Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 154, Number 2: GOVERNMENT NOTICES

January 11, 2020

DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

Ministerial Instructions with respect to the processing of applications for a permanent resident visa made by parents or grandparents of a sponsor as members of the family class and the processing of sponsorship applications made in relation to those applications

These Instructions are published in the Canada Gazette in accordance with subsection 87.3(6) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Act).

These Instructions are given, pursuant to section 87.3 and subsections 92(1.1) and (2) of the Act, by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration as, in the opinion of the Minister, these Instructions will best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada.

These temporary Instructions are intended to ensure that as of January 1, 2020, no permanent resident visa applications made by parents or grandparents of a sponsor and no sponsorship applications made in relation to those applications are accepted for processing until further Instructions are issued.

These Instructions will allow the Department sufficient time to complete the development of a new application intake management process for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, to be implemented in 2020. The Minister intends to issue further Instructions relating to the intake management process for the parents and grandparents program by April 1, 2020, at the latest.

Until the new intake management process is implemented, the Department will not accept any new applications. This will ensure that all interested sponsors have the same opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form, and a fair chance to be invited to apply.

Scope

These Instructions apply to applications for a permanent resident visa of sponsors’ parents or grandparents made under the family class, referred to in paragraphs 117(1)(c) and (d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations), respectively, as well as to sponsorship applications made in relation to those applications.

Number of applications to be accepted for processing

No new sponsorship applications and no related applications for a permanent resident visa made by sponsors’ parents or grandparents under the family class are accepted for processing until further Instructions are issued.

Humanitarian and compassionate requests

A request made under subsection 25(1) of the Act from outside Canada and that accompanies an application that was not accepted for processing under these Instructions will not be processed.

Disposition of applications

Any sponsorship application or related application for a permanent resident visa made by a sponsor’s parents or grandparents under the family class that is not accepted for processing under these Instructions will be returned.

Coming into effect

These Instructions take effect on January 1, 2020.

Ottawa, December 20, 2019

Marco Mendicino, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Proposed guideline for Canadian drinking water quality for boron

Pursuant to subsection 55(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of Health hereby gives notice of a proposed guideline for Canadian drinking water quality for boron. The proposed technical document for this guideline is available for public comment from January 10, 2020, to March 13, 2020, on the Water Quality website. Any person may, within 60 days after publication of this notice, file with the Minister of Health written comments on the proposed document. Comments can be submitted by email at HC.water-eau.SC@canada.ca, or by regular mail to the Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue West, A.L. 4903D, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9.

January 10, 2020

David Morin
Director General
Safe Environments Directorate

On behalf of the Minister of Health

ANNEX
Proposed guideline

A maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 2 mg/L (2 000 μg/L) is proposed for total boron in drinking water based on treatment achievability.

Executive summary

This guideline technical document was prepared in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water and assesses all available information on boron.

Exposure

Boron enters the environment from both natural sources such as weathering of rocks and soils and seawater spray, as well as human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and municipal and industrial wastewater discharge. Boron is also found in pesticides, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and natural health products and is found in many consumer products such as swimming pool and spa products and cleaning products. In water, boron exists primarily as boric acid and borate.

The main source for Canadians’ exposure to boron is through food, although consumer products can also contribute significantly to exposure. Exposure through drinking water can contribute up to 16% of total dietary boron exposure. In most Canadian drinking water supplies, boron is below 0.1 mg/L. Higher concentrations of boron (1–5 mg/L) can be found in certain areas of Canada, particularly in groundwater supplies in areas with naturally occurring boron. Intake of boron from drinking water through skin contact or inhalation during showering or bathing is expected to be negligible.

Health effects

Boron is not an essential element, but some studies indicate it may be beneficial to human health. Studies in humans have found possible associations between boron and effects to reproduction and development. However, these studies have a number of design limitations and cannot be used for risk assessment. Studies in animals have consistently observed adverse effects to the male reproductive system following ingestion of high levels of boron, which supports effects seen in human studies. Testicular effects observed in dogs were the most sensitive endpoint and are used to establish the proposed health-based value (HBV) of 0.1 mg/L. The HBV is derived using a conservative approach, intended to be protective against potential reproductive effects.

Treatment and analytical considerations

The guideline development process considers the ability to both measure (quantify) and remove (treat) a contaminant in drinking water. There are several methods that are available for the analysis of total boron in drinking water at concentrations well below the proposed HBV; therefore, measurement is not a limitation in the establishment of a MAC. Measurement should be for total boron, which includes both the dissolved and particulate forms of boron in a water sample.

