Transport committee  There are about four different elements of division 22 that are worth mentioning, very briefly. One is, to your question, clarifying the lead federal agency in spill response and incident response. That's what's contemplated in these amendments, to make it clear, if necessary, t

Transport committee  I think that's exactly the interpretation. That's what's intended, that there are a range of tools, a range of options that the enforcement officer might choose to use. For example, in this case of directing a vessel, it may already be tied to a wharf in Canadian waters; it may a

Transport committee  I would clarify that emergency zone is not a measure of response, but it's necessary really only when the presence of ships or persons might impede the intervention. There may be a very grave and imminent danger, but it may be in a remote area, a place where non-navigation or oth

Transport committee  I would just offer the clarification again that the seriousness of the situation might cause risk to other persons, vessels or traffic, or other dangers to the environment. If that is not the case, then in the case-by-case consideration of which tools to deploy to intervene, an e

Transport committee  In addition to the considerations the member has outlined, the minister also has a number of tools at his or her disposal, including issuing notices to shipping to alert mariners of a hazard and establishing an emergency zone, as defined, that could extend to directing vessels to

Transport committee  That's absolutely the case in the situation and in the geography of the incident. Local communities, provincial and territorial governments, indigenous governments, and others may all be consulted in the development of the decision-making around whether to establish emergencies o

Transport committee  If an emergency zone were established, yes, the minister would establish it in concert with other authorities that may be applicable in the specific circumstance. The previous member also asked a question about enforcement. That's another matter that would need to be taken into

Transport committee  This amendment would obligate the minister to declare an emergency zone in all cases, without consideration for what's going on in that immediate area. There may be remote areas with no population or in which marine navigation is at risk. This would require the immediate establis

Transport committee  Thank you for the clarification. Yes, indeed, part of the careful consideration that the minister and his officials would need to take into account is the specifics of the situation and the impacts on navigation, fishers, indigenous rights, and other activities in that area. The

Transport committee  Yes, I can confirm that public reporting for problem vessels will be done through the Canadian Coast Guard's 24-7 regional operations centres. They cover all coasts and all inland waters. That's the system that's currently in place for reporting of other marine incidents, such as

Transport committee  Madam Chair, I'd offer that one of the other central tenets of this legislation is vessel owner responsibility. Vessel owners bear the responsibility for their vessels and, where possible and when possible, should be compelled to take immediate action before the federal governmen

Transport committee  Indeed, I would submit that this could be the case, and likely would be the case, if the minister were compelled to act in every instance without first giving vessel owners the responsibility, as polluters, to take the action that they are required to do. Education around the l

Transport committee  Yes, indeed, that's the case.

Transport committee  One of the intentions of the legislation is to create a system whereby the owner understands the responsibility and takes the necessary action in the case of a hazard or a wreck resulting from a maritime casualty. Having discretionary power for either minister, their officials, a

Transport committee  I'd submit that not all wrecks that are a result of maritime casualty necessarily pose a hazard that warrants federal intervention immediately. What's important is that government officials have the ability to establish priorities based on the degree of hazard or risk, as determi