``govern-
ment''
« gouverne-
ment »

``government'' means the government of a province or of a territory or an aboriginal government.

``inspector''
« inspec-
teur »

``inspector'' means a person or a member of a class of persons designated as an inspector under subsection 217(1).

``investiga-
tor''
« enquê-
teur »

``investigator'' means a person or a member of a class of persons designated as an investigator under subsection 217(1).

``Minister''
« ministre »

``Minister'' means the Minister of the Environment.

``movement within Canada'' or ``transport within Canada''
« mouve-
ment au Canada » ou « transport au Canada »

``movement within Canada'' or ``transport within Canada'' means movement or transport between provinces.

``pollution prevention''
« prévention de la pollution »

``pollution prevention'' means the use of processes, practices, materials, products or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants and waste and reduce the overall risk to the environment or human health.

``prescribed'' Version anglaise seulement

``prescribed'' means prescribed by regulations made under this Act.

``province''
« province »

``province'' includes a territory.

``release''
« rejet »

``release'' includes discharge, spray, inject, inoculate, abandon, deposit, spill, leak, seep, pour, emit, empty, throw, dump, place and exhaust.

``sell''
« vente »

``sell'' includes to offer for sale or lease, have in possession for sale or lease or deliver for sale or lease.

``substance''
« substance »

``substance'' means any distinguishable kind of organic or inorganic matter, whether animate or inanimate, and includes

      (a) any matter that is capable of being dispersed in the environment or of being transformed in the environment into matter that is capable of being so dispersed or that is capable of causing such transformations in the environment,

      (b) any element or free radical,

      (c) any combination of elements of a particular molecular identity that occurs in nature or as a result of a chemical reaction, and

      (d) complex combinations of different molecules that originate in nature or are the result of chemical reactions but that could not practicably be formed by simply combining individual constituents,

    and, except for the purposes of sections 66, 80 to 89 and 104 to 115, includes

      (e) any mixture that is a combination of substances and does not itself produce a substance that is different from the substances that were combined,

      (f) any manufactured item that is formed into a specific physical shape or design during manufacture and has, for its final use, a function or functions dependent in whole or in part on its shape or design, and

      (g) any animate matter that is, or any complex mixtures of different molecules that are, contained in effluents, emissions or wastes that result from any work, undertaking or activity.

``sustaina-
ble develop-
ment''
« développe-
ment durable »

``sustainable development'' means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

``transient reaction intermediate''
« intermé-
diaire de réaction »

``transient reaction intermediate'' means a substance that is formed and consumed in the course of a chemical reaction.

``transit''
« transit »

``transit'' means, except for the purposes of sections 139 and 155, the portion of an international transboundary movement through the territory of a country that is neither the country of origin nor the country of destination of the movement.

``under-
taking'' Version anglaise seulement

``undertaking'' includes a business.

Meaning of ``Ministers'' and ``either Minister''

(2) Where the word ``Ministers'' is used in this Act, it refers to both the Minister and the Minister of Health, and where the expression ``either Minister'' is used in this Act, it refers to either the Minister or the Minister of Health.

Class of substances

(3) For the purposes of this Act, other than subsection (1), ``substance'' includes a class of substances.

Aboriginal rights

4. For greater certainty, nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from the protection provided for existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada by the recognition and affirmation of those rights in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

HER MAJESTY

Binding on Her Majesty

5. This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province.

PART 1

ADMINISTRATION

Advisory Committees

National Advisory Committee

6. (1) For the purpose of enabling national action to be carried out and taking cooperative action in matters affecting the environment and for the purpose of avoiding duplication in regulatory activity among governments, the Minister shall establish a National Advisory Committee

    (a) to advise the Ministers on regulations proposed to be made under subsection 93(1);

    (b) to advise the Minister on a cooperative, coordinated intergovernmental approach for the management of toxic substances; and

    (c) to advise the Minister on other environmental matters that are of mutual interest to the Government of Canada and other governments and to which this Act relates.

Composition of Committee

(2) The Committee shall consist of the following members:

    (a) one representative for each of the Ministers;

    (b) one representative of the government of each of the provinces; and

    (c) subject to subsection (3), not more than six representatives of aboriginal governments, to be selected on the following regional basis,

      (i) one representative for all aboriginal governments, except Inuit, in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick,

      (ii) one representative for all aboriginal governments, except Inuit, in Quebec,

      (iii) one representative for all aboriginal governments, except Inuit, in Ontario,

      (iv) one representative for all aboriginal governments, except Inuit, in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories,

      (v) one representative for all aboriginal governments, except Inuit, in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, and

      (vi) one representative for all Inuit aboriginal governments.

