Evidence of meeting #39 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was marine.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all of our representatives for being here today.
Mr. Obermeyer, I'll start with you. I'll pick up where my colleague Mr. Komarnicki left off.
As you've explained, marine pilots, I believe, are compulsory when a ship is over 350 gross tonnes. Where is that requirement set out?
Conservative
Capt Kevin Obermeyer
They're federal and they're pursuant to the Pilotage Act, which gives the authorities the right to make regulations. We have to determine what size and what area our compulsory pilotage will be.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
So you've made that determination of the 350 gross tonnes, have you?
Conservative
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
So that's done on what basis, and are you confident that now that we're in 2014 that's still the right threshold?
Capt Kevin Obermeyer
Yes. To be frank, if anything it's a bit low compared to the thresholds set by other authorities and other jurisdictions in the world. They usually start at about 1,500 so I think we're pretty good.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
So we have a better threshold.
Now, where else in the country are there pilotage authorities like yours? If we look at a map of Canada, I'm just trying to understand what other jurisdictions have the same type of authority and same type of protections.
Capt Kevin Obermeyer
There are four of us. Obviously we are on the Pacific. Then we have counterparts on the Atlantic, in the Laurentians, and on the Great Lakes. Those are the three other pilotage authorities.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Wonderful.
The requirements regarding the 350 gross tonnes, for example, vary depending on the pilotage and the conditions and situations.
Capt Kevin Obermeyer
Our area is a little bit unique, as I stated, because of the vast area we have. Every ship that comes into the west coast of Canada has to pass through quite a difficult passage, whereas the Atlantic side is pretty much port-based. I would say that's what the differences are.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
When a pilot is placed on a ship, when that requirement needs to be met, I'm just trying to understand where lines of authority begin and end with the pilot, with the ship's captain, with the ship company, and with the owner. Explain how all of that works.
Capt Kevin Obermeyer
Under the Pilotage Act, the pilot has the conduct of the vessel. He has sole responsibility for the safe navigation of that vessel. The master is still in command. Only if the master believes that the pilot is putting his ship into danger or his crew into danger is he able to step in and take over.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Thank you. That's very helpful.
Mr. Lachance from Transport Canada, in your presentation I heard a couple of references to helping the industry adapt to evolving technologies and to encouraging and supporting the use of state-of-the-art technology.
Could you please elaborate on how Transport Canada is helping to achieve those goals and provide me with some examples of state-of-the-art technology?
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
State-of-the-art technology would be, for example, communications systems and tracking devices such as AIS, which is basically akin to transponders on board an airplane and electronic navigation technology as well. We're doing so by making sure that our regulation is flexible enough for companies to adopt the technologies and also align them with international conventions.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Very good.
Are there any gaps we're trying to fill there or are you comfortable that this is evolving at a natural pace?
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
It's evolving at a natural pace—as fast as we can keep up with technology, that is—but it's evolving at a good pace.
Conservative
Peter Braid Conservative Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Hutchinson, you mentioned the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. Could you just briefly describe what that is and where they operate?
Director General, National Strategies, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes, certainly. We have partner organizations that we refer to generally as the Coast Guard Auxiliary. There's one national umbrella organization, and you have regional organizations that operate within that.
Essentially, what we're talking about are volunteers who aid in the search and rescue system. The Pacific auxiliary, the Royal Coast Guard Auxiliary, has their own zodiacs, highly trained personnel, and their own equipment. When there's an incident on the water and search and rescue resources are needed, it may be auxiliary members, depending on the geographic location, who are helping to ensure that lives are saved and people are taken out of the water.
