Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Councils On Marine Oil Spill Preparedness And Response

The following Terms of Reference were set by Transport Canada.

  1. Role of the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs)
  2. Guiding Principles
  3. Terms and Conditions of Appointment
  4. Electing a President
  5. Role of the President
  6. Role of the Secretariat
  7. RAC Meetings

1. Role of the Regional Advisory Councils ( RACs )

1.1 The central role and mandate of the  RACs is:

  • to advise on an adequate level of oil spill preparedness and response in each region; and
  • to promote public awareness and understanding of issues and measures with respect to preparedness.

1.2 The  RACs serve as an advisory body to the Minister of Transport and to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Safety and Security ( ADMSS ) , Transport Canada ( TC ) and shall advise and may make recommendations related to marine oil spill preparedness in accordance with Part 8 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 ( CSA 2001 ).  The main focus of the  RACs will be on sections 167 to 171 of Part 8.

2. Guiding Principles

2.1 While their mandate is purely advisory, the  RACs play an important role in the maintenance of an adequate level of preparedness and response to marine oil spills in their respective regions.

2.2  RACs must recognize that preparedness involves the effective management of three factors:

  • The risk of spills of various kinds and magnitudes;
  • Ensuring appropriate response under probable conditions; and
  • Compliance.

2.3 All formal  RAC communications in the way of correspondence and reports shall be conducted through the President.

2.4 In the event that  RACs are unable to reach consensus on a matter, decisions shall be taken by majority vote with the President casting the deciding vote in the event of a tie, and minority opinions noted in the record of decision.

2.5 Where the  RAC makes a report, minority views will be part of that report.

2.6  RACs have no budget or authority to undertake independent studies or enquiries, unless requested by TC . However,  RACs may request information from the Response Organizations ( RO ), Canadian Coast Guard ( CCG ) in the Arctic and  TC with respect to plans and resources, preparedness capacity, fees and response data for their region.

2.7  RACs are not a technical committee and do not review standards or other technical requirements. However,  RACs may wish to satisfy themselves that such standards, or changes to standards, result in adequate levels of preparedness.

2.8 The  ADMSS may make changes, from time to time, to the Terms of Reference ( TOR ) of the  RACs with respect to provisions of the CSA 2001 .

2.9  RAC meetings should be held in different areas of each region. Consideration should be given to the additional and associated costs and the logistics of fulfilling this requirement; including the feasibility of having  RAC members travel varying distances.

3.  RAC Membership: Terms and Conditions of Appointment

3.1  RACs are established by the ADMSS , as delegated by the Minister of Transport, pursuant to Section 172 of CSA 2001 .

3.2 The ADMSS , acting on behalf of the Minister, appoints  RAC members for a term of up to three years with the possibility of renewal.

3.3  RAC membership must be composed of a balanced cross-representation of individuals, groups and companies, included but not limited to: fishing or aquaculture interests; aboriginal interests; environmental groups; port authorities; businesses or business associations; tourism associations or agencies, including municipalities; as well as shipping interests and oil handling facilities, whose interests are potentially affected by a spill.

3.4 The  ADMSS may appoint to each  RAC no more than seven members; all of whom must reside within the geographic area represented by that RAC .

3.5  RAC members should be representative of the different geographic areas within their region.

3.6 Potential polluters shall not constitute a majority on any RAC .

3.7 Representatives of  ROs may not be  RAC members.

3.8  RAC members must table any change in the status of their interests related to the regime and in the event of a conflict of interest, will refer the matter to the ADMSS .

3.9 Membership of a person appointed to a  RAC  should cease when that person no longer represents the interests of the constituency being served.

3.10  RAC members or their alternates are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, the travel, living and other expenses incurred in connection with their travel to attend  RAC meetings while absent from their ordinary place of residence.

3.11 New  RAC members must be familiar with the RAC TOR , and Section 167 to 171 of  CSA 2001 in particular.

4. Electing a President

4.1 Pursuant to Section 172. (4) of  CSA 2001 each  RAC shall elect one of its members to be President.

4.2 A President will be elected by a majority vote of the membership of that  RAC and will serve for at least a one-year term.

4.3 Election of a President should take place no later than the second meeting following the vacancy of the position.

4.4 Each member is entitled to one vote by secret ballot.

4.5 The secretariat to the  RAC will conduct the secret ballot to elect the President.

4.6 Members of their respective  RAC are eligible for election or re-election to the post of President.

4.7  RACs will also elect a Vice-President to act in the absence of the President.

4.8 When possible, a new President will be nominated every three years.

5. Role of the President

5.1 The President of a  RAC will chair the meetings of that Council.

5.2 The President will work with the Secretariat to determine the RAC ’s agenda, location, and time of meetings.

5.3 The President of the  RAC will also be a member of the National Advisory Council.

5.4 The President may invite any appropriate representative of Environment Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard to regular  RAC meetings, and may also invite individual persons or bodies to provide advice and guidance to the RAC .

5.5 The President may request technical advice and administrative support from the Council's Secretariat.

6. Role of the Secretariat

6.1 Transport Canada will provide Secretariat services to the  RACs and, in this regard, may enlist the assistance of Environment Canada.

6.2 The Secretariat will ensure that Council members have sufficient background information to assist them in their deliberations.

6.3 The Secretariat will ensure that the appropriate Transport Canada personnel are notified of their required attendance at a  RAC meeting for the purpose of offering information and advice.

6.4 The Secretariat will provide administrative support to the Council such as:

  • Arranging meeting places for the RAC ,
  • Advertising  RAC meetings to help ensure public participation,
  • Distributing the agenda and background information to all  RAC members at least two (2) weeks prior to  RAC meetings,
  • At the direction of the  RAC President, arranging for presentations and briefings to  RAC members, and
  • Recording minutes of  RAC meetings, which should contain a record of discussions, decisions taken and follow-up action proposed.

6.5 The Secretariat of each  RAC will send a draft version of the minutes to the  RAC members who attended the meeting for review and comment. A final version of the minutes will be sent to all other  RAC Secretariats once the minutes have been approved.

6.5 The Secretariat will maintain and at the request of the  RAC President update the Regional  RAC webpage.

6.6 The Secretariat will process the payment of expense claims.

7.  RAC Meetings

7.1  RAC meetings are open to the public unless the Council is satisfied that a public meeting would not be in the public interest; in which case the meeting or any part of it may be held in private.

7.2  RACs should hold two public meetings per year. Any additional meetings can be held under extenuating circumstances with the agreement of the  RAC members and preapproval received from TCMS .

7.3 All members are expected to attend  RAC meetings.

7.4 The presence of a simple majority (i.e. 50% + 1) of appointed  RAC members is required for any  RAC meeting to take place.

7.5 Members who cannot personally attend a  RAC meeting may participate via conference call, or other available technology, by advising the  RAC President in advance of the meeting and allowing sufficient time for the execution of the required arrangements. This option is granted at the discretion of the President and is only available if no voting is to be effected during the meeting.

7.6 A  RAC member who will be absent from a meeting where a vote is to be effected, may provide a proxy to the Secretariat or may assign his/her vote, in writing, to an appointed member of that Council who will submit a ballot on the absentee's behalf.