Nanaimo Cowichan MP Jean Crowder’s private members bill on derelict vessels came up for debate on Parliament Hill Thursday.
Crowder is proposing the Coast Guard be made “receiver of wrecks”.
That would make it responsible for all derelicts, not just those causing environmental damage or blocking navigation.
She says the Conservative response was disappointing, especially since the government has acknowledged there is a problem.
Jeff Watson, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Transport told the commons, “The bill proposes that the Canadian Coast Guard be designated as receiver of wreck. However, designating the Canadian Coast Guard as receiver of wreck for all wrecks in Canadian waters will not only make it difficult for the Coast Guard to focus on its current mandate for pollution response, it will duplicate Transport Canada’s functions, causing operational inefficiency and confusion.”
Crowder says the focus now is on convincing Conservative MPs to come on board for an expected vote in late April.
One area Conservative – John Weston of West Vancouver Sunshine Coast – says he’d need to see amendments before he could back the bill
