Highlights

  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is investigating a complaint about unfair evaluation in a government procurement process.
  • A National Defence employee has been permitted to run for provincial election with a leave of absence.
  • An agreement has been made between the federal government and Nova Scotia on greenhouse gas emissions control.
  • New guidelines for iron levels in drinking water have been released to improve water quality.
  • Consultations are underway on space debris mitigation licensing requirements.
  • The Canadian government is seeking diverse candidates for leadership roles in various organizations.
  • BNY Trust Company of Canada plans to reduce its common shares’ capital.
  • Regulatory amendments are proposed to address therapeutic product shortages in Canada.
  • New regulations are proposed to enhance the firearms regime by requiring detailed firearm specifications from manufacturers and importers.

Canadian Tribunal Reviews Procurement Complaint and Public Service Commission Approves Election Candidacy

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is conducting an inquiry into a complaint from 5D Property Management Group regarding a procurement by the Department of Public Works and Government Services for building maintenance services. 5D claims their technical proposal was unfairly evaluated and suggests a potential conflict of interest within the evaluation team. Additionally, the Public Service Commission of Canada has granted Kenneth Xi from National Defence permission to seek nomination and be a candidate in the Nepean, Ontario provincial election, with a leave of absence without pay during the election period. [Source]

Government Initiatives on Environmental Agreements, Health Guidelines, and Leadership Opportunities

The Minister of the Environment has entered into an agreement with Nova Scotia regarding the control of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity producers, and a report summarizing public comments is available. The Minister of Health has released final guidelines for iron in drinking water, setting an aesthetic objective of ≤ 0.1 mg/L to address discolored water and improve consumer confidence. Iron exposure mainly comes from food, with drinking water contributing less than 10% of daily intake. High levels of iron can cause gastrointestinal distress, but it is not considered a reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic toxicant. Various treatment methods can effectively reduce iron levels in water. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is consulting on changes to licensing requirements for space debris mitigation, with comments due by February 26, 2025. The Government of Canada is seeking diverse candidates for various leadership positions, emphasizing a transparent, merit-based appointment process that reflects Canada’s diversity and promotes a respectful work environment. Current opportunities include positions in organizations such as the Bank of Canada, Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Canadian Human Rights Commission, among others. [Source]

BNY Trust Capital Reduction and Canadian Transit Shareholder Meeting

BNY Trust Company of Canada plans to seek approval from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to reduce the stated capital of its common shares by up to $26.5 million, following a special resolution passed by its sole shareholder. The reduction will be distributed to the sole shareholder, and the company’s Chief Financial Officer will determine the exact amount within the authorized limit. The directors and officers are authorized to execute necessary actions to implement this resolution. Additionally, The Canadian Transit Company will hold its annual shareholder meeting at the Detroit International Bridge Company offices in Warren, Michigan, to elect directors and conduct other business. [Source]

Strengthening Canada’s Regulatory Framework to Address Drug and Medical Device Shortages

Therapeutic product shortages in Canada pose a significant risk to public health, necessitating stronger regulatory frameworks to prevent and mitigate these shortages. Proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and Medical Devices Regulations aim to address these issues by imposing obligations on market authorization holders to maintain safety stocks for select drugs, develop shortage prevention and mitigation plans, and report demand surges. The Minister of Health would have the authority to expand the scope of drugs subject to shortage regulations and extend expiration dates to increase drug supply during shortages. The amendments also seek to improve the exceptional importation frameworks and enhance reporting of drug and medical device shortages and discontinuations.

Drug and medical device shortages can lead to suboptimal treatment and harm to patients, burdening the healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new regulatory tools to manage shortage risks proactively. The proposed amendments are informed by international practices and aim to reduce the likelihood of shortages causing harm. The total costs of the amendments are estimated at $17.1 million annually, with monetized benefits projected at $3.2 billion per year.

The amendments would allow the Minister to require information on shortages of any drug that could present a risk to human health, expand the scope of drugs subject to shortage regulations, and require market authorization holders to maintain safety stocks for drugs posing a serious and imminent risk. The amendments also propose updates to the exceptional importation frameworks and improvements to shortage reporting processes. The goal is to better protect Canadians from the harms of therapeutic product shortages by providing more tools to prevent, mitigate, and respond to these shortages. [Source]

New Regulations for Firearm Manufacturers and Importers to Enhance Safety and Accountability in Canada

The proposed regulations aim to enhance public safety and the integrity of Canada’s firearms regime by requiring manufacturers and importers to share technical specifications of firearms with the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) before they enter the market. This is to ensure proper classification and control of firearms, reducing the risk of improper transfers. The regulations would require businesses to provide detailed information about each batch or shipment of firearms, including make, model, type, and other specifications, and to keep records for 20 years. The proposal does not change firearm classifications but seeks to ensure all firearms are accounted for before entering the market. The changes are expected to impact a small subset of businesses, primarily those involved in manufacturing and importing firearms, and are anticipated to have minimal impact on supply chains. The proposal has been discussed in various forums, with advocacy groups supporting increased reliability in the firearms regime. The estimated cost of implementing these regulations over ten years is approximately $9.2 million, with costs borne by both the government and businesses. The proposal is not expected to impact Indigenous communities or modern treaty obligations and does not require additional flexibility for small businesses. The regulations will be implemented with existing resources, and compliance will be monitored through existing procedures. [Source]

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