Abandoned small boats in Canada have economic and environmental impacts on local communities.
They can pollute the marine environment, harm local businesses like tourism and fisheries, damage infrastructure, interfere with navigation, and pose safety risks to Canadians.
The federal government has unveiled a 6 point 8-5 million dollar Abandoned Boats Program.
It will provide grants over five years to communities where abandoned vessels have become a problem.
The money will help communities in the assessment, removal and disposal of existing high-priority abandoned and or wrecked small boats that are posing a hazard in Canadian waters.
Some of the money will also be spent educating small-boat owners about how to responsibly manage their end-of-life boats and will support research on boat recycling and environmentally responsible boat design.
The NDP MP for Nanaimo Ladysmith says the Abandoned Boat Program falls far short of what’s needed.
Sheila Malcolmson, who has been advocating for an abandoned vessel program says this one falls far short of what’s needed……
Last month, Malcolmson proposed legislation that would have seen the onus of removing boats put on the boat owners themselves, not the taxpayer.
Malcolmson says her legislation was much broader…..
