WHEREAS many vessels in the coastal marine environment fail to comply with the federal regulations regarding the discharge of effluent from marine vessels; AND WHEREAS the sewage discharge is compromising the marine environment in coastal communities and is harmful to swimmers, boaters, fish and wildlife: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly encourage the federal government to actively enforce the federal environmental regulations with respect to discharge of sewage in the coastal marine environment.
Minister of the Environment Environment Canada is responsible for enforcing subsections 363 to 366 of the Fisheries Act. This part of the Act is a key pollution prevention provision that prohibits the deposit of harmful substances into water frequented by fish, unless authorized by regulations under the Act or other federal legislation. Transport Canada is the federal regulatory authority responsible for sewage discharge from vessels, including small pleasure craft.