Transport Canada
www.tc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Institutional links
Marine Transportation
Browse Marine Resources
Marine Contact Information
Browse By Mode
Browse By Subject
About Us
Canada's Hazardous and Noxious Substances Program
Overview
Canada has the longest shoreline in the world and some of the most difficult waters to navigate due to extreme conditions, strong current and very cold water. The amounts of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) that are currently being transported in and around Canada have expanded rapidly in recent years. This trend clearly gives rise to a real and increasing risk of an HNS incident occurring in this country and to the need for a means to address this risk.
In Transport Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy (2007-2009), high priority is given to the development and implementation of an HNS regime that focuses on assuring the safety of the public and the protection of the environment. In particular, it highlights the need to:
- Develop the legislative structure required to put an HNS regime in place, together with the necessary regulations and standards;
- Create the required HNS response mechanism in order to provide a nationally consistent method of responding to, and managing the response to, marine HNS incidents and spills from ships and during the loading and unloading of ships at chemical handling facilities; and
- Take the necessary action to permit Canada to accede to the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol).
Pollution Prevention and Response
Since 2004, Transport Canada has been the lead regulatory governance agency for preparing for and responding to all ship-source oil pollution spills. With respect to HNS, it is also responsible for the overall design and regulation of an HNS regime and to ensuring that the appropriate resources are in place for the creation of the national response capacity, as well as for the following related activities:
- Ship pollution response plans,
- Handling facility pollution response plans,
- Monitoring response organization exercises,
- Enforcement and compliance.
