(a) The activities being undertaken to address the concerns raised are primarily the responsibility of the Minister of Transport. The Canadian Coast Guard has taken a number of steps in co-operation with the Department of Environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans during the last three years to improve Canada's marine spill response capability.
Strategy: On June 26, 1991, the federal government announced a $100 million green plan marine environmental emergencies response strategy to implement the most urgent and high priority recommendations put forward by the public review panel on tanker safety and marine spills response capabilities.
Prevention measures: All foreign flag tankers are now inspected on their first visit each year to a Canadian port. Inspections of all foreign vessels entering Canada (including 100 per cent of foreign flag tankers) have increased from 9.2 per cent in 1989 to 38 per cent in 1992.
Preparedness measures: The Coast Guard has spent over $15 million since 1990 to acquire additional pollution countermeasures equipment.
Policy: The amendments to the Canada Shipping Act (Bill C-121) received royal assent June 23, 1993 and provide for tougher sentences for pollution offences, new shipping safety regulations and implementation of international conventions including OPRC 90 and salvage convention.
(b) The environmental protection measures to deal with potential spills from Hibernia are regulated by the federal government (lead is the Department of Natural Resources) through its participation in the Canada-Newfoundland Off-Shore Petroleum Board. The board ensures that appropriate contingency plans are in place to respond to any hazardous materials spills quickly and effectively.