Highlights

  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is addressing appeals and inquiries related to trade and procurement issues.
  • The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has released decisions on broadcasting matters.
  • The CUSMA Secretariat is handling requests for panel reviews on U.S. countervailing duties for Canadian lumber.
  • The Public Service Commission of Canada is allowing public servants to run for municipal elections in Quebec.
  • The Minister of the Environment has announced a proposed agreement on methane emissions regulations and issued corrections to air quality standards.

Canadian Trade Tribunal and Regulatory Updates on Trade Disputes and Public Service Permissions

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is set to hold a public hearing via videoconference to address an appeal by Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. regarding whether a specific foam lounge pad falls under a previous finding related to dumped and subsidized mattresses from China. Additionally, the Tribunal is conducting an inquiry into a complaint by 1546376 B.C. LTD concerning a Department of National Defence procurement for parachutes, alleging irregularities in tendering and evaluation processes.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has released administrative decisions and abridged versions of its original documents on its website. Notably, Pattison Media Ltd. received a decision regarding CHNW-FM in Winnipeg, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation received a decision for CBTE-FM in British Columbia.

The CUSMA Secretariat has received requests for panel review concerning the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final determination on countervailing duties for Canadian softwood lumber products. The review will follow the Rules of Procedure for Binational Panel Reviews under CUSMA, with deadlines for filing complaints and notices of appearance.

The Public Service Commission of Canada has granted permission to several public servants to seek nomination and run for municipal election positions in Quebec, including roles as councillors and mayor, in the upcoming election. [Source]

Federal and Alberta Methane Emissions Agreement and Air Quality Standards Update

The Minister of the Environment has announced the availability of a proposed equivalency agreement between federal and Alberta regulations concerning methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. This agreement is accessible on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry. Additionally, an erratum has been issued for a previous notice regarding Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter. Corrections have been made to Table 2, which outlines air quality management levels and ranges of ambient air pollutant concentrations for PM2.5, with specific values for 2020 and 2030. The corrected table categorizes air quality management levels into Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green, each with specific concentration ranges and goals. The HTML version of the document has been updated to reflect these corrections. [Source]

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