The close collaboration and coordination of many players is needed in supporting the lead agency and the polluter in an emergency response. Depending on the location of an oil spill, provincial, territorial, Indigenous community and regional governments may all be response partners.
Government of Canada departments
When a response is complex or where the polluter is unknown, unwilling, or unable to respond to a spill, the Government of Canada may direct the response operation. It will work with a range of responders, different levels of government and Indