Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to table this petition on behalf of constituents of my riding.
The petitioners cite that Canada's national inventory identifies more than 1,300 wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels, including more than 900 in British Columbia. These vessels pose serious risks to marine ecosystems, fisheries, indigenous food harvesting, coastal communities, navigation and public safety.
The petitioners highlight that coastal communities continue to experience vessels grounding, sinking or breaking apart in sensitive marine habitats, resulting in pollution and fisheries closures. Preventing vessels from becoming environmental hazards is safer and less costly than emergency response, salvage and remediation after they sink or break apart; that existing federal vessel removal and disposal programs are inadequately funded, limited in scope or have expired; that Canada lacks a comprehensive strategy and sufficient infrastructure for the responsible retirement, recycling and disposal of end-of-life vessels; and that Washington state demonstrates a proactive approach using dedicated vessel registration revenues to help address vessels before they become abandoned or hazardous.
The petitioners call on the government to establish a permanent national strategy for the prevention, removal, recycling and responsible disposal of wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels; create a self-sustaining vessel retirement and turn-in program funded in whole or in part through vessel registration fees; restore and expand federal funding for timely vessel removal; and improve federal procurement and response processes so qualified regional marine contractors can be deployed quickly to prevent environmental damage and invest in Canadian vessel recycling and disposal infrastructure, including capacity in coastal British Columbia.