Treatment technologies are available to remove boron from drinking water supplies. However, data from municipal-scale treatment plants indicate that a treated water concentration of 0.1 mg/L is not achievable for most systems. Assessment of the data indicates that a treated water concentration of less than 2 mg/L is achievable using a variety of treatment technologies with common design and operating conditions. This provides drinking water treatment providers flexibility in the selection of a treatment technology to achieve the proposed MAC, including systems with higher boron concentrations (≥ 5 mg/L) in their source water. A concentration of 2 mg/L in treated water is also achievable for small drinking water systems using less complex technologies (single reverse osmosis system) that may be more practical where resources are limited.

Although residential-scale treatment technologies that are effective for the removal of boron are limited, reverse osmosis and distillation treatment units are expected to be capable of removing boron to 2 mg/L or less in treated water.

Since treatment technology achievability is a limiting factor in establishing a guideline for boron in drinking water, Health Canada and the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water will continue to monitor new developments in treatment technologies to revise and update the guideline and the guideline technical document as required.

Distribution system

Since boron adsorbs onto aluminum and iron oxides in the environment, it is possible that boron may also accumulate within distribution systems where these types of deposits are present. Where boron is present in source water, utilities should determine if boron needs to be included in their distribution system management plan.

Application of guideline

Note: Specific guidance related to the implementation of drinking water guidelines should be obtained from the appropriate drinking water authority in the affected jurisdiction.

The HBV is derived using a conservative approach, intended to be protective against potential reproductive effects. Efforts should be made to reduce boron in drinking water to levels lower than 2 mg/L where possible. Lower concentrations can be achieved by some drinking water treatment systems, depending on the source water quality, the type of treatment technology in place and the operational conditions of the treatment plant.

An exceedance of the proposed MAC should be investigated. For exceedances in source water where there is no treatment in place, additional monitoring to confirm the exceedance should be conducted. If it is confirmed that boron concentrations in the source water are above the proposed MAC, then an investigation to determine the most appropriate way to reduce exposure to boron should be conducted. This may include the use of an alternate water supply or the installation of a treatment system. Where treatment is already in place and an exceedance occurs, an investigation should be conducted to verify treatment and determine if adjustments are needed to lower the treated water concentration below the proposed MAC.

International considerations

Drinking water quality guidelines, standards and guidance established by foreign governments or international agencies may vary due to the science available at the time of assessment, as well as the utilization of different policies and approaches, such as the choice of key study, and the use of different consumption rates, body weights and allocation factors.

Other international organizations have set drinking water guidelines and guidance values pertaining to the concentration of boron in drinking water. The World Health Organization (WHO), Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council and the European Union have established health-based regulatory limits for boron in drinking water of 2.4 mg/L, of 4 mg/L and of 1 mg/L, respectively.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) does not have a regulatory limit for boron in drinking water, but has set a lifetime health advisory at 5 mg/L.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby designate the following persons of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary as fingerprint examiners:

Ottawa, December 10, 2019

Ellen Burack
Assistant Deputy Minister
Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby designate the following person of the Timmins Police Service as a fingerprint examiner:

Ottawa, December 10, 2019

Ellen Burack
Assistant Deputy Minister
Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby designate the following persons of the Toronto Police Service as fingerprint examiners:

Ottawa, December 10, 2019

Ellen Burack
Assistant Deputy Minister
Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CRIMINAL CODE

Revocation of designation as fingerprint examiner

Pursuant to subsection 667(5) of the Criminal Code, I hereby revoke the designation of the following persons of the Toronto Police Service as fingerprint examiners:

Ottawa, December 10, 2019

Ellen Burack
Assistant Deputy Minister
Community Safety and Countering Crime Branch

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

INSURANCE COMPANIES ACT

The Canada Life Assurance Company — Letters patent of amalgamation and order to commence and carry on business

Notice is hereby given of the issuance,

November 29, 2019

Jeremy Rudin
Superintendent of Financial Institutions

PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE

Appointment opportunities

We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada’s diversity. The Government of Canada has implemented an appointment process that is transparent and merit-based, strives for gender parity, and ensures that Indigenous peoples and minority groups are properly represented in positions of leadership. We continue to search for Canadians who reflect the values that we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. Together, we will build a government as diverse as Canada.

We are equally committed to providing a healthy workplace that supports one’s dignity, self-esteem and the ability to work to one’s full potential. With this in mind, all appointees will be expected to take steps to promote and maintain a healthy, respectful and harassment-free work environment.

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following positions.

Current opportunities

The following opportunities for appointments to Governor in Council positions are currently open for applications. Every opportunity is open for a minimum of two weeks from the date of posting on the Governor in Council Appointments website.

Position

Organization

Closing date

Chairperson

Marine Atlantic Inc.

  

Auditor General of Canada

Office of the Auditor General of Canada