To facilitate horizontal coordination, the following Director General (DG)/Executive Director (ED) level Task Forces have been established: Health Products Task Force, Consumer Products Task Force, Food Task Force, Communications Task Force, and the Legislative and Regulatory Task Force. The Task Forces report to a DG/ED level Coordinating Committee. An Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM)/Vice President (VP) level Steering Committee provides direction to the Coordinating Committee. An Oversight Committee of Deputy Heads facilitates the provision of high level guidance to the Steering Committee.
Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch (SPB) provides the Secretariat function for the Action Plan and plays an integral role in supporting the ongoing operation and decision-making of the governance committees, oversight and integration of performance against commitments, and advice to senior management. SPB is also the lead for coordinating the implementation of the legislative and regulatory initiatives.
Health Canada's Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch (HECSB) and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), along with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), work together to implement Action Plan activities related to consumer products.
Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) has primary responsibility for implementing Action Plan activities related to health products with support from Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch (SPB) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) on one initiative (increased knowledge of post-market drug safety and effectiveness).
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) work together to implement Action Plan activities related to food safety.
The Public Affairs, Consultation and Communications Branch (PACCB) provides communications support for all of the above activities and will coordinate or lead many of the horizontal Departmental activities under the Consumer Information Strategy.
Performance Highlights:
Federal Partners | Federal Partner Program Activity | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | 2010-11 ($ millions) | |||
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Planned Spending | Actual Spending | Expected Results | Results Achieved | ||||
Health Canada | Health products | Active prevention | $ 57.6 | $9.7 | $7.0 | Increased industry awareness and knowledge of regulatory requirements |
Standardized Operating Procedure (SOP)/Guidance Documents
Pertinent documents are now in place for pharmaceutical human drugs and include instructions in an external Guidance to Industry on how to request a pre-submission meeting and for submitting a pre-submission meeting information package An internal SOP was developed to track and log pre-submission meetings for biologics and radiopharmaceuticals. Guidance documents/communication pieces are available on the Health Canada website, and sponsors are referred to them during the meetings. Meetings During FY 2010-11, sponsors made 49 requests for pre-submission meetings for biologics and radiopharmaceuticals and all meetings were held. Following the meetings, 18 submissions were filed and accepted into review. Of the 18 submissions accepted into review, 9 have received positive decisions and the remainder are in review or screening. Surveys indicated that 100% of sponsors felt that the pre-submission meetings added value. There were 97 pre-submission meetings held for pharmaceutical drugs. Oncology candidate submissions pilot: 17 oncology pre-submission meetings were held in 2010-11, a slight increase from last year's 11. Of the 17 meetings held, 12 were New Drug Submissions (NDS) and 5 were Supplemental New Drug Submissions (SNDS). Of the NDS, 2 of the 10 have been filed and are in review. Of the SNDS, 4 of 5 have been filed and are in review. Following up on the 11 human pharmaceutical meetings held in FY 2009-10, no specific conclusions can be drawn regarding the effect of pre- submission meetings are having on decisions rendered. The analysis is ongoing and will be concluded at the end of the pilot. Information is, however, being shared between industry and regulators with discussions focussed more on scientific, rather than purely regulatory issues, which are not explicitly addressed in the Regulations. The meetings are allowing for earlier scoping of key issues during review and for Health Canada to hear from Canadian clinical experts and pose questions directly to them. It has not been determined whether an increased efficiency or different review outcome can be attributed to the fact that a meeting was held. |
Increased oversight of the risk management and risk mitigation strategies for health products |
100% of Risk Management Plans/Risk Management and Mitigation Plans (RMP/RMMP) were considered satisfactory after clarification was received from Market Authorization Holders (MAH) on any areas of concern. RMMP Received: 18; RMMP Completed: 19 Note - Risk Management Plans (RMP) are provided by MAH and the Risk Management & Mitigation Plan (RMMP) is the MAH follow-up to the initial RMP. The rolled over plans from the previous year account for larger number of completed than assigned. |
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Increased awareness and understanding of the safe use of health products by consumers and health care professionals |
Stakeholder Engagement
Relationships with key stakeholders such as Young Consumers Network and Canadian Public Health Association's Expert Panel on Health Literacy were established/enhanced through seven meetings organized under ADM Stakeholder Meeting Program. Stakeholder input received via surveys and follow-up actions was tracked. In January 2010, a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Plain Language Labelling Project was held in Ottawa. Health Canada will use the results of this consultation to determine how best to improve product information documents for Canadians. Providing information to the consumer in plain language is important for the safe and effective use of therapeutic products and will assist consumers in making informed decisions about their health. Patient and Consumer Pool A proposal was approved to create a Patient and Consumer Pool from which the Branch could draw engaged and informed stakeholders to participate in decision-making. The Operational Plan for the Pool was completed through extensive consultations with external stakeholders and program clients. A Learning Strategy and Curriculum Map were developed for the Pool, including content for two learning modules. Policy Development The HPFB Secretariat Manager's Network and the Health Canada Reference Group collaborated extensively to provide input into the development of the soon to be released Health Canada Policy on External Advisory Bodies. Web Development and Postings: Health Canada led the review of 5000 HPFB outdated web pages and influenced HC information architecture to allow for better information access for stakeholders and the general public. HC also developed new Web pages / sections on health products issues and revised them for a consumer audience as needed. Social Media Provided consumers access to mobile information through