No. A015/06
For release December 1, 2006
ST. JOHN'S, NL - A newly equipped Transport Canada Dash 8 pollution
surveillance aircraft was officially launched in St. John's today by the
Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities, along with the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Environment and
the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister
Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador. The aircraft, equipped with
state-of-the-art aerial surveillance equipment, will increase Transport Canada's
ability to detect marine polluters better than ever before.
"We want to send a strong message to would-be polluters around the world that
we will do whatever is necessary to protect the health of our marine
environment," said Minister Cannon. "We are a world leader in using specialized
technology to detect marine polluters, and we are confident that our new
equipment will act as a powerful deterrent to potential polluters, with our
increased ability to track them."
The installation of the Maritime Surveillance System 6000 (MSS 6000)
represents an investment of $4.6 million.
The technology will enable the surveillance aircraft to cover a much broader
area then before, day or night, and in more challenging weather conditions, such
as low cloud cover.
"We are fully committed to protecting and preserving our pristine environment
and addressing the very serious problem of illegal dumping of oil causing the
death of hundreds of thousands of migratory birds annually, " said Minister
Ambrose. "This new technology is an excellent example of what Canada's New
Government is doing to protect our environment. It is a perfect supplement to
the existing RADARSAT satellite system."
RADARSAT is a satellite observation system that can be used in the detection
of oil spilled on the ocean's surface. The use of the new aerial surveillance
equipment, along with RADARSAT improves our ability to track and hold
accountable those who pollute our waters.
"This government recognizes that the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador, and
of all Eastern Canada, are critical to who we are, to our economies, to our
communities and to our people," said Minister Hearn. "We are fully committed to
doing what we can to protect our environment and will punish those who abuse
it."
Several federal agencies, including Transport Canada, Environment Canada, the
Canadian Coast Guard, Justice Canada and the Department of National Defence,
work closely together to prevent incidents of ship-source marine pollution.
Various initiatives in the last several years include an awareness campaign to
inform the domestic and international marine industry on the negative impact of
ship-source marine pollution, as well as the Government of Canada's firm
commitment to hold these polluters accountable for their actions.
Additional information, including radar images taken from this week's first
mission, can be found at
www.marinepollution.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Robert Klager
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Environment
Ottawa
819-994-5232
Michelle Brazil
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Ottawa
613-947-4529
Tracey Hennessey
Transport Canada Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-772-6197
Media Relations
Environment Canada
(819) 934-8008
1-888-908-8008
Kimberley Penneyr />
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans
709-772-7629
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date
on the latest from Transport Canada.
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