Absence of aboriginal government

(3) Where there is no Inuit aboriginal government or aboriginal government for a region referred to in any of subparagraphs (2)(c)(i) to (v), the representative of aboriginal people for the Inuit or for the region, as the case may be, may be selected in accordance with regulations made under subsection (4).

Regulations

(4) The Minister may make regulations respecting the manner of selecting a representative under subsection (3).

Ministerial advisory committees

7. (1) For the purpose of carrying out their duties under this Act, the Ministers or either Minister may

    (a) establish advisory committees to report to the Ministers or either Minister; and

    (b) specify the functions that the committees are to perform and the manner in which those functions are to be performed.

Publication of report

(2) The report of a committee established under subsection (1), including its recommendations and reasons, shall be made public.

Report of various committees

8. The Minister shall include in the annual report required by section 342 a report of the activities of the Committee and of any committees established under paragraph 7(1)(a).

Agreements Respecting Administration

Negotiation of agreement

9. (1) The Minister may negotiate an agreement with a government or with an aboriginal people with respect to the administration of this Act.

Publication of negotiated agreements

(2) The Minister shall publish any agreement negotiated under subsection (1) before it is entered into, or give notice of its availability, in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate.

Comments or objections

(3) Within 60 days after the publication of an agreement or notice of its availability under subsection (2), any person may file with the Minister comments or a notice of objection.

Publication by Minister of results

(4) After the end of the period of 60 days referred to in subsection (3), the Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate a report or a notice of the availability of a report that summarizes how any comments or notices of objection were dealt with.

Entering into agreements

(5) The Minister may, after publishing a report or notice under subsection (4),

    (a) with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with a government or an aboriginal people with respect to the administration of this Act; and

    (b) subject to any terms and conditions that the Governor in Council may specify in the approval, agree to amendments of the agreement.

Publication of final agreements

(6) The Minister shall publish any agreement under subsection (5), or give notice of its availability, in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate.

Termination

(7) An agreement made under subsection (5) terminates five years after the date on which it comes into force or may be terminated earlier by either party giving the other at least three months notice.

Annual report

(8) The Minister shall include in the annual report required by section 342 a report on the administration of this Act under agreements made under subsection (5).

Agreements Respecting Equivalent Provisions

Non-
application of regulations or orders

10. (1) Except with respect to Her Majesty in right of Canada, the provisions of a regulation made under subsection 93(1), 200(1) or 209(1) or (2) do not apply within the jurisdiction of a government for which there is in force an order, made under subsection (3), declaring that the provisions do not apply within that jurisdiction.

Non-
application of regulations or orders

(2) Except with respect to a federal source, the provisions of a regulation made under section 167 or 177 do not apply within the jurisdiction of a government for which there is in force an order, made under subsection (3), declaring that the provisions do not apply within that jurisdiction.

Declaration of equivalent provisions

(3) Subject to subsections (4), (5) and (6), where the Minister and a government agree in writing that there are in force by or under the laws applicable to the jurisdiction of the government

    (a) provisions that are equivalent to a regulation made under a provision referred to in subsection (1) or (2), and

    (b) provisions that are similar to sections 17 to 20 for the investigation of alleged offences under environmental legislation of that jurisdiction,

the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, make an order declaring that the provisions of the regulation do not apply in an area under the jurisdiction of the government.

Publication of agreements

(4) The Minister shall publish any agreement referred to in subsection (3) before it is entered into, or give notice of its availability, in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate.

Comments or objections

(5) Within 60 days after the publication of an agreement or notice of its availability under subsection (4), any person may file with the Minister comments or a notice of objection.

Publication by Minister of results

(6) After the end of the period of 60 days referred to in subsection (5), the Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate a report or a notice of the availability of a report that summarizes how any comments or notices of objection were dealt with.

Publication of final agreements

(7) The Minister shall publish any agreement referred to in subsection (3) after it is entered into, or give notice of its availability, in the Canada Gazette and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate.

Termination

(8) An agreement made under subsection (3) terminates five years after the date on which it comes into force or may be terminated earlier by either party giving the other at least three months notice.

Revocation of order

(9) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, revoke an order made under subsection (3) if the agreement referred to in that subsection terminates or is terminated.

Report to Parliament

(10) The Minister shall include in the annual report required by section 342 a report on the administration of this section.