the launch of the Recalls and Safety Alerts application for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone smart phones. This tool allows buyers to find out if a product they are about to purchase or have already bought has been recalled. Enhanced the existing Health Canada Recalls and Safety Alerts Widget to include all health and safety risk communications advisories and recall notices across government departments including the Canadian Food Inspections Agency and Transport Canada. Encouraged social networking and conversations among consumers through Facebook posts on the Healthy Canadians Fan page. Promoted risks or other consumer related facts via the @HealthCanada Twitter account. Scientific/expert advisory committees provide ongoing medical/technical/ scientific advice and recommendations on regulatory issues for drugs and medical devices to assist Health Canada in making regulatory decisions. This information was made available to the public on the Health Canada web site. This past year, the following records of proceedings of our meetings were posted: Scientific Advisory Committee on Medical Devices Used in the Cardiovascular System (2010-06-01); Scientific Advisory Committee on Medical Devices Used in the Cardiovascular System (2010-12-10); Scientific Advisory Committee on Oncology Therapies (2010-04-15); Scientific Advisory Panel on Bioequivalence Requirements for Modified-Release Dosage Forms (2010-06-11); Scientific Advisory Panel on Opioid; Analgesic Abuse (2011-03-29) In 2010-11, Health Canada prepared and published 26 Notices of Decision documents (ND) (16 Human Drugs, 9 Biologics, 4 Medical Devices) and 37 Summary Basis of Decision documents (19 Human Drugs, 13 Biologics and 5 Medical Devices). As well, the results from the internal and external evaluation of Phase I of the Summary Basis of Decisions project (period covering Jan 2005-Sept 2008) were released. The evaluation report contains short-term recommendations to be implemented as well as findings that will inform the development of Phase II of the SBD project. A Draft Guidance on Hepatotoxicity of Health Products was posted which contains recommendations from deliberations by the Scientific Advisory Panel on Hepatotoxicity. In 2010-11, 100% or 1,936 product monographs were processed and posted to the Health Canada website within service standards. Of the product monographs processed, 1,641 were pharmaceuticals and 295 were for biological therapies. General Documents Posted on Health Canada Website include: a) Information Gathering, Monitoring and Processing: 138; b) Risk Management and Intervention: 16; d) Other: 95 Risk Communication Advisories/Warnings posted to HC Website (MedEffect Canada): a) Total Issued by HC: 128; b) Total Issued by MAH: 56 |
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Health Canada | Health Products | Targeted Oversight | $34.6 | $8.1 | $3.3 | Enhanced capacity of HC and industry to identify and respond to risk issues |
Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSUR) are provided by market authorization holders to Health Canada on health products. Health Canada screens the reports for Level 1 (basic screening) and Level II (more detailed screening of same report). PSURs with conditions involve products with promising evidence of clinical effectiveness that require safety monitoring and
periodic provision of safety reports to satisfy the conditions under the Notice of Compliance to enable marketing of the product.
Reporting
PSUR 2010-11 (PAA 2.1)
PSUR 2009-10 (PAA2.1) PSUR Level I Assigned: 180; PSUR Level I Completed: 140 PSUR Level II Assigned: 65; PSUR Level II Completed: 93 (Note: the rolled over submissions from the previous year account for larger number of completed than assigned) |
Included in CIHR DSEN | DSEN $1.1 |
$1.0 |
Increased knowledge of post-market drug safety and effectiveness to inform decisions
Increased capacity in Canada to address priority research on post-market drug safety and effectiveness |
Also see: Canadian Institute for Health Research, Strategic Priority Research, Targeted Oversight
The partners continue to engage international partners implementing related initiatives (e.g., EnCepp in EU; Sentinel in U.S) to share best practices and explore opportunities for data
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Health Canada | Health Products | Rapid Response | Existing Resources | Existing Resources | Improved ability to respond with better tools when safety incidents occur |
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Health Canada | Consumer Products | Active Prevention | $41.0 | $ 9.3 | $6.75 | Increased awareness and understanding of product safety obligations by consumer products industry |
To increase industry awareness of their product safety obligations, a stakeholder outreach plan for the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) was initiated, including: regional outreach activities, a public notice campaign and creation of an industry-targeted website. We undertook communications activities such as:
In preparation for the coming-into-force of the CCPSA, we prepared draft guidance documents for industry on mandatory reporting and document retention requirements, and held targeted consultations with industry representatives to obtain feedback. In addition, preliminary consultation documents were published on the proposed Exemption Regulations and Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations under the CCPSA. The website for providing information on the CCPSA was redesigned to improve access to guidance and consultation documents, including the creation of a subscription service for industry to receive regular updates. There are currently 1116 English and 163 French subscribers to the listserv. In addition, we updated five industry publications to inform industry of new regulatory requirements and guidelines for certain consumer products:
Ongoing industry compliance promotion activities were delivered across Canada through presentations to consumer product associations, exhibitions at trade show events, and meetings with individual companies. With respect to consumer and clinical radiation protection activities under the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA), presentations were made to MEDEC (the national association for the Canadian medical technology industry) to aid industry in their understanding of the REDA and its regulations. |
Increased awareness and understanding of standards by consumer products industry |
To help increase industry awareness of consumer product safety standards:
Health Canada has drafted the following guidelines for industry, on which we will consult with industry and the public in 2011:
We also published the following information in support of industry awareness:
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Increased awareness and understanding of consumer product safety issues by consumers |
To increase consumer awareness of product safety issues, we delivered consumer outreach activities across Canada through exhibitions at consumer events where a high volume of consumers and stakeholders were in attendance. Also, discussions were held with regional public health officials to facilitate knowledge transfer to consumers from health care providers.
