Highlights

  • The Canada Border Services Agency is investigating alleged dumping of wire rod from China, Egypt, and Vietnam, with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal assessing potential industry injury.
  • The CRTC has updated its website with new documents and public participation opportunities.
  • Canada has requested a panel review under CUSMA regarding U.S. determinations on Canadian tin mill products.
  • Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for triclocarban have been issued, and an Interim Order has modified greenhouse gas emission regulations for heavy-duty vehicles.
  • A Ministerial Condition has been imposed on the live vaccinia virus due to toxicity concerns.
  • An assessment proposes adding certain Low Boiling Point Naphthas substances to a toxic substances list, with a public comment period open for feedback.
  • The Privy Council Office is advertising various appointment opportunities.
  • Olympia Trust Company seeks to continue as a trust company under federal legislation, with a public objection period open.
  • The Canadian government has extended the suspension of greenhouse gas emission standards for trailers to align with U.S. regulations and maintain industry competitiveness.

Canada Initiates Wire Rod Dumping Investigation and Seeks CUSMA Review on US Tin Mill Products Determinations

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated an investigation into the alleged injurious dumping of wire rod from China, Egypt, and Vietnam. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will conduct a preliminary inquiry into the potential injury to the Canadian industry and will decide within 60 days. If no injury is found, the investigation will be terminated. Interested parties can submit relevant information by July 15, 2024, and any confidential submissions must be accompanied by a non-confidential version.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has updated its website with various documents, including decisions and notices of consultation. Applications for renewal, amendment, or complaints are listed, with deadlines for public interventions, comments, or replies.

A Request for Panel Review has been filed with the CUSMA Secretariat by the Government of Canada regarding the United States Department of Commerce’s final determinations on “Tin Mill Products from Canada.” The review will follow the established rules, with deadlines for filing a Complaint by March 11, 2024, and a Notice of Appearance by March 25, 2024. The review will focus on alleged errors of fact or law in the determinations. [Source]

Recent Environmental and Regulatory Updates in Canada

The Department of the Environment has issued Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for triclocarban and consulted with provincial, territorial, and indigenous representatives as required by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Additionally, an Interim Order has been made to modify the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, specifically suspending the application of trailer standards due to a U.S. court decision that vacated certain EPA rules related to trailers.

A Ministerial Condition has been applied to the live vaccinia virus Acambis clone 2000, which is suspected to be toxic. This condition permits its manufacture or import under specific terms, including containment requirements, waste disposal protocols, and record-keeping obligations.

An assessment of 27 Low Boiling Point Naphthas Group substances has been published, proposing that 17 of these substances be added to Schedule 1 of the Act due to potential health risks, while no further action is proposed for the remaining ten substances with no identified consumer uses. A public comment period is open for feedback on the proposed measures and scientific considerations.

The Privy Council Office has announced various appointment opportunities for positions in different organizations, emphasizing a merit-based, transparent process that seeks diversity and a healthy, respectful work environment. [Source]

Olympia Trust Company Seeks Federal Continuance Approval

Olympia Trust Company, currently incorporated under Alberta’s Loan and Trust Corporations Act and headquartered in Calgary, is planning to apply for continuance as a trust company under the federal Trust and Loan Companies Act (TLCA). The company will retain its name in both English and French. Objections to this proposal can be submitted in writing to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions by May 6, 2024. The issuance of letters patent for the continuance is subject to the review process of the TLCA and the discretion of the Minister of Finance. [Source]

Canada Extends Suspension of GHG Emission Standards for Trailers to Align with US Regulations

The Canadian government has approved an interim order to extend the suspension of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for trailers by up to one more year. This decision aligns Canada’s regulations with the United States, where legal challenges have prevented the implementation of similar standards. The Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, which were amended in 2018, included GHG emission standards for trailers hauled by on-road transport tractors. However, due to a legal challenge by the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) in the U.S., the implementation of these standards was stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Consequently, California also suspended the enforcement of its GHG trailer standards.

The Canadian trailer manufacturing industry, mainly composed of small businesses, expressed concerns about the economic impact of implementing these standards while the U.S. did not. Since 2019, a series of interim orders have been issued to suspend the trailer standards in Canada. Without this latest interim order, Canadian companies would be required to comply with the trailer standards, potentially putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

The suspension of the GHG emission standards for trailers is expected to reduce the estimated GHG emission reductions of the 2018 amendments to the Regulations by 0.4 megatonnes (Mt) CO2e for model year 2025 trailers, and by approximately 2.4 Mt CO2e in total for trailers from model years 2020 to 2025. While the industry may save on compliance and technology investment costs, it will miss out on fuel-saving benefits.

The Department of the Environment continues to consult with the Canadian trailer manufacturing and trucking industry and plans to initiate a regulatory process to repeal the GHG emission standards for trailers in Canada within the next year to maintain alignment with U.S. regulations. The Department is committed to ongoing stakeholder consultation and communication regarding decisions on trailer standards. [Source]

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