This article is brought to you by HazMat Management Magazine.

As part of a new omnibus budget implementation bill, the federal government is attempting to disband The Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission (HMIRC), an independent agency accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Health.

Bill C-45 was introduced to Parliament last week, but the 400-plus page bill has yet to be passed. It would amend the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act to transfer the powers and functions of the HMIRC to the resource-strapped Minister of Health and repeal provisions of that Act that are related to the Commission.

A number of Canadian companies are currently seeking exemptions from the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act. They’ve filed claims for exemptions “from the disclosure of supplier confidential business information in respect of a controlled product” which would normally be required under the Hazardous Products Act.

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