Share your thoughts: Proposed Renewal of the Environmental Performance Agreements Concerning Air Pollutants from Base Metals Facilities

Current Status: Open

Opened on August 31, 2026, and will close on September 30, 2026.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is soliciting your feedback on the proposed renewal of the environmental performance agreements concerning air pollutants from base metals facilities (2018 agreements) which expired on December 31, 2025.

The comments received during this consultation period will be considered before the agreements are finalized and signed by the parties.

Join in: how to participate

You are invited to submit your comments by September 30, 2026, on the proposed renewal of the Agreements by email to mmp-tmm@ec.gc.ca.

Please include "Consultation on Base Metals Facilities EPAs’ Renewal" in the subject line of your email.

Who is the focus of this consultation

The Government of Canada is seeking comments from:

• base metals facilities
• Indigenous groups
• non-governmental organizations
• general public
• other interested persons

The environmental performance agreements to be renewed would be updated in collaboration with the companies having facilities producing base metals from feedstock that comes primarily from ore.

Key documents for discussion

It is proposed that the renewed agreements would be similar to the 2018 Agreements and would be in place for a period of five years. The following changes are proposed:

• The objective of the working group described in section 9.3 will now focus on reviewing and updating the environmental code of practice for base metals smelters and refineries
• Two Vale Canada Corporation facilities located in Ontario will be considered as a single integrated facility that will have a combined particulate matter (PM) emission intensity target resulting in less emissions allowed compared to Vale’s 2018 agreement. The sulphur capture rate requirement will remain the same
• The removal of section 10.9 that describes the status update for BLIERs implementation
• Updates to the information contained in Table 1 of Annex 1, as required

To date, most facilities that were subject to the 2018 Agreements met their PM emission intensity and sulphur capture rate targets with the exceptions of 1 facility that did not meet their PM emission intensity target in 2023 due to an equipment malfunction, and 1 facility that did not meet its PM emission intensity target in 2023 and 2024 due to a reduction in base metal content in their feedstock.

The renewed agreements will ensure the continued implementation of PM emission intensity and sulphur capture rate targets for base metals facilities. The key documents for discussion are the following:

• Environmental performance agreements concerning air pollutants from base metals facilities
• Environmental code of practice for base metals smelters and refineries

Privacy Act Notice Statement

The personal information is collected under the authority of section 5 of the Department of the Environment Act and subsection 7(1) of the Financial Administration Act.

ECCC is soliciting your feedback on the proposed renewal of the 2018 Agreements. The information is collected, used and disclosed for the purpose of allowing stakeholders and Canadians the opportunity to provide formal written comments on the proposed renewal of the Agreements for the 2026-2030 period. A summary of the comments submitted will be posted on ECCC’s Environmental Performance Agreements website. Your participation and decision to provide any information is voluntary.

The personal information created, held or collected by ECCC is protected under the Privacy Act. Information in this survey will be used, disclosed and retained in accordance with the conditions listed in the Personal Information Bank Outreach Activities PSU 938.

Any questions or comments regarding this privacy notice may be directed to ECCC’s Access to Information and Privacy Division at ECATIP-ECAIPRP@ec.gc.ca. If you are not satisfied that your privacy has been adequately respected, you have the right to file a complaint. You may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by calling their information center at 1-800-282-1376 or by visiting their contact page.

Contact us

Email: mmp-tmm@ec.gc.ca