Evidence of meeting #116 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was owner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We had our marine environmental response pollution program, and we were able to address vessels that were posing a threat with ship-sourced oil pollution or mystery spills.
Director General, Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We had an environmental response capability.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
No, I'm referencing removal capability, getting the deck out. Was there anything that existed before 2016?
Director, Marine Environmental and Hazards Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
To expand on Ms. Nghiem's answer, yes, the Canada Shipping Act, part 8, provides authorities for the minister to take action to repair or remedy.
Liberal
Director, Marine Environmental and Hazards Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Maybe what I could say is that, under the oceans protection plan, it was the first time that the Canadian Coast Guard had dedicated resources to remediate and assess hazardous vessels specifically. However, previously, under the Canada Shipping Act—
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
What was the number, again, that you had, beginning in 2016, to finally take action on these?
Director, Marine Environmental and Hazards Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Pardon me? Can you clarify?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
What is the number for the oceans protection program that came in 2016? What was the value? What was the amount?
Director, Marine Environmental and Hazards Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Ms. Nghiem, do you have that number?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
What you're telling me is that you had none. There was no money before and no targeted budget existed to tackle the problem.
Director General, Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The number for the oceans protection plan was $139.8 million in 2016.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
I just want it on the record that the Government of Canada did not dedicate any resources to this particular problem prior to 2016. Thank you.
I'm surprised that it's under the authority of the small craft harbours. Why is that?
I know I'm out of time.
Director General, Response, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'll go to Ms. Hopper for that one.
Director General, Small Craft Harbours Program, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The abandoned and wrecked vessels removal program is specific to small craft harbours owned by DFO. We have a specific program within the oceans protection program, which is—
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Excuse me. The abandoned vessel would have to be in a small craft harbour for you to deal with it. Am I correct?
Director General, Small Craft Harbours Program, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes...for small craft harbours.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
We'll now go to Madame Desbiens for two and a half minutes or less, please.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll ask Ms. Verville a question, and she may be able to respond in French.
Does your experience lead you to believe that safety on the St. Lawrence is the same as before, that it has improved or that it poses more challenges than before? I'm thinking, for example, of the marine traffic of hazardous materials.
Annie Verville Director, Compliance and Enforcement, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Thank you for the question.
I would like to refer the question to my colleagues at Transport Canada, since it falls more within their area of activity.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Okay.
Can you answer it? The reason is that I have only two and a half minutes.
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
Yes. Thank you for the question.
I'll try to be quick.
Marine transportation is still one of the safest methods of transportation that exists in Canada. Marine traffic levels are increasing all the time. We have not seen any noticeable uptick in marine incidents, accidents or occurrences that would lead us to believe the system is becoming any less safe than it was before.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
On that note, haven't you heard about the concerns raised by the Bas‑Saint‑Laurent pilots regarding private training?