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441-01661 (Environment)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:

  • Canadians care deeply about the health of the ocean, and depend on a thriving ocean ecosystem;
  • In 2019, over one million cruise ship passengers travelled off British Columbia on their way to Alaska;
  • These ships generate significant amounts of pollutants that are harmful to human health, aquatic organisms and coastal ecosystems;
  • Canada's regulations under the Canada Shipping Act addressing the discharge of sewage and greywater are much less stringent than those in US Pacific coastal states;
  • Canada permits sewage to be discharged with 18 times greater fecal coliform counts than does Alaska;
  • Canada does not require that ships built before 2013 treat greywater discharges;
  • 22 of the 25 cruise ships sailing off British Columbia in 2019 were built before 2013;
  • The Salish Sea in Washington State is a no-discharge zone prohibiting the discharge of sewage in order to protect public health, water quality, and sensitive marine resources;
  • Canada has zero no-discharge zones off British Columbia;
  • Canada does not require third party independent observers on board cruise ships as is required by Alaska; and
  • Canada's less stringent regulations encourage cruise ships to discharge their waste off British Columbia.

We, the undersigned, concerned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

1. Set standards for cruise ship sewage and greywater discharges equivalent to or stronger than those in Alaska;

2. Designate no-discharge zones to stop pollution in marine protected areas, the entirety of the Salish and Great Bear Seas, and in critical habitat for threatened and endangered species; and

3. Require regular independent third-party monitoring while ships are underway to ensure discharge requirements are met.

Response by the Minister of Transport

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez

Part 1: The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and the environment from the potential risks of marine pollution.

On June 23, 2023, Transport Canada announced mandatory environmental measures to address discharges of greywater and sewage from cruise ships, effective immediately, within Canada’s territorial waters. These substances were previously included in voluntary measures, but will now be enforceable under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to provide stronger protection to Canada’s oceans and marine ecosystems. For more information, please refer to Ship Safety Bulletin No. 14/2023. These measures exceed international standards, strengthen Canada’s existing discharge regime, and place Canada amongst the countries with the most stringent requirements for these types of discharges in the world.

The announcement of these new mandatory measures for sewage and greywater discharges in Canadian waters is a first step towards strengthening Transport Canada’s environmental regime. The mandatory measures also reflect work undertaken by Transport Canada to address concerns raised by the Canadian public and environmental organizations with respect to vessel-sourced pollution in Canadian waters.

Transport Canada is currently working to make these changes permanent through amendments to the Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals Regulations. Transport Canada will also continue to collaborate with the United States and other like-minded jurisdictions to support the implementation of a strong environmental regime that takes in to account our respective and unique jurisdictions.

Part 2: The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and the environment from the potential risks of marine pollution. This includes working to improve water quality and our marine environments from coast to coast to coast, to build a new world class environmental regime. Strengthening marine environmental protection requires a whole of government approach. Transport Canada is working closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada towards this shared objective.

On February 8, 2023, the Government of Canada unveiled its 2023 Marine Protected Area Protection Standard, which, among other things, seeks to enhance restrictions on certain vessel discharges that occur within marine protected areas, including those located within the Salish and Great Bear Seas. Subject to further consultations with stakeholders, additional limitations or prohibitions are proposed for: oily engine bilge; sewage (blackwater); greywater; food waste; and scrubber washwater.

In compliance with international regulations and law, voluntary measures for these substances, with the addition of garbage (including food wastes) and noxious liquid substances, will be also pursued in the Exclusive Economic Zone, 12–200 nautical miles from shore, where possible.

Transport Canada also continues to support the ongoing work at the International Maritime Organization on these and related subjects. 

Part 3: Transport Canada has a robust marine oversight regime and is responsible for carrying out compliance and enforcement activities in accordance with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations. The Department’s compliance and enforcement activities apply to Canadian and foreign vessels in Canadian waters. 

In instances where deficiencies or non-compliance are suspected or known, Transport Canada inspectors and investigators are authorized to take appropriate action to bring vessels into compliance. This may include directing corrective actions, issuing warnings or Administrative Monetary Penalties and Notices, or pursuing detentions and prosecutions through the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and the courts. Transport Canada compliance and enforcement actions are guided by the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations. 

Transport Canada will take into consideration new and/or additional methods to support oversight, as needed, as it continues to develop enhanced measures to strengthen Canada’s discharge requirements.

Transport Canada will continue to engage with industry and interested parties to determine how to further strengthen the marine environmental regime, where needed. This would include consideration towards the compliance and enforcement regime.

 

 

Presented to the House of Commons
Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni)
September 26, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01661)
Government response tabled
November 9, 2023
Photo - Gord Johns
Courtenay—Alberni
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.