Understanding the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
About the act and how the federal government works to prevent pollution and protect the environment and human health.
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Background
- the assessment and management of risks from chemicals, polymers and living organisms
- programs related to air and water pollution, hazardous waste, air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions
- ocean disposal and
- environmental emergencies.
Parliamentary reviews
Section 343 of CEPA 1999 provides for a parliamentary review of the administration of the Act every five years after it has come into force. Parliament conducted a review in 2005 but did not establish or designate a committee to conduct a review in 2010 or 2015.
On June 15, 2017, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development initiated a study of certain aspects of the act. It submitted its report to the House of Commons and pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested a response to its report. The government tabled its response on October 6, 2017 and submitted a follow-up report on June 29, 2018 on actions taken and to be taken in response to the Committee's proposals.
Related links
- Bill to strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act registry
- A Guide to Understanding the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- Parliamentary reviews of CEPA 1999
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act: general information
- Discussion Paper: CEPA 1999 - Issues and Possible Approaches
Monitoring, reporting and research
Under Part 3, Section 44 of the Act, the Minister of the Environment is authorized to:
- establish environmental monitoring stations
- collect and publish data on environmental quality in Canada
- conduct research and studies on pollution control and environmental contamination
- formulate pollution prevention plans
- publish information on pollution prevention plans and on the quality and state of the environment in Canada.
Monitoring
- Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network
- Chemicals Management Plan
- Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling Study Network
- Canadian Greenhouse Gas Measurement Program
- National Air Pollution Surveillance Program
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program
Reporting
- Environmental indicators
- Air Quality Health Index
- National Pollutant Release Inventory
- Canada’s greenhouse gas inventory
- Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals
Research
Scientific research provides valuable insight into the causes, nature and impacts of environment and health risks by helping to:
- determine the extent of exposure to pollutants
- monitor changes to the environment over time
- guide risk assessments
- develop preventive and control measures
- provide specialized sampling and analytical techniques used in compliance promotion and enforcement.
Related links
- Air quality research and science
- Climate change science, research and data
- Wildlife research and landscape science
- Environmental and workplace health
- Environmental contaminants
- Science and technology laboratories
- National Wildlife Research Centre
- Canadian Meteorological Centre
Compliance and enforcement
This omnibus legislation modernized and harmonized the fine regimes and sentencing provisions of nine environmental acts and introduced new enforcement tools. The combined effect of these measures is to help achieve greater compliance with federal environmental legislation.
Administrative monetary penalties under CEPA Parts 7 and 9
The EEA also introduced the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act (EVAMPA), which sets out the framework for the establishment of a fair and efficient administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) regime to:
- create a financial disincentive to non-compliance with designated legislative requirements and
- provide an alternative to other enforcement measures which may not be effective or available in all situations.
Related links
- Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
- Compliance and enforcement policy for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
