Canada's Chemicals Management Plan aims to reduce risks from chemicals to Canadians and the environment. Substances are assessed for harm and actions are taken to control risks. The government committed to developing a long-term strategy to systematically assess the effectiveness of actions controlling toxic substances. Measuring performance establishes indicators, collects data on substance levels, evaluates current conditions against baselines, and identifies needed monitoring and follow up actions. Challenges include inconsistent data, appropriate population representation, timing of data availability, and resource requirements. Performance measurement can improve public health and the environment while minimizing future costs through earlier recognition of concerns.

1. Performance
Measurement-
Canada’s Chemicals
Management Plan
Daren Kelland
Heath Canada
Source: GreenIupac2016
Helsinki Chemicals Forum
May 23-24, 2019

2. Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP)
• A comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the risks
posed by chemicals to Canadians and their
environment.
• Under the CMP, substances are assessed to
determine if they are harmful (toxic), and actions
are implemented to prevent or control the risks they
pose.
• The Government of Canada has committed to
developing a strategy that will establish a long-term
approach to systematically assess the effectiveness
of actions to control toxic substances.
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3. Why Measure Performance of Our Actions?
3 Robert Leighton, The New Yorker

4. • Establish key performance indicators and collect
relevant data
• e.g., levels in surface water, levels in human milk
• Evaluate current state over the pre-action baseline
conditions, consider trends and potential emerging
concerns
• Identify outcomes and critical data needs to ensure
long-term monitoring where needed, as well as other
important follow up actions
• May require some course-correction
How do we Measure Performance ofHow do we Measure Performance of
Actions for Toxic Substances?Actions for Toxic Substances?
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5. Performance Measurement - Challenges
• Data Challenges
• Data compatibility issues (e.g., lack of harmonisation of
indicators with baselines and inconsistent data
collection methods)
• Appropriate representation of population in monitoring
activities (targeted vs. country-wide)
• Timing of data availability with risk management actions
• Logistical Challenges
• Resource requirements for data generation (e.g.,
financial and personnel resources, as well as time)
• Identification of new tools to analyze various data sets
• Aligning priorities between groups and jurisdictions
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6. Performance Measurement –
A socioeconomic perspective
• Ensuring performance could result in improvements
to public health and the environment
• Costs savings related to health care and increased
quality of life
• Measuring and evaluating performance will inform
where adjustments could better align resources
towards making more significant impacts for
protection from toxic substances
• Improving performance can minimize future costs if
concerns are recognized sooner rather than later
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7. Performance Measurement –
A socioeconomic perspective
• Ensuring performance could result in improvements
to public health and the environment
• Costs savings related to health care and increased
quality of life
• Measuring and evaluating performance will inform
where adjustments could better align resources
towards making more significant impacts for
protection from toxic substances
• Improving performance can minimize future costs if
concerns are recognized sooner rather than later
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