Bill C-15

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 to

(a) state that that Act applies in the exclusive economic zone of Canada;

(b) protect migratory birds from the effects caused by deposits of harmful substances, such as oil, in the exclusive economic zone of Canada;

(c) state that that Act applies to vessels and their owners and operators;

(d) subject masters, chief engineers, owners and operators of vessels and directors and officers of corporations to a duty of care to ensure compliance with that Act and its regulations;

(e) expand the enforcement powers to include orders to direct and detain vessels found to be in contravention of that Act or its regulations;

(f) expand the jurisdiction of Canadian courts to include the exclusive economic zone of Canada;

(g) increase penalties; and

(h) permit courts to impose additional punishments in the form of orders covering matters such as environmental audits, community service and the creation of scholarships for students enrolled in environmental studies.

This enactment also amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to

(a) protect the marine environment from the wrongful activities of ships as well as persons;

(b) include prohibitions concerning the disposal and incineration of substances at sea by ships;

(c) include regulation-making authority to deal with disposals of substances during the normal operations of ships, aircrafts, platforms and other structures;

(d) expand the enforcement powers to include orders to direct ships found to be in contravention of that Act or its regulations;

(e) subject owners of ships and directors and officers of corporations that own ships to a duty of care to ensure that ships comply with the provisions of that Act and its regulations concerning disposal at sea and with orders and directions made under that Act; and

(f) expand the jurisdiction of Canadian courts to include the exclusive economic zone of Canada.