The number of consumer product complaints/incidents have consistently grown, which demonstrates that consumers have an awareness of Health Canada's consumer products complaint mechanism (FY 2006-07, 567 complaints; FY 2007-08, 672 complaints; FY 2008-09, 944 complaints; FY 2009-10, 1102 complaints; FY 2010-2011, 1359 complaints) Subscriptions to the Consumer Product Safety Recall website increased to over 8000 subscribers in 2010-11. In previous years, the data shows an increase as follows:
The data suggests that the increase in reporting by consumers is linked to the increase in subscriptions to the recall website and is an indicator of increased consumer awareness of risks associated with consumer products. Public opinion research was completed as part of the overall Health Canada public opinion research plan. While the majority of respondents indicated an understanding of industry obligations and Health Canada's post-market role in product safety, a large proportion (83%) indicated that they believed Health Canada already had mandatory recall authority which is now granted under the new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. In order to more effectively raise consumer awareness of product safety issues via social media, Health Canada:
The following documents were published/updated on the Health Canada website:
To further increase consumer awareness of pesticide product safety issues, Health Canada:
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Health Canada | Consumer Products | Targeted Oversight | $15.7 | $ 3.8 | $5.43 | Improved timeliness and quality of information on consumer product safety |
In order to improve the timeliness and quality of information on consumer product safety, we:
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Improved Cosmetic Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act |
Health Canada continued to work on:
We also conducted public consultations on changes to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which is a tool used by Health Canada to communicate to industry ingredients or concentrations of ingredients that are considered to be unacceptable for use in cosmetics. |
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Increased sharing of information with international regulators |
With a view to increased sharing of information with our international regulatory partners to enhance consumer product safety in Canada, we:
With respect to radiation emitting devices, we collaborated with the following International regulatory partners:
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Health Canada | Consumer Products | Rapid Response | $17.9 | $4.6 | $6.20 | Improved legislative authority and regulatory tools for consumer products |
The cornerstone of the FCSAP is improved legislative authority and regulatory tools for consumer products. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) gives the Government stronger and more modern legislative powers to help protect Canadians from unreasonably dangerous consumer products.
After its third introduction to Parliament, the CCPSA received Royal Assent in December 2010. The Order Fixing June 20, 2011 as the Day on which the CCPSA Comes into Force was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and the following regulations were created/amended in order to transfer existing prohibitions and regulations from the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) to the CCPSA: Surface Coating Materials Regulations; Children's Sleepwear Regulations; Restraint Systems and Booster Seats for Motor Vehicles Regulations; Toys Regulations; Candles Regulations; Children's Jewellery Regulations; Face Protectors for Ice Hockey and Box Lacrosse Players Regulations; Ice Hockey Helmet Regulations; Textile Flammability Regulations; Regulations Amending the Asbestos Products Regulations; Regulations Amending the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 In addition, new regulations that were published in Canada Gazette, Part II and now fall under the CCPSA: Regulations Amending the Surface Coating Materials Regulation; Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations; Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations; Phthalates Regulations In support of modernizing the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA), policy research and analysis has been completed. It was concluded that while legislative modernization would be beneficial in order to have consistent authorities across Health Canada legislation for similar products (e.g. consumer products and medical devices), legislative changes will not be pursued at this time. Work will focus on enhancing the administration and enforcement of the existing legislation. This will include leveraging other legislation/regulations that govern the health effects of radiation emitting devices (e.g. Canada Consumer Product Safety Act for consumer products and the Medical Devices Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act for medical devices); updating existing regulations and creating new regulations to better utilize the existing authorities under REDA; working in partnership with other federal regulators; and making better use of existing resources to manage radiation emitting devices. We are developing Memorandum of Understanding with other Government departments for REDA assessments:
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Improved monitoring of consumer and cosmetic products |
The regulatory regime for the Consumer Product Safety Program is based on post-market surveillance and monitoring. In order to measure industry compliance, requirements are tested according to a planned cycle (the Cyclical Enforcement Plan). The 2010-2011 cycle targeted 13 product categories with identified hazards and baseline data (as identified in previous cycles).
