Hon. Rosa Galvez: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, central to the control and management of chemical substances is the need to determine their toxicity and classify them according to their potential harm.

In most developed countries, and to avoid conflict of interest, arm’s length or scientific institutions, such as the Centre d’expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec, do this work.

Several times during study of Bill S-5, I asked government officials who undertake the testing and assessment of substances for their toxicity. Are they actual tests or are they literature reviews conducted by the government or industry?