Question Period Note: Wrecked or Abandoned Vessels

Will the Government immediately provide the necessary funding to First Nation and locals to clean up these harmful destructive vessels?

• The Government of Canada is working to reduce the number of vessels of concern in Canadian waters, and minimize their impact on coastal communities, the environment and the public.
• Under the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has funded over 500 projects to remove and dispose of abandoned boats across Canada and has made it illegal to abandon a boat in Canada’s waters.
• The Government of Canada also launched two short-term funding programs to assist local communities, organizations, and harbour authorities to assess and remove priority smaller problem vessels: Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program and Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program.

• Prior to the coming into force of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (the Act), existing federal legislation only addressed some of the impacts of these abandoned vessels, such as pollution discharge or hazards to navigation. The Government of Canada had limited authorities to deal with the vessels themselves.
• The Act addresses these gaps, enhances the protection of coastal and shoreline communities and local environments, and reduces burdens on taxpayers. It does this by strengthening owner responsibility and liability for their vessels; addresses irresponsible vessel management, including prohibiting the act of vessel abandonment; and enhances federal powers to take proactive measures on problem vessels before they can pose even great problems at greater costs.
• The Act holds owners liable for all costs. If an owner is unknown or unwilling, the cost is born by taxpayers. [protected in accordance with the Access to Information Act]
• Under the Act, the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada work closely together to address the hazards posed by vessels of concern.
• Pleasure craft become a hazard to the public, the environment or the economy most often because of irresponsible behaviors; for example, owners abandoning a vessel, letting it become dilapidated, or, deliberately sinking their vessel.
• Transport Canada works with owners to address irresponsible vessel management by directing owners to address the navigation hazard posed by their vessel, by for example, disposing it, removing it from the area, repairing it, etc.
• When the owner cannot be found or when the hazard posed by the vessel is deemed high, the Canadian Coast Guard will take action to mitigate the hazard.
• The Canadian Coast Guard will work with the owner to ensure the hazard is addressed.
• If the owner cannot be found or is unable or unwilling to solve the problem, the Government of Canada can take direct and immediate action to prevent, mitigate or eliminate the risks that hazardous vessels pose.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for maintaining and updating the Government of Canada’s national inventory of wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels. We track all problem vessels reported on Canada’s three coasts, the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway.
• The national inventory is now publicly available on the Canadian Coast Guard website:
• Over 2,000 vessels have been reported to date. This number is expected to grow as more coastal areas are searched.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is focusing on assessing the risks associated with each of the reported vessels to prioritize actions to remediate high risk vessels. The risk factors for problem vessels can include environmental, public safety, socio-cultural and economic risks.
• The focus is not on removing all problem vessels; it is on mitigating the risk posed by each one.
• The public national inventory is updated quarterly. It includes vessels of all sizes from small pleasure craft to large commercial ships, both foreign and domestic; and lists the vessel name, type, length, hull material and location.
• Under the national strategy to address wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels, the federal government has committed to establishing a fund financed by vessel owners to pay for the majority of costs for dealing with problem vessels.
• Transport Canada held open consultations on the proposed fees during Autumn & Winter 2021.
• For more information on the proposed fees see : Regulatory Charge (Fee) Proposal for Vessel Remediation Fund (canada.ca)

If pressed
• The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act became law in 2019 and it: strengthens owner responsibility and liability for vessels; makes it illegal to abandon a boat; and gives the federal government more powers to take action against problem vessels before they can pose even greater problems at greater costs.
• The Canadian Coast Guard maintains a publicly available national inventory of wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels and they are focusing on conducting risk assessments and removing the highest risk vessels in order of priority.