Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Protect Canada's Marine Environment from Polluters

News Release

OTTAWA, November 2, 2004 -- A Bill that will allow Canada to better protect its marine environments and send a strong message to polluters has been presented for Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment, announced today. Bill C-15, An Act to amend the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) is designed to make the enforcement of marine pollution cases more effective. The amendments will deal with the flaws exposed by recent court cases and will send a clear message that the discharge of oily waste in Canadian waters is unacceptable. The Bill calls for increased fines of up to $1 million and additional powers for enforcement officials to redirect and detain ships suspected of having polluted our ocean waters. Each year, an average of at least 300,000 seabirds are killed off the coast of Atlantic Canada as a result of oily bilge from passing ships. "Canada's coast and waters are home to an abundance of seabirds and we are determined to protect them better. That's why we are strengthening our existing environmental legislation", said Minister Dion. Amending these pieces of environmental legislation will complement the Canada Shipping Act (2001) and will tighten up existing loopholes, thus enabling the judicial system to prosecute offenders and to levy fines that appropriately reflect the damages caused to the environment. These modifications will allow Canada to better protect our marine environment as well as send a clear message to polluters. They will also result in better cooperation among Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada, the departments responsible for ensuring that our ocean waters are protected. Related Document: Birds Oiled at Sea: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/boas/index_e.html - 30 - For further information : André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of the Environment (819) 997-1441 Sébastien Bois Media Relations Environment Canada (819) 953-4016

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2016-12-15

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Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Protect Canada's Marine Environment from Polluters

News Release

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