Vol. 142, No. 5 — February 2, 2008

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CONTROLLED DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES ACT

Notice to interested parties — Proposal regarding the regulation of tramadol under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and its Regulations

Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic analgesic and an opioid agonist. It is currently being sold in Canada in two formulations: as a low-dose combination product containing 37.5 mg of tramadol and 325 mg of acetaminophen, and in single-entity extended release formulations containing between 150 mg and 400 mg of tramadol.

On July 7, 2007, Health Canada published a proposal regarding the addition of tramadol to Schedule I of the CDSA and to regulate it under the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR). The 75-day comment period ended on September 19, 2007, and 35 stakeholder submissions were received.

Comments on the proposal were both supportive and opposing. Supportive comments included the following:

• scheduling is consistent with the regulation of other substances with similar pharmacological properties;
• scheduling is consistent with warnings about abuse potential included in current product labelling; and
• scheduling will provide a means by which abuse and dependence can be monitored and by which law enforcement can track the incidence of diversion.

Opposing comments included the following:

• scheduling may restrict patient access because physicians are unwilling to prescribe controlled substances;
• there is minimal evidence of actual abuse/misuse/dependence in Canada; and,
• the proposal is not in line with the last recommendation of the World Health Organization.

In keeping with the Department's original objectives of ensuring that this opioid analgesic is regulated appropriately, but also in consideration of the information received in stakeholder submissions, Health Canada has now concluded that the regulation of tramadol will proceed to one of the following two options:

• proceed to add tramadol to Schedule I of the CDSA and to the Schedule of the NCR, as outlined in the original proposal; or
• proceed to add tramadol to Schedule IV of the CDSA and to the Schedule to the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations.

Health Canada would like to invite interested parties to a meeting in Ottawa on February 25, 2008, where the Department will elaborate on the aforementioned options and solicit additional stakeholder input to further inform by which option Health Canada will regulate tramadol.

Interested parties wishing to obtain further information regarding the meeting should contact Shereen Khan, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Controlled Substances, by email at OCS_Policy_and_Regulatory_Affairs@hc-sc.gc.ca, by February 20, 2008.

Stakeholders who are unable to attend can provide comments in writing, to the aforementioned contact, by no later than February 25, 2008.

RAY EDWARDS
Acting Director General
Drug Strategy and Controlled
Substances Programme
Health Environments and
Consumer Safety Branch

[5-1-o]

CANADA CORPORATIONS ACT

Application for surrender of charter

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Corporations Act, an application for surrender of charter was received from

January 25, 2008

AÏSSA AOMARI
Director
Incorporation and Information
Products and Services Directorate

For the Minister of Industry

[5-1-o]

CANADA CORPORATIONS ACT

Letters patent

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Corporations Act, letters patent have been issued to

January 25, 2008

AÏSSA AOMARI
Director
Incorporation and Information
Products and Services Directorate

For the Minister of Industry

[5-1-o]

CANADA CORPORATIONS ACT

Supplementary letters patent

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions of the CanadaCorporations Act, supplementary letters patent have been issued to

January 25, 2008

AÏSSA AOMARI
Director
Incorporation and Information
Products and Services Directorate

For the Minister of Industry

[5-1-o]

CANADA CORPORATIONS ACT

Supplementary letters patent — Name change

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions of the Canada Corporations Act, supplementary letters patent have been issued to

January 25, 2008

AÏSSA AOMARI
Director
Incorporation and Information
Products and Services Directorate

For the Minister of Industry

[5-1-o]

NAFTA SECRETARIAT, CANADIAN SECTION

Canadian Secretary (full-time position)

Salary range: $101,400-$119,300

Location: National Capital Region

Article 2002 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) establishes the NAFTA Secretariat, comprising of the Canadian Section, the Mexican Section and the United States Section. The NAFTA Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the NAFTA. The Canadian Section also carries responsibility for similar provisions under the Canada-Chile, Canada-Israel and Canada-Costa Rica free trade agreements.

The Canadian Secretary encourages and ensures that this unique tri-national secretariat functions in a collaborative and consensual fashion. The Canadian Secretary must ensure that the Secretariat provides professional and advisory support to dispute settlement panels and committees while implementing Canadian government policies by conceptualizing and developing policies and strategies at the international level to ensure the efficient and effective management of the dispute resolution processes through the establishment of sound organizational process and structural change, and the setting of realistic objectives, targets and standards of performance and service. The Secretary provides professional and advisory support to panels and committees and acts as a Registrar to carry out all legal requirements relating to the dispute settlement mechanisms. The Secretary also promotes the full understanding of the role and responsibilities of the NAFTA Secretariat to the provinces, industry, universities, individuals and the media through the provision of effective communications.

The successful candidate will have a degree from a recognized university with acceptable specialization in international trade law, business administration, public administration, commerce, finance, economics or another specialty relevant to the position, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience. The qualified candidate will have experience in working in intergovernmental relations and in dispute panel resolution and/or international trade law, corporate governance and best practices. Significant experience in dealing with governments, preferably with senior officials, is required. The selected candidate will have knowledge of the NAFTA Secretariat's mandate, legislative framework and activities. The preferred candidate must have knowledge of NAFTA issues, of processes and best practices of the public policy environment, and of human resources and financial management. The chosen candidate will have knowledge of international trade issues, NAFTA panel processes and international trade agreements.

The qualified candidate has the ability to develop effective relationships with Canadian, Mexican and U.S. federal governments and to analyse complex issues. The selected candidate must possess the ability to identify emerging and evolving issues that need to be incorporated in the NAFTA Secretariat's policies, processes, and administrative service delivery and will have strong leadership and managerial skills to ensure that the Secretariat conducts its work effectively and efficiently. The successful candidate must have superior communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to act as a spokesperson in dealing with the media, public institutions, governments and other organizations on matters relating to the administration of the dispute settlement process under the NAFTA, the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement, and the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement. Sound judgment, strong ethical standards and integrity, superior interpersonal skills, initiative, tact and diplomacy are required.

Proficiency in both official languages is preferred.

The Government is committed to ensuring that its appointments are representative of Canada's regions and official languages, as well as of women, Aboriginal peoples, disabled persons and visible minorities.

The successful candidate must be willing to relocate to the National Capital Region or to a location within a reasonable commuting distance.