No. H119/05
For release - May 27, 2005
OTTAWA — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced Transport Canada's commitment to supporting phase one of the Government of Canada's Oceans Action Plan. Mr. Lapierre's statement follows an earlier announcement by Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Geoff Regan, of $28 million in funding for the first phase of the plan.
"Transport Canada is proud to participate in this important government-wide initiative, together with its partners at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada," said Mr. Lapierre. "Transport Canada's commitment to phase one of the plan means targeted measures will be taken to help reduce ship pollution incidents and prevent the introduction of invasive species from ships' ballast tanks into Canadian waters."
Transport Canada will receive approximately $4.5 million of the $28 million to pursue various initiatives in support of phase one of the plan. The department will:
increase the number of hours flown by surveillance aircraft to detect oil spills;
increase the use of Radarsat satellite during aerial surveillance flights;
further enhance the equipment on-board the Dash 8 surveillance aircraft on the East coast; and
finalize new regulations to help reduce the risk of harmful aquatic species from being introduced into Canadian waters through ships' ballast water.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for the Oceans Action Plan with the support of other federal departments including Transport Canada. The plan was announced in the 2004 Speech from the Throne as a means of developing Canada's ocean resources in a way that will benefit coastal communities, while protecting fragile marine ecosystems. In the February 2005 budget, an investment of $28 million was identified for phase one of the plan, which will be implemented over the next two years.
Transport Canada is committed to a transportation system that is safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. The Government of Canada's Oceans Action Plan and Transport Canada's supporting initiatives will help protect our marine environment for future generations.
Transport Canada will provide periodic updates on the progress of these initiatives.
A backgrounder on the current status of these initiatives is attached.
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Contacts:
Irène MarcheterreDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister, Ottawa(613) 991-0700
Marie-Josée DuboisCommunicationsTransport Canada, Ottawa(613) 993-0055
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BACKGROUNDERTRANSPORT CANADA INITIATIVES TOSUPPORT THE OCEANS ACTION PLAN
The Oceans Action Plan was announced in the 2004 Speech from the Throne as a means to develop Canada's ocean resources for coastal communities, while protecting fragile marine ecosystems. In the February 2005 budget, an investment of $28 million was identified for phase one of the plan, which is being implemented over the next two years.
While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for the plan, it receives support from other federal departments, including Transport Canada. As part of its commitment to the plan, Transport Canada is pursuing various initiatives under phase one. These initiatives, which are being implemented as part of the department's ongoing work to protect Canadian waters from ship source pollution, include:
Ballast water regulationsTransport Canada is finalizing new regulations to improve and harmonize the standards and practices followed by ships when managing their ballast water. Water is carried in ships' ballast tanks to keep the ship stable, or to raise or lower the ship when travelling under a bridge, for example. Therefore, ballast tanks are extremely important for the safety of the ship. When seawater is taken in from one body of water and then pumped out in a different region, species from the former area could threaten existing life forms in the latter.
Transport Canada's proposed regulations aim to reduce the risk of foreign species being introduced into Canadian waters in this manner, while continuing to protect the safety of the ship and crew. Under the proposed regulations, all ships bound for Canadian ports would be required to have a ballast water management plan and exchange their ballast water prior to entering Canadian waters.
Where mid-ocean exchange is not possible due to inclement weather and related safety issues, the treatment of ballast water in more sheltered waters is another option that can reduce the risk of foreign species being introduced into Canadian waters. With the development of international standards for treatment technologies, Transport Canada is now better equipped to work with other departments and agencies to support research and development that will help determine which technologies can be effectively fitted on-board vessels.
In addition, Transport Canada will purchase portable devices for Marine Safety inspectors to measure the salinity level of ballast water carried by ships arriving at Canadian ports. These devices will help inspectors to monitor and enforce compliance with the new regulations when they come into effect.
The proposed regulations were developed in consultation with industry representatives, the public, and other government departments, and will correspond to ballast water requirements already in place in the United States. Transport Canada will publish the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in the coming months.
Pollution prevention surveillanceUnder Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program, aircraft are used to monitor ship activities and detect illegal discharges in waters across the country. Each aircraft is equipped with technologies such as specialized cameras, computerized reporting software, and communication systems. The program can also track spills, estimate their volume and gather evidence to prosecute offenders.
Over the coming months, Transport Canada will increase the number of patrol hours from more than 1,000 hours per year to more than 2,000. The number of hours will be increased across the country, based on the size of the area under surveillance and with particular focus on the East Coast, where a greater number of illegal discharges have been observed.
In addition, Transport Canada will enhance its use of Radarsat reports as an early warning system. Radarsat is a satellite observation system that has proven to be a valuable tool in detecting irregulaties on the ocean's surface that could indicate a spill.
The department will also purchase additional equipment for the Dash 8 surveillance aircraft on the East Coast. The equipment consists of an infrared camera system that will help to identify and investigate ships during unfavorable weather conditions such as periods of reduced visibility, low cloud cover or during hours of darkness. This new technology will be integrated with other state-of-the-art equipment recently announced by Transport Canada for installation in the Dash 8. Although Transport Canada's Dash 8 aircraft normally operates in the Atlantic region, it can also be used in other regions when required.
Other initiativesTransport Canada is developing an innovative regulatory program to prevent marine pollution from ships by including expanded provisions for sewage, garbage, air emissions and anti-fouling paints. Transport Canada also recognizes the importance of having adequate facilities on shore to receive waste generated by ships. Therefore, in the coming year, the department will conduct a feasibility study into the adoption of new strategies to address this issue.
These targeted measures will further enhance the protection of Canadian waters from ship source pollution, while supporting phase one of the Government of Canada's Oceans Action Plan.
May 2005
