INDUSTRY NEWS CPCA applauds federal government on passing GHS regulations The Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA) says it commends the federal government for finalizing new regulations related to the implementation of the Glob- ally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for workplace hazardous chemicals. The Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) are now in force after being published in Canada Gazette, Part II on February 11, 2015. They replace the Controlled Products Regulations. GHS is expected to be in force in Canada no later than June 1, 2015. This alignment will bring major changes to the existing Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), such as the Hazardous Products Act and Con- trolled Products Regulations. A key objective of GHS is to create a system that will allow Canadian and U.S. require- ments to be met through the use of a single label and safety data sheet (SDS) for each hazardous product. “The new GHS system for labelling of chemicals in the workplace is probably the most significant affir- mation to date of the im- portance of regulatory cooperation between Canada and the United States in terms of both the positive economic impact and the enhancements to worker safety,” said CPCA president Gary LeRoux. “The federal government is to be applauded for its leadership on this impor- tant initiative.” CPCA has worked closely with representatives from Health Canada on GHS implementation to ensure that the views of its Canadian and U.S. members have been heard. This announcement about the HPR means suppliers in the paint and coatings industry may begin to plan for the new requirements for labels and SDSs for hazardous products sold, distributed or imported into Canada. Following the in-force date for GHS in Canada on June 1, 2015, a transition period will help companies who need time to comply, but the dates have not been announced at this time. CPCA and other associations have asked for a two-year transition period. All provincial and territorial gov- ernments are also responsible for implementing GHS in their jurisdictions and will be expected to have their own OSH amended regulations and training in place by June 1, 2015 (or before). 18 – February - March 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report LEED Canada hits another major milestone with 2,000th certified project Canada’s total number of LEED certified buildings hit another milestone in late 2014 with the certification of its 2,000th project. This follows an earlier announcement made by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) on Oct. 7, which saw the total number of registered projects hit 5,000. Much of this growth came in the fourth quarter (Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2014), with 102 registrations and 132 certifica- tions, for a total of 538 certified and 501 registered projects in 2014. Of note in these numbers was the total of LEED Gold projects, which increased by 10.9 per cent over 2013. Totals by LEED certification level for 2014 are as fol- lows: • 129 LEED Certified • 188 LEED Silver • 193 LEED Gold • 28 LEED Platinum A searchable LEED project database with further detail, including project scorecards and photos can be viewed on the CaGBC LEED Project Profiles webpage. To view de- tailed case studies on various green building projects, please visit the CaGBC’s resources webpage. “The past year was a significant one for CaGBC and for LEED in Canada,” said CaGBC president and CEO Thomas Mueller. “With now over 2,000 LEED certified projects, and more than 5,000 registered, it is very clear that green build- ing in Canada is thriving. The stringency and rigour of the LEED standard is enabling real progress in constructing better-performing buildings and reducing environmental impacts from the buildings sector. “As we move into 2015, our work will continue, with a focus on supporting the market in building on these achievements and aiming for higher performance with LEED version 4. The focus will be also on increasing the health and well-being benefits for building occupants and better quality of life for all Canadians.” Projects certified in the fourth quarter included the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), LEED Gold for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M); The Offices at Newton Phase II in Surrey, B.C., which cer tified LEED Platinum; and The City of St. John Po- lice Head quarters in Saint John, New Brunswick, which cer- tified LEED Gold.