Canada was the 1st country to ratify the Stockholm convention. Signed May 23rd, 2001.
Opted into Article 25, paragraph 4, which exempts a Party from being bound by the addition of future POPs to the Convention
Awaiting National Implementation Plan (NIP).

Comments:
PCBs have still been used in closed systems i.e. transformers since 1977. Such systems have a lifetime of +/- 30 years meaning end of lifetime around 2007. Therefore, the problem of the need for disposal is expected to escalate.

*The Swan Hills Treatment Centre (SHTC) was taken over by Sensor Environmental in Dec. 2000 as a contract operator for the Albertan government. Formerly SHTC was the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Centre in Swan Hills (ASWTC), operational as an incineration site since 1987. It is the only facility in Canada licensed to treat all forms and concentrations of PCB waste.
Bennett Environmental's Récupère Sol Inc (RSI) at St. Ambroise, Quebec is also a significant disposer of PCB contaminated soil. Proposed 2nd incineration facility at Kirkland Lake is source of great contention.

Non-incineration technologies: GPCR, gas-phase chemical reduction (ELI Ecologic International www.eco-logic-intl.com ), and sodium reduction processes (Powertech, subsidiary of BC Hydro www.powertech.bc.ca ). GPCR is the only technology that met Greenpeace's 3 technical criteria for POP destruction, 1998 report.

Acknowledgements:

• Coombs, Andrea; The University of British Columbia
• De Leon, Fe; Canadian Environmental Law Association
• Ellis, Graeme; Pacific Biological Station, Department of Fisheries & Oceans
• Gagné, Guy; Environment Canada; Transboundary Movement Branch
• Haddock, Mark; West Coast Environmental Law
• Nevelos, Zoltan; Sensor Environmental Services
• Rippon, Bob; Environmental Sciences Division, Alberta Environment
• Ritchlin, Jay; Reach for Unbleached - research
• Wilson, Doug; Environment Canada, Senior Controls Development Scientist, Commercial Chemicals Division