Carpets (20 samples- 15% non-compliant ); Carriages and Strollers (9 samples- 100% non-compliant); Cellulose Insulation (10 samples- 20% non-compliant ); Charcoal - warning labels (55 samples- 42% non-compliant ); Children's Sleepwear (9 samples- 33% non-compliant ); Corded Window Coverings (no samples from preliminary survey); Cosmetics: (97 samples- 4% non-compliant ); Cribs and Cradles: (23 samples- 100% non-compliant); Mattresses (futons)- (26 samples: 73% non-compliant ); Teethers (11 samples- 9% non-compliant ); Tents (20 samples- 100% non-compliant); Toys (plush) (27 samples- 41% non-compliant ); Toys (rattles) (29 samples- 10% non-compliant ). Corrective action was taken on 100% of non-compliant cases. Corrective action can include: recalls, industry communication, stop-sales, education and industry commitments. Regional compliance and enforcement activities were delivered in accordance with work plans, including implementation of the cyclical enforcement projects, compliance promotion, inspections of industry in communities outside of major cities, inspections at customs, and monitoring of recalled products. Note: Not all establishments are inspected so this does not give an indication of the compliance rates for the entire market for a given product category. Overall, Health Canada is on track with inspections, sampling and testing for the cyclical enforcement plan. The plan was revised to account for CCPSA implementation and to add new regulations. In addition, an unscheduled survey of hair smoothing products was carried out in response to the introduction of a new type of product on the market and resulting consumer complaints. 22 products were found to contain hazardous levels of formaldehyde and were removed from the market. |
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Health Canada | Pesticide Regulation | Active Prevention | $6.9 | $1.64 | $1.37 | Increased industry (manufacturers and retailers) awareness of risks and related regulatory requirements |
Delivered a consultation program with industry (manufacturers and formulators) regarding pesticide manufacturing quality control and assurance (38 consultations). Assessed industry's level of awareness of regulatory requirements and exchanged information.
Delivered first phase of a consultation program with rental property associations (84 consultations) to determine their level of knowledge related to the safe use of pesticide products and associated regulatory requirements. The associations' mechanisms for reporting pesticide related incidents and degree of communication with their membership was also assessed. Delivered ten presentations to pest control operators and their technicians in Alberta and Quebec, providing an overview of the regulatory process and introduction to online tools (e.g. label search). Provided information during inspections to 135 vendors and importers/distributors in order to raise awareness related to regulatory requirements. Participated in the annual F/P/T meeting and the annual Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) meeting. Met with Chinese consumer and vendor associations which facilitated the delivery of seminars to immigrant groups on the safe use of pesticides and associated regulatory requirements. Contributed to ongoing internal discussions related to a policy/regulatory approach for articles treated with pesticides. |
Health Canada | Pesticide Regulation | Rapid Response | $8.0 | $2.1 | $1.75 | Improved monitoring of pest management products using a risk management approach |
Delivered an inspection program of pool and spa product vendors (110 inspections). Follow-up action on non-compliance included letters to registrants.
Delivered an inspection program targeted at vendors suspected to be selling unregistered international pest control products (e.g. insecticidal chalk, mothballs) and importers/distributors (135 inspections), resulting in 63 enforcement actions. Translated (Chinese) fact sheets were developed and distributed. Developed and piloted the use of PMRA compliance risk assessment templates and tools to resolve consumer product safety issues. A risk-based targeting guidance document was drafted to facilitate the planning/prioritization of compliance activities. Initiated a cyclical inspection program to systematically monitor and verify compliance of regulated groups/communities, including those related to consumer pesticides. A new Compliance Results Tracking database for use by compliance officers was implemented, including web reporting capability. Amended Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) Regulations and published in Canada Gazette I and II, enabling Notices of Violations to be issued for a wider range of violations that were part of the new PCPA legislation in 2006, including violations for Sales and Incident Reporting, and significant work on updating AMPs procedures. Participated in a pilot to streamline the interface between the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Health Canada related to compliance issues through the use of call centres. Worked with CBSA to strengthen oversight at the border, including drafting of an Annex in support of the Umbrella Memorandum of Understanding between Health Canada and CBSA. As part of the Single Window Initiative, initiated participation in the CBSA Pathfinder Project to enable PMRA to receive pesticide importation data collected by CBSA. Shared compliance and enforcement information with the US EPA and discussed shared issues/concerns related to consumer pesticides. Compliance activities were delivered within Canada as a result of this information sharing (e.g. Health Canada alerted Canadian consumers who had purchased through the internet an unregistered pesticide). Chaired the OECD Expert Group on Compliance, which drafted a final version of the Pesticide Compliance & Enforcement Best Practice Guidance document to be submitted to the OECD Risk Reduction Steering Committee. The document includes guidance on conducting compliance activities related to the distribution, storage, use, and container recycling/disposal of pesticides. |
Health Canada | Food Nutrition | Active Prevention | $29.6 | $6.7M | $6.5M | Establishment of the appropriate instrument or mix of instruments, including regulatory and non-regulatory measures (standards, policies, etc.) to address immediate areas of concern |
Regulation: Regulations related to "Enhancing labelling for food allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites" were published in February 2011 in Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII). Completed a regulatory amendment related to the approval of the additive "micocin", an application aimed to prevent listeria growth in ready-to-use meats. Regulatory amendments enabling 14 food additives were published in CGII, and 11 Interim Marketing Authorizations (IMAs) were published in CGI. Guidance and Policy: New risk communication material on the microbial safety of fresh produce was published (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/safety-salubrite/index-eng.php) Health Canada's Policy Direction With Respect To Revising Canada's Gluten-Free Labelling Regulations was published. Guidance on the preparation of powdered infant formula in the home and hospital/care settings was published: (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/pif-ppn-eng.php). Completed risk/exposure assessment of the natural toxin Deoxynivalenol (DON) in order to develop a Canadian guideline for the presence of it in Canadian foods |
Increased understanding of food safety risks, alert systems and safety systems | Participated in the evaluation of options for risk profiling tools and exchanged information on the use of such tools with our international counterparts (USDA/USFDA) | ||||||
Increased engagement by Canadians in the regulatory system
Increased industry knowledge regarding food labelling |
Completed the Allergen Regulations consultation on key areas identified under CG1 and posted summary on the HC website. Conducted public consultations on the proposed policy intent for revising Canada's Gluten Free labelling requirements. Conducted consultations on the use of allergen precautionary statements on pre-packaged food labels. Completed
public consultations on the proposed definition of dietary fibre.
