Posted on 10 December 2008
OTTAWA, December 10, 2008 - Broadening Canada’s anti-pollution legislation in the Arctic would mean little without a buildup of enforcement, says Senator Bill Rompkey of Labrador.
“Experts agree that Canada has insufficient marine capability in the Arctic,” Senator Rompkey said. “The navy has no continuing presence there, while the Canadian Coast Guard is running out of ships and experienced personnel.”
The transport minister recently introduced legislation to extend the reach of Canada’s Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act from 100 to 200 miles offshore. But prorogation of Parliament halted that effort, and even the existing legislation lacks enforcement infrastructure.
Canada has no mandatory reporting system for ships in our Arctic zone, only a voluntary one known as NORDREG. Foreign vessels are free to come and go without giving notice.
Even if mandatory reporting comes in, as called for in a Senate report and now being considered by government, enforcement capability remains weak.
The government is promising six to eight naval ships for the Arctic, but they are many years away. Although ice will long remain a menace in the Canadian Arctic, the proposed naval vessels will have no icebreaking capability and only a short working season.
True ice capability remains in the hands of the Coast Guard, known for its expertise in icebreaking, navigational aids, and other Arctic work. “But the CCG at present has no enforcement mandate of its own, its pollution-response ability is limited, and its fleet is aging out,” Senator Rompkey said.
Only one replacement icebreaker is promised, for 2017 if not later. By then, even the youngest of Canada’s five other medium and heavy icebreakers will already be 30 years old – considered the useful lifespan for an icebreaker – and the oldest will be 48.
“Arctic oil exploration and shipping are growing fast, creating pollution and security hazards,” Senator Rompkey said. “We need an integrated plan for Coast Guard and naval vessels to protect sovereignty, Arctic communities, and their environmental safety.”
Besides calling for mandatory NORDREG, last June’s Senate report recommended a beefing up of Arctic marine capability, more “multi-mission” use of Coast Guard icebreakers for enforcement, environmental, and other duties, and more CCG recruitment of Inuit.
Bill Rompkey is the Senator for Labrador. In the last Parliament, he chaired the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.