Americas News
Canada Launches Oil-Spill Preparedness Initiative
The Canadian government has introduced a new pilot project aimed at improving response to oil spills caused by ships, the Canadian Ministry of Transport announced this month.
The Area Response Planning initiative will reportedly target four main areas and work with local communities, Aboriginal groups, and industry organizations to improve oil spill preparedness.
The areas include the southern portion of British Columbia, an area in Eastern New Brunswick, an area in Northwest Nova Scotia, and the area along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.
"Our government's goals with world-class tanker safety are to prevent ship-source oil spills, clean them up quickly if they do happen and to ensure that polluters pay," said Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt.
"As a part of our tanker safety measures, the Area Response Planning process will help ensure procedures are in place and equipment is readily available to plan for any scenario in specific areas."
In addition, the ministry said that between fall 2015 and 2017, up to CAD $2.1 million ($1.6 million) will be available for eligible organizations and local communities who want to participate in the program.
The initiative comes on the heels of a high-profile oil spill in Vancouver earlier this year, with the federal government having received strong criticism over its role in the aftermath.
At the time, it was reported that both municipal and provincial governments had accused the federal government of being slow and inadequately responding to the spill.