Evaluated more than 200 of Health Canada's consumer-oriented Web pages for plain language and formatting, including Food Branch pages. Improved tracking data through the Public Enquiries Centre. Established a central contact centre for consumer phone and email requests for information on food and product safety issues. Created the inaugural Food Regulatory Advisory Committee (FRAC), with membership across several sectors including Patient/Consumer, Health Professional/Regulatory, Research/Academia, and Industry. Consulted the FRAC on several topics |
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Increased industry understanding of and engagement in the development and implementation of food safety risk mitigation processes
Improved international collaboration in addressing common import risks |
Canadian summary report from the 42nd session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives, at the IDC/Codex meeting. As the e-WG lead, Canada prepared and presented the Melamine Codex Maximum Level (ML) document at 4th session of Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF).
Continued industry engagement on proposed risk management strategies to reduce exposure of the natural toxin Ochratoxin A (OTA) in food. Developed and presented the Codex discussion paper on the management of DON in the food supply at the 5th session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. Made use of international chemical liaison groups for food safety for information sharing and issue identification. Established regular forums with like-minded regulators on emerging issues |
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Food Nutrition | Rapid Response | $1.3 | $0.3 | $0.2 | Increased public understanding of food safety risks, alert systems and safety systems |
Be Food Safe campaign - Provided expertise, financial support, developed new education materials (i.e. food safety wheel, Be Food Safe bilingual video, Food Safety for Family brochure).
Launched/continued marketing initiatives for Children's Health and Safety, Safe and Informed Consumers, Hazardcheck and other initiatives. Improved consolidation and tracking data through the Public Enquiries Centre. Established a central contact centre for consumer phone and email requests for information on food and product safety issues. Launched social media platforms, including a new Recalls and Safety Alerts mobile app and a cross-departmental widget for consumers. Developed a 'foodborne illness' section for Healthy Canadians, as well as revision of Web pages and It's Your Health articles on food safety. |
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) | Food Safety & Nutrition Risks | Active Prevention | $114.2 | $25.8 | $23.09 | Increased understanding of food safety risks by HC, PHAC & CFIA |
Enhanced the CFIA's Food Safety Risk Prioritization process through the use of two tools: population of the iRisk Tool, a science-based risk ranking for food/hazard combinations (FHCs), completion of a pilot with 70 FHCs, and collaborative research efforts with PHAC, HC, University of Alberta, and University of Massachusetts Amherst, on
the development of a Multi-Factorial Risk Prioritization Framework tool which takes into consideration other factors such as market impact, social sensitivity, and consumers perception.
Five (5) risk profiles were developed - Salmonella in fresh Tomatoes; Ochratoxin A in Cereals and Cereal Products; Salmonella in Spices; Melamine in Imported Milk Ingredients; and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 in Baby Spinach. The draft reports, which are a compilation of scientific information on specific food hazard combinations, are at various stages of completion. Development of novel platforms for testing and detection of pathogens such as Listeria, Shigella and Campylobacter. Conducted targeted surveys on microbiological and chemical hazards for which over 25,395 samples were collected resulting in 59,254 different microbiological and chemical tests being performed. The analysis of the results of ten (10) targeted surveys on chemical hazards were completed: Arsenic speciation in rice and pear products; Aflatoxins in dried figs and dried dates ; Undeclared Allergens in baby food; Bisphenol A in infant food and formula; Melamine/Pesticides and Metals in milk based and soy based products; Food colours in manufactured foods; OTA/'DON in selected foods; Pesticide/Metals in fresh fruit and vegetables; Pesticide/Metals in dried tea; Fining agents in wine
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Establishment of the appropriate instrument or mix of instruments, including regulatory and non-regulatory measures (standards, policies, etc.) to address immediate areas of concern | Continued development on the submission package for the proposed regulations pertaining to the Imported Foods Products Sector under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Continued work with Health Canada on the development of legislative amendments to the Food and Drug Act. | ||||||
Increased industry understanding of and engagement in the development and implementation of food safety risk mitigation processes
Improved international collaboration in addressing common import risks |
CFIA published the Guide to Food Safety (GFS) to provide guidance to the food industry on the design, development and implementation of effective preventative food safety control systems.
For the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (FFV) Sector, CFIA implemented changes to food safety monitoring programs focussing its inspection activities on high risk sector of the industry, such as packers and re-packers of fresh leafy vegetables, herbs and green onions. Enhanced engagement with international regulatory counterparts to advance food safety information exchange and inform risk management approaches. Signed MOU to facilitate exploration of approaches for rapid exchange of information and handling of food safety emergencies with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ). |
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Increased engagement by Canadians in the regulatory system
Increased industry knowledge regarding food labelling |
CFIA
A public consultation to receive feedback on proposed requirements to enhance the safety of imported foods was conducted. The feedback, received both through on-line submissions and during face to face sessions held in five cities across the country, was constructive. It will be used to inform proposed regulations.
