By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: March 5, 2019
The federal government is moving towards making life difficult for those who abandon boats and hazardous vessels in the water.
The Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act passed in the parliament recently and will soon be the law of the land.
The new law prohibits vessel abandonment, increases the owner’s liability for vessels, and enables the federal government to remove problem vessels.
Those who don’t comply with the new law will be penalised with fines that can run up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for companies or corporations.
The maximum fine for this offence is $1 million for individuals and $6 million for companies and corporations.
Squamish photographer Tim Cyr wonders if the new law will be effective at all in stopping irresponsible behaviour.
Cyr has been documenting through pictures the sheer recklessness with which boats have been abandoned in Howe Sound.
“They can fine you $50,000 but if you don’t pay it like some people…because they don’t have the money. There should be some other consequences as well,” he said.
According to a CBC report, there are over 600 vessels, big and small, polluting Canadian waters.
Meanwhile, the government is also dangling a carrot with the stick.
Last year, the government launched a national strategy to address wrecked and abandoned vessels by funding two short-term programs to support coastal communities in removing abandoned vessels.
The program offers financial help to coastal communities to remove abandoned boats. Last year, the District of West Vancouver received a $10,000 grant to remove derelict boat in the community.
West Vancouver used that grant, $11,340, towards locating and removing a sunken sailboat in Caulfeild area.
Another Transport Canada program also supports education and awareness and research on vessel recycling and design.
Other government measures include improving vessel owner identification, creating an inventory of problem vessels and assessing their risks and establishing a polluter pays approach for vessel clean-up.
