No. HS006/11
For release - October 12, 2011
OTTAWA — Since the grounding of the MV Canadian Miner on Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia, the federal government, including Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has worked to fulfill its commitments.
Transport Canada's role is to ensure that Canada's waterways provide safe navigation to marine vessels, and are free of ship-source pollution. In keeping with this role, the department has determined that the MV Canadian Miner does not pose a risk or hazard to navigation. As well, Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program has been conducting regular overflights of the area to check for pollution. To date, Transport Canada overflights have not identified pollution coming from the vessel. Transport Canada is also investigating the tug company for compliance with the Canadian Shipping Act, 2001. If the tug operator is found in non-compliance of the regulations, fines could be imposed.
"My department takes its responsibilities in these matters seriously, and has responded to all areas within its authorities," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "We have fulfilled our duties, and have worked in close collaboration with our federal partners, and will continue to be engaged as necessary."
The Canadian Coast Guard is the lead federal agency responsible for ensuring an appropriate response to ship source spills in waters under Canadian jurisdiction with the objective of protecting the marine environment. The Coast Guard monitors the response activities of the polluter or, when the polluter is unknown, unable or unwilling to clean up or prevent pollution from a ship, the Coast Guard will take over response activities.
The Coast Guard and Transport Canada, in conjunction with Environment Canada, other Regional Environmental Emergencies Team partners and the Province of Nova Scotia, have been working together in responding to the MV Canadian Miner event, with more than 10,000 litres of marine diesel oil, lubricants and oily waste having been removed from the vessel.
"I am pleased that the Canadian Coast Guard fulfilled its responsibility in this matter quickly and as efficiently as possible. As a result, there is no further evidence of oil pollution from the MV Miner on Scatarie Island," said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "Recent investments by our government have strengthened Coast Guard capacity and we remain able to quickly address threats of marine pollution."
The federal government will continue to investigate and monitor to ensure its roles are fulfilled. Should the MV Canadian Miner pose any future environmental hazard or threat to navigation, responsible departments of the Government of Canada will act quickly and decisively.
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Contacts:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Erin Filliter
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa
613-992-3474
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa
613-990-7537
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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