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency | Food Safety & Nutrition Risks | Targeted Oversight | $77.0 | $19.2 | $13.19 |
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Implementation of the FFV Establishment Inspection Pilot Project - for Packer and Re-packers of Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Green Onions and/or Herbs during which 9 inspections were completed.
Delivered the following training to inspection staff: Microbiological Sampling, Introduction to Fresh Produce Safety, Understanding Food Allergens, Food Safety Investigation. Continued the update of existing and development of new training material in support of FSAP activities implementation. In the non-federally registered sector, a total of 803 inspections were conducted, in the four identified priority areas of greatest risk (produce, mycotoxins in cereal, imported ingredients, undeclared allergens): 68 related to Microbial Pathogens in Spices; 15 related to Microbial Pathogens and Patulin in Pasteurized Apple Juice and Cider; 37 related to Pathogens in RTE Fresh Cut Vegetables; 39 related to Pathogens in Sprouts; 90 related to Allergens and Salmonella in Domestic and Imported Chocolate; 46 related to Microbial Pathogens and Patulin in Unpasteurized Apple Juice and Cider; 36 related to Alfatoxin and Salmonella in Imported Nuts, Peanuts and Peanut Butter; 472 related to Allergen Controls at Importers of non-federally registered foods. |
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Increased identification of imported products entering Canada through improvements to the Automated Import Reference System database for tracking of imported products entering Canada through increasing the number of Harmonized System Codes available for classifying traded products.
Completion of Phase I of IM/IT enhancements, by implementing foundational elements which will support applications for enhancing importer identification and imported product tracking. 54 Border Blitz inspections, 61 Post-Entry Import Verifications, and 367 import surveillance activities were conducted. |
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency | Food Safety & Nutrition Risks | Rapid Response | $32.2 | $7.4 | $5.73 | Timely and efficient recall capacity |
Expanded microbiology laboratory capacity for recalls through the implementation of a 7-day work week.
Increased # of employees working on FSAP by 10% of which 36% are new to the Agency. By the end of 2010-11, the CFIA managed over 200 food recall incidents, and conducted 4668 food safety investigations. In 2010-11, the CFIA efficiently managed 131 public warnings for Class I recalls. All warnings were issued within the 24 hours following the declaration of a warning. Enhanced awareness of the recall process through e-mail notifications of all Class 2 and 3 undeclared allergen recalls are sent directly to subscribers. |
Increased public understanding of food safety risks, alert systems and safety systems |
The "Canada's 10 Least Wanted Food borne Pathogens" publication series was completed. This provides a package of information which included a brochure, activity sheet and trading cards to better inform consumers on the nature of the microorganisms which can cause food borne illness.
A consumer-friendly booklet - "Common Food Allergies - A Consumer's Guide to Managing the Risks" - was published, containing key information on the most common food allergens. Past food safety issues have highlighted the importance of gathering regular feedback from Canadians on food safety, food recalls and confidence in Canada's food safety system. Results have helped inform outreach initiatives and policies related to food safety. It helps provide the Agency with a better understanding of consumers' awareness, attitudes and behaviours in terms of food safety, and helps ensure communications material is consistent with the needs of Canadians. Targeted POR conducted in February of 2011 revealed that Canadians' confidence in Canada's food safety system noticeably increased since 2007-08. CFIA also launched the Consumer Association Roundtable, which ensures that consumers (target population) have a voice in the food safety continuum. Recent POR findings show that consumers look to a variety of media to obtain their information. Among those preferred: social media, televised and print news. In 2010-11, the CFIA began making information readily available through additional email alert notifications (i.e. Class II and III recalls), Twitter and Facebook. By using social media tools, the CFIA has diminished the need to search for this information on its website. However, traffic to the CFIA website does remain consistent, with a noticeable spike in activity during times of an outbreak (i.e. Listeria). By the end of 2010-11, the CFIA had 47,500 subscribers to the recall and allergy alert email notification service, and over 1,800 Twitter followers. Seven targeted survey reports were posted to the CFIA website. These present information on the findings of CFIA's targeted surveys regarding the occurrence of contaminants in the food supply. Four microbiology: (Bacterial Pathogens and Indicators of Faecal Contamination in Domestic Unpasteurized Apple Cider / Juice; Bacterial Pathogens and Indicators of Faecal Contamination in Leafy Green Vegetables; Bacterial Pathogens and Indicators of Faecal Contamination in Tomatoes and Cantaloupes; Hepatitis A Virus in Green Onions and Strawberries) Three chemistry: (Aflatoxin in Dried Figs and Dried Dates; Bisphenol-A in Infant Food and Formula; Ochratoxin A and Deoxynivalenol in Selected Foods) |
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Public Health Agency of Canada | Surveillance and Population Health Assessment )/ Disease and Injury Prevention and Mitigation | Active Prevention | $18.3 | $4.1 | $3.5M |
Increased understanding of food safety risks by HC, PHAC, & CFIA
Emerging and re-emerging food-borne, environmental and zoonotic infectious diseases outbreaks are responded to and controlled Stakeholders are knowledgeable of research and tools pertaining to food-borne, environmental and zoonotic infectious diseases |
Increased sustainable capacity for molecular characterization of foodborne pathogens will allow for rapid and accurate identification of bacteria associated with outbreaks in Canada. An on-going assessment of new molecular characterization methods for differentiation of foodborne pathogens is being carried out in order to improve accuracy and turn around time. Key pathogen serotypes have been prioritized for molecular characterization using a comparison of the LFZ's data for bacteria from non-human sources with the NML's data for human sources.
