Transport Canada
As the lead regulatory agency for the Regime, Transport Canada is
responsible for its governance. Specific activities include:
- regime management and oversight;
- development of regulations and
standards;
- enforcement and implementation
of regulations relating to Response Organizations;
- enforcement and implementation
of regulations relating to Oil Handling Facilities;
- overseeing an appropriate level of national
preparedness;
- monitoring marine activity levels, conducting risk
assessments and making adjustments to the Regime, as required;
- monitoring and prevention of
marine oil spills through the implementation of the National Aerial
Surveillance Program;
- implementation and
facilitation of the Regional Advisory Councils;
- providing leadership for the
International Maritime Organization Oil Pollution Preparedness,
Response and Cooperation / Hazardous Noxious Substances Technical
Group as Canadian head of delegation;
- providing leadership for the
Arctic Council - Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response
Working Group by ensuring representation of Canadian Arctic
interests at the international level as Canadian head of delegation;
- providing post-mortem
reporting for oil spill response exercises and incidents, both
nationally and internationally, to ensure that the recommendations
and/or lessons learned are considered and implemented as appropriate
to enhance the Regime.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada / The Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is responsible for conducting spill management under section 678
of the Canada Shipping Act. Specifically, it:
- provides a national preparedness capacity and manages
the National Response Team;
- ensures an appropriate response to marine pollution
incidents as the Federal Monitoring Officer or On-scene Commander
Preparedness and Response
Transport Canada has a National Preparedness Plan
that lays out the overall framework for the national
preparedness capacity to combat marine oil pollution incidents
in Canada. Similarly, the CCG has a National Response Plan that identifies how
CCG will manage the response to a marine oil spill, including the
deployment of personnel and response resources.
With respect to response, Canada's Marine
Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime is based on the
polluter-pay principle. The polluter is typically
called upon to manage the response to a spill when it occurs and
appoints an On-scene Commander. The Response
Organizations provide the response required to manage and
clean-up the spill and the CCG monitors the overall response to
ensure that it is effective, timely and appropriate to the incident. The Regional Environmental Emergencies
Team advises the On-scene Commander on environmental priorities and on
scientific and other regional concerns related to the incident.
The CCG would become the OSC during an incident if the polluter is unable to respond, is
unwilling to take action or is unknown.
Transboundary (Joint) Planning
Canada also participates in joint activities
with the United States in an effort to establish an
appropriate measure of preparedness and response.
A formal Canada-US Joint Marine
Pollution Contingency Plan has been established.
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