Canada: Environment

Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has proposed amendments to remove the mandatory January 31, 2027 deadline requiring businesses to transition from Environmental Compliance Approvals to the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry for air emissions. The proposed changes would shift to a change-based transition requirement, allowing companies to continue operating under existing ECAs unless operational modifications trigger the need for transition.

Québec has introduced minimum fines ten times higher than previous penalties for environmental violations in high-risk industries including manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors. The amendments to the Environment Quality Act target specific contraventions such as unauthorized discharges, operating without proper authorization, and non-compliance with ministerial conditions.

Canada has published two mandatory notices under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act requiring manufacturers, importers, and users to report information on 200 priority substances for chemical management purposes. Companies must determine if they meet reporting thresholds and gather supply chain data, with Phase 1 responses due March 2027 and Phase 2 responses due September 2027. Will your organization's chemical activities trigger reporting obligations under these new requirements?