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Public Health Agency of Canada | Health Promotion/Chronic Disease Prevention and Control | Targeted Oversight | $8.0 | $2.0 | $1.10 |
More and better data on accidents, injuries, illnesses and deaths due to consumer products
Engagement of risk assessment stakeholders |
Databases created/improved against plan: The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) database was improved at each stage of surveillance, beginning with data collection through to analysis and dissemination. A new data element was created in CHIRPP to track the proportion of consumer-product related injuries. The most recent CHIRPP data available (all ages) show 48% of CHIRPP cases to be consumer product-related (compared to 45% in the previous cycle). For the target age groups 0-4 years, 0-9 years and 0-18 years the percentages are 55% vs. 53%, 55% vs. 52% and 50% vs. 48%, respectively. The Canadian Coroner and Medical Examiner Database (CCMED) was developed to obtain further details on investigated deaths to build evidence base for prevention. Methodological fine-tuning of the CCMED database to optimize identification of consumer product-related deaths. Assessment of enhanced surveillance of helmet use/compliance in winter sports (in cooperation with HECS). The Canadian Longitudinal Survey on Aging was expanded/improved against the plan CCMED: Coroners' Database development completed, and preliminary analysis of data underway. Established CCMED Working Group Other progress: Initial phases of surveillance system modernization underway to facilitate ease of product-related injury data collection. Winter sport helmet pilot study - Phase 1 of data collection completed, analysis underway. Done in cooperation with HECS. Completion of falls surveillance pilot study in BC. Organized a stakeholder meeting in cooperation with HECS and SafeKids Canada to host: A Dialogue on Poisoning Prevention in Canada. Knowledge translation through presentations at national and regional injury prevention and child health conferences. 5 new reports, briefs and posters on product related injuries. Data/reports to key stakeholders Report from Carbonear General Hospital feasibility study on risk assessment of consumer product related injury Review relevant to falls-related injuries. Risk assessment of activity-limiting injury in the Canadian Population Longitudinal Health Survey 1994-2006. Risk assessment of incidence of injury associated with immigration status and length of immigration in Canada. Risk assessment of risk factors for unintentional injury in Canada. Risk assessment of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) related injuries Canadian Longitudinal Survey on Aging (CLSA) Completed: Protocol to Study Consumer Product and Falls Related Injuries in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Completed: Literature review relevant to falls-related injuries (narrative review, review of reviews and a systematic environmental scan). Completed: Injury and Consumer Product Related Falls Module developed and approved for implementation. Sentinel Centre Consumer Product Related Injury Risk Assessment (CPRIRA).Meeting held to seek consensus on adapting a current Emergency Room surveillance program to include product-related injury data collection. Memorandum of Agreement established with Kingston General Hospital.
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Canadian Institute of Health Research | Strategic Priority Research | Targeted Oversight | 27.1 | 6.93 | $2.13 |
Increased knowledge of post-market drug safety and effectiveness to inform decisions |
Also see: DSEN, Health Canada, Health Products, Targeted Oversight
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Comments on Variances:
Health Products | The late release of the frozen allotment for "mandatory reporting" did not allow for sufficient time to make significant expenditures. In addition, fewer pre-submission meetings were held than expected and fewer positions were staffed than anticipated in 2010-11. In order to focus strategically on developing the DSEN network of collaborating researchers, CIHR/DSEN focused efforts on the establishment of the key pan-Canadian network of research centres that delivers the core research capacity for the DSEN initiative. The time and effort required to reach the desired outcome suggested that, to be prudent, DSEN should manage funding between the implementation years to best target the DSEN Grants budget to research that aligns long term with the DSEN mandate and objectives. Thus $4.37 M from 2010-11 and $1.2 M in 2011-12 has been reprofiled within the DSEN budget in equal amounts across 2012 - 2016. |
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Consumer Products | The CCPSA did not receive Royal Assent until December 2010, after its third introduction into Parliament. A portion of FCSAP funding was frozen pending Royal Assent and as a result many initiatives were delayed until the last quarter of 2010-11 |
Food Safety | In the third year of implementation of the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, the CFIA experienced a delay in the completion and approval of the Effective Project Approval submission for the IM/IT project to support initiatives falling under both Active Prevention and Targeted Oversight. Further contributing to the lapse under Targeted
Oversight, is the stage of development of the importer licensing program. Specific details require refinement before training and delivery can commence. Delays in staffing processes at national Headquarters resulted in under spending in activities falling under Rapid Response. Funds lapsed are being carried forward. Due to the delays in staffing and staff turnover, collectively the full salary allocation and associated O&M funding was not expended in full by PHAC. |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A
Contact information:
Hélène Quesnel, Director General
Legislative and Regulatory Policy Directorate
Strategic Policy Branch
Health Canada
Telephone: (613) 952-3484
E-mail: helene.quesnel@hc-sc.gc.ca
Weblinks
Name of Horizontal Initiative:
Federal Tobacco Control Strategy
Name of Lead Department(s):
Health Canada (HC)
Lead Department Program Activity:
Substance Use and Abuse
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative:
April 1, 2007
End Date of the Horizontal Initiative:
March 31, 2011
Federal Funding Allocation:
$363.3M
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The FTCS establishes a framework for a comprehensive, fully-integrated, and multi-faceted approach to tobacco control. It is driven by the longstanding commitment of the Government of Canada to reduce the serious and adverse health effects of tobacco for Canadians. It focuses on four mutually reinforcing components: prevention, cessation, protection, and product regulation.
