The Canadian Coast Guard is still the federal agency responsible for responding to incidents. That said, the legislative amendments will enable us to make decisions much more quickly. As a result, we won't be wondering about the matter in the field. When there's a risk, we'll act immediately.
This will enable us to prepare and respond better before a spill occurs. In the event of a spill, the current system involving recognized organizations will still exist, and the same principles will continue to apply. In other words, the polluter will always be responsible for responding. We'll continue to support the system. We'll be able to act much more quickly if the polluter is unable to respond.
This will significantly improve our emergency preparedness.