Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and Bills and related documents

"An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development."

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) came into force on March 31, 2000 and has been updated to include all amendments. For the original version as passed by Parliament, please refer to the archives.

The act

• Bill S-5: The Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, and the Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos announced the introduction of Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Bill S-5 focuses particularly on recognizing a right to a healthy environment as provided under the Act and strengthening Canada’s chemicals management regime. The Bill was initially introduced in the 43rd Parliament in April 2021 as Bill C-28, but died on the Order Paper when Parliament was dissolved on August 15, 2021.

  • Summary of Bill S-5

  • Bill S-5 (full version)

• Bill C-28: On April 13, 2021, the former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the former Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced the introduction of Bill C-28, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act. Bill C-28 proposed amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, along two major themes: recognizing a right to a healthy environment as provided under CEPA and strengthening the management of chemicals and other substances in Canada. Bill C-28 died on the Order Paper when Parliament was dissolved.

  • Summary of Bill C-28

  • Bill C-28 (full version)

• CEPA - Full document in hypertext markup language (HTML) format

• CEPA - Justice Canada website (PDF)

• An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act, the Hazardous Products Act, the Radiation Emitting Devices Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Pest Control Products Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and to make related amendments to another Act

• Bill C-33: An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

• Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act

  • Regulations adding Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and its salts to the Virtual Elimination List

Related resources

• A guide to understanding the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  This guide explains the key features of CEPA
  
• Overview of CEPA
  The history of CEPA
  
• Bill C-32: The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  Legislative history, background and analysis of the bill as prepared by the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament.
  
• Legislative review of CEPA
  Information about activities related to the Parliamentary Review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  
• Amendments to CEPA to comply with the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation

Related legislation

• Access to Information Act
• Aeronautics Act
• Canada Shipping Act, 2001
• Canada Transportation Act
• Contraventions Act
• Criminal Code
• Environmental Enforcement Act
• Feeds Act
• Fertilizers Act
• Financial Administration Act
• Fisheries Act
• Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
• Health of Animals Act
• Marine Liability Act
• Motor Vehicle Safety Act
• National Defence Act
• Official Languages Act
• Pest Control Products Act
• Privacy Act
• Seeds Act
• Statutory Instruments Act
• Yukon Act