Government of Canada supports removal and disposal of abandoned boats through the Oceans Protection Plan Français
BOWEN ISLAND, BC, May 18, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada's coastlines are a source of inspiration and pride. Even for Canadians living inland, many of the jobs that support middle-class families, and the products used every day, depend on Canada's waterways. These coastlines are one of our most valuable resources, and with them come tremendous responsibility to protect them.
Abandoned boats are a growing problem across Canada and the Government of Canada, under the Oceans Protection Plan, is working diligently to deter this irresponsible practice. Today, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country Pamela Goldsmith-Jones announced, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, the applicants who will receive funding under the Abandoned Boats Program. This program provides funding to support the assessment, removal and disposal of abandoned boats from our communities.
Over $80,000 will be granted to remove two boats and assess 29 boats that litter the shores of British Columbia. Recipients receiving funding to remove abandoned boats:
- Bowen Island Municipality (Bowen Island, British Columbia) – $6,000
- District of West Vancouver (Caulfield Cove, British Columbia) – $10,000
Recipients receiving funding to assess abandoned boats:
- Capital Regional District (Victoria, British Columbia) – $15,000
- Pender Harbour Advisory Council (Garden Bay, British Columbia) – $16,175
- Nanaimo Port Authorities (Nanaimo, British Columbia) – $20,000
- Beaufort Range Marine Group Ltd. (Courtenay and Union Bay, British Columbia) – $13,200
Assessments help identify safety issues, environmental impact, recycling value and costs associated with removing an abandoned boat. Once an assessment is completed, applicants may apply for funding under the Abandoned Boats Program to have a boat removed and disposed.
The Abandoned Boats Program will be allocated a total of $6.85 million in funding under the Oceans Protection Plan—a $1.5 billion initiative which is the largest investment ever made to protect Canada's coasts and waterways. This national strategy is creating a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while protecting our coastlines and clean water for generations to come. The strategy is being developed in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders and coastal communities.
Quotes
"Within the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada launched the Abandoned Boats Program to address the negative effects of abandoned vessels, like the ones in Bowen Island, Garden Bay on the Sunshine Coast and in West Vancouver, for example. Congratulations to all selected communities for working with us to address environmental pollution and hazards to navigation caused by these abandoned vessels."
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones
Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
"Through the Abandoned Boats Program, funding for the assessment, removal and disposal of abandoned boats is safeguarding British Columbia's shorelines. The Government of Canada has created this program to protect our coastal livelihoods, our economy, as well as our Canadian identity."
The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport
"We appreciate this funding to help us deal with the cost of removing abandoned boats that pose safety and environmental risks for our Bowen waters and beaches. As a small municipality, finding funds to deal with vessels of concern is difficult."
Councillor Alison Morse
Acting Mayor, Bowen Island Municipality
Quick Facts
- To help stem the flow of problem vessels, the Government of Canada has proposed new legislation governing wrecked, abandoned, and hazardous vessels. The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (Bill C-64) will bring the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, into Canadian law and strengthen vessel owner liability.
- The Abandoned Boats Program provides grant and contribution funding to assess, remove and dispose of abandoned and wrecked small boats that pose a hazard in Canadian waters.
- Other important measures undertaken by the Government of Canada include improving vessel owner identification, creating an inventory of vessels and assessing their risks, and establishing a robust polluter pays approach for vessel clean up.
- A third call for proposals under the Assessment and Removal component was launched on April 3, 2018, and will remain open until March 31, 2019. Additional calls for proposal will be issued later in 2019.
Backgrounder
- National Strategy to address Canada's wrecked and abandoned vessels
Backgrounder
National Strategy to address Canada's wrecked and abandoned vessels
The Government of Canada recognizes that wrecked and abandoned vessels can pose hazards to the environment, public health and safety, and local economies such as fishing and tourism industries.
Most owners are responsible and maintain and dispose of their vessels properly. However, a small percentage of owners who are not responsible can create significant impacts on our coastal communities, with the burden for costly clean-up often falling on Canadian taxpayers.
In November 2016, the Government of Canada launched the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, to improve marine safety and responsible shipping, protect Canada's marine environment and help advance Indigenous reconciliation.
This comprehensive national strategy, focused on preventing and removing these problem vessels, is a key element of the Oceans Protection Plan.
This strategy includes:
- Bill C-64 - Proposed Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
- Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007
- Inventory and assessments
- Improving vessel owner identification
- Long-term funding for the removal of wrecked and abandoned vessels
- The Abandoned Boats Program
- The Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program
Collectively, these measures aim to reduce the number of problem vessels that pose hazards in Canadian waters, and support the preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems.
Proposed Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
In 2017, the Government of Canada introduced the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. This will:
- bring into Canadian law the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007;
- address irresponsible vessel management by prohibiting: vessel abandonment; causing a vessel to become a wreck; or leaving a dilapidated (poor condition) vessel in the same area without consent;
- strengthen owner responsibility and liability for their vessels, including costs for clean-up and removal; and
- empower the federal government to address problem vessels more proactively.
Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 (Nairobi Convention)
In 2017, the Government of Canada tabled the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007. The Nairobi Convention strengthens ship owners' liability for hazardous wrecks resulting from marine incidents. Once brought into force of law in Canada, vessel owners will be strictly liable for locating, marking, and, if necessary, removing at their cost a wreck that poses a hazard.
Owners of large commercial vessels (300 gross tonnes and above) will also be required to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover the potential costs related to the locating, marking and removal of the wreck.
Inventory and Assessments
An on-going inventory of wrecked and abandoned vessels will be developed. This publically accessible inventory will be kept up to date and include risk assessments to guide and prioritize future actions on high risk vessels.
Improving vessel owner identification
The effectiveness of the proposed new legislation will rely on the ability to identify vessel owners. The Government is working with provinces and territories to collaborate on ways to further enhance the pleasure craft licensing system, and has launched a study to assess gaps in Canada's commercial vessel registration systems.
Long-term Funding For the Removal of Wrecked And Abandoned Vessels
As part of the national strategy on wrecked and abandoned vessels and as part of the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government is looking at options to establish vessel-owner financed funds to address large and small high risk vessels over the longer-term.
The Abandoned Boats Program
Transport Canada's five-year, $6.85 million Abandoned Boats Program, announced in 2017, provides funding to:
- assist communities in the assessment, removal and disposal of existing high-priority abandoned and/or wrecked small boats posing hazards in Canadian waters;
- educate small-boat owners about how to responsibly manage their end-of-life boats; and
- support research on boat recycling and environmentally responsible boat design.
A guide for applicants and additional information is available on Transport Canada's website at:http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/abandoned-boats-program.html
The Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program, announced in 2017, will provide up to $1.325 million over five years to Harbour Authorities and other eligible recipients to remove and dispose of abandoned and/or wrecked vessels located in small craft harbours owned by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
A guide for applicants and additional information is available on Fisheries and Oceans Canada's website at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch-ppb/vessels-bateaux/index-eng.html
Associated Links
- Protecting our Coasts - Oceans Protection Plan
- Let's Talk – Oceans Protection Plan
- Abandoned boats and wrecks
- Abandoned Boats Programs - Projects for 2017-18
Follow Transport Canada on Twitter : @Transport_gc
SOURCE Transport Canada
Marjan Hatai, Office of Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, MP, 604-913-2660, [email protected]; Delphine Denis, Press Secretary, Office of the Honorable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected]; Media Inquiries, Communications, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-990-7537, [email protected]
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