Let’s talk: Preparing and responding to marine pollution

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Consultation has concluded

Through the Oceans Protection Plan, we’re improving our ability to work together with Indigenous communities, the marine industry, and other partners to respond to marine pollution incidents that involve oil and/or hazardous and noxious substances. As part of this work, the Government of Canada proposes to develop a single system to respond to all such marine pollution incidents, regardless of their source.

What is the Ocean Protection Plan proposing?

In this proposal, a marine pollution incident means that pollution has suddenly been released (or “spilled”) into the marine environment. Incidents may release oil and/or hazardous and noxious substances and pose a threat to the marine environment. They need to be acted on and responded to immediately. These incidents don’t include natural disasters like tsunamis or landslides, as they’re managed separately.

To improve the federal government’s ability to respond to marine pollution incidents, we want to create a cohesive, national system that will:

  • make sure we’re prepared for all marine pollution incidents, regardless of source.
  • define the roles and responsibilities for all partners to make sure that our response to marine pollution incidents are timely, efficient, and minimize the pollution’s impact on human health and the environment.
  • allow us to make improvements that will apply to multiple sources and types of pollution.
  • develop a formal role for Indigenous communities to prepare for and respond to marine pollution incidents.

The approach we’re proposing is based on six years of work with Indigenous communities, the marine industry and other response partners. This paper builds on our partners’ feedback received and the lessons we’ve learned through this process.

We want to hear from you

Your opinions and feedback are important.

To participate and have your say:

  1. Read the Marine Pollution Preparedness, Response and Recovery Discussion Paper to learn more about the changes we’d like to make.
  2. Please go to "register" at the top of the page or sign in.
  3. Participate in our discussion forum through the “Have your say” tab. The forum will be open until May 31st, 2023.
  4. You can also submit your comments in a Word or PDF document through the “Submissions” tab. You can upload more than one document.
  5. Send us your comments via email and include “Preparing and responding to Marine Pollution” in the subject line.

As set out in Sections 19 and 20 of the Access to Information Act, be sure to identify any parts of your comments that we shouldn’t make public because they include personal information or third-party information. Explain why your comments should be kept private, and for how long.

Unless you tell us that a section is private, it could appear in any regulatory proposal that Transport Canada publishes in the Canada Gazette.

Through the Oceans Protection Plan, we’re improving our ability to work together with Indigenous communities, the marine industry, and other partners to respond to marine pollution incidents that involve oil and/or hazardous and noxious substances. As part of this work, the Government of Canada proposes to develop a single system to respond to all such marine pollution incidents, regardless of their source.

What is the Ocean Protection Plan proposing?

In this proposal, a marine pollution incident means that pollution has suddenly been released (or “spilled”) into the marine environment. Incidents may release oil and/or hazardous and noxious substances and pose a threat to the marine environment. They need to be acted on and responded to immediately. These incidents don’t include natural disasters like tsunamis or landslides, as they’re managed separately.

To improve the federal government’s ability to respond to marine pollution incidents, we want to create a cohesive, national system that will:

  • make sure we’re prepared for all marine pollution incidents, regardless of source.
  • define the roles and responsibilities for all partners to make sure that our response to marine pollution incidents are timely, efficient, and minimize the pollution’s impact on human health and the environment.
  • allow us to make improvements that will apply to multiple sources and types of pollution.
  • develop a formal role for Indigenous communities to prepare for and respond to marine pollution incidents.

The approach we’re proposing is based on six years of work with Indigenous communities, the marine industry and other response partners. This paper builds on our partners’ feedback received and the lessons we’ve learned through this process.

We want to hear from you

Your opinions and feedback are important.

To participate and have your say:

  1. Read the Marine Pollution Preparedness, Response and Recovery Discussion Paper to learn more about the changes we’d like to make.
  2. Please go to "register" at the top of the page or sign in.
  3. Participate in our discussion forum through the “Have your say” tab. The forum will be open until May 31st, 2023.
  4. You can also submit your comments in a Word or PDF document through the “Submissions” tab. You can upload more than one document.
  5. Send us your comments via email and include “Preparing and responding to Marine Pollution” in the subject line.

As set out in Sections 19 and 20 of the Access to Information Act, be sure to identify any parts of your comments that we shouldn’t make public because they include personal information or third-party information. Explain why your comments should be kept private, and for how long.

Unless you tell us that a section is private, it could appear in any regulatory proposal that Transport Canada publishes in the Canada Gazette.

Discussions: All (6) Open (6)

  • What are your perspectives on the Government of Canada’s intention to develop a national system for marine pollution incidents in Canada?

    almost 2 years ago
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    4 Responses

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  • What could be done to make the response to marine pollution incidents more effective and efficient?

    almost 2 years ago
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    4 Responses

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  • How should a world-class system for responding to marine pollution incidents be funded?

    almost 2 years ago
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  • How should the Government of Canada collaborate with Indigenous groups to develop a formal role for indigenous communities in a national marine pollution, preparedness, response, and recovery in Canada?

    almost 2 years ago
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    1 Response

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  • What kind of support and resources are required for Indigenous communities to successfully participate in the national system?

    almost 2 years ago
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  • How can the Government of Canada work to integrate the national system with existing regimes for pollution that are provincial and/or territorial?

    almost 2 years ago
    Share How can the Government of Canada work to integrate the national system with existing regimes for pollution that are provincial and/or territorial? on Facebook Share How can the Government of Canada work to integrate the national system with existing regimes for pollution that are provincial and/or territorial? on Twitter Share How can the Government of Canada work to integrate the national system with existing regimes for pollution that are provincial and/or territorial? on Linkedin Email How can the Government of Canada work to integrate the national system with existing regimes for pollution that are provincial and/or territorial? link

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