Shared Outcome(s):
The goal of the FTCS is to reduce overall smoking prevalence from 19% (2005) to 12% by 2011.
Objectives:
Governance Structure(s):
Health Canada is the lead department in the FTCS and is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the FTCS, including delivering the contribution program component and undertaking activities related to our components and objectives. The role of federal partners will remain to monitor and assess tobacco contraband activities.
The partner departments and agencies are:
Planning highlights
Implementation of the 'Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth' Act (2009), including compliance measures to ensure no tobacco advertising appears in magazines or newspapers, and that certain flavoured tobacco products (e.g. little cigars and blunt wraps) are no longer used in Canada.
Federal Partners | Federal Partner Program Activity | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | 2010-11 ($ millions) | |||
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Planned Spending | Actual Spending | Expected Results | Results Achieved | ||||
HC | Substance Use and Abuse | FTCS | $287.34 M | $42.7M | $50.4M | Reduce overall smoking prevalence from 19% (2007) to 12% by 2011 |
Latest available data (2010) report a 17% overall smoking prevalence.
Federal inspections show that 98% of tobacco retailers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are in compliance on sales to youth. (Note: in 2009 retailer compliances rates of 84.3% were based on the Evaluation of Retailers' Behaviour Towards Certain Youth Access-to-Tobacco Restrictions Survey, which included all Provinces. This survey has been discontinued.) 99% of tobacco products inspected are in compliance with labelling requirements. 95% of samples analysed are in compliance with Cigarette Ignition Propensity regulations. Compliance measures with the implementation of the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act did result in 4 warning letters being sent to manufacturers for packages of little cigar products with less than the minimum 20 units. |
PSC | Law Enforcement Strategies | FTCS | $3.0 M | 0.61M | 0.61M |
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See results achieved by non-federal partners (i.e. Akwesasne Mohawk Police) in section 17 below.
PS leads the Canadian Delegation in the preparation and participation to negotiate a global Protocol to reduce illicit tobacco which takes place in Geneva. Canada participated in two intersessional working groups in 2010-11, in support of Protocol negotiations. The next negotiating session is scheduled for March 2012. |
RCMP |
Criminal Intelligence Operations |
FTCS | $8.6 M | $1.5M | $2.6M |
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ODPP | ODPP | FTCS | $10.0M | $2.1M | 2.1M |
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CRA | FTCS: Assessment and Benefit services Branch | $4.44M | 0.2M |
0.2M
0.6M 0.09M |
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FTCS: Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs branch
Funding formula allocation |
0.6M
0.09M |
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CBSA |
1.1 Risk Assessment |
FTCS | 28.4 | 5.7 |
4.9M
4.3M |
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21.5 | 4.3 | ||||||
Grand Total: | $363.3M | $57.8M | $65.8M |
Comments on Variances:
The CBSA variance of $0.8M was due to not as much work associated with the initiative as planned, resulting is lower spending than anticipated.
The HC variance of $8.0M is due to two transfers from Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate (HECS) to Regions and Programs Branch (RAPB) totalling $4.2M as well as $3.8M in corporate costs being omitted from the planned spending of $42.7M in the RPP for 2010-11. Total actual spending is $50.4M including Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate (HECS) transfers to Regions and Programs Branch (RAPB) and corporate costs.
RCMP: The support provided by Technical Operations to the FTCS exceeded the funding and resources provided in the strategy due to an increased demand for investigative support and border monitoring. This increased demand, and related expenses, occurred in locations that received resources under the FTCS and in locations that have not previously been required to provide resources for these activities. The increase in resources provided to this initiative resulted in a decreased capacity to fulfill other mandated activities.
17. Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police (AMP) have been able to increase their surveillance and monitoring of tobacco smuggling. The AMP has reported participating in joint forces operations that have led to charges and seizures, including tobacco. All tobacco seizures made by the AMP are turned over to the RCMP for prosecutions and reported through the RCMP Cornwall Detachment.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police have enhanced their capacity in intelligence development and specialized criminal investigation techniques through their work with Canadian and U.S. law enforcement partners in the context of the Integrated Border Enforcement Team in the Cornwall area. In addition, they have had an opportunity to lead and participate in Joint Forces Operations related to cross-border criminal activities and organized crime.
An evaluation has been conducted by Consulting and Audit Canada under contract to PS. Annual reports are provided by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police, relating specifically to the Joint Investigation Team. These reports detail ongoing efforts by the Joint Investigation Team to combat illicit tobacco activities in the Akwesasne Community, including breakdowns of significant seizures of contraband tobacco.
20. Contact information:
Cathy A. Sabiston , Director General
Controlled Substance and Tobacco Directorate
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
Telephone: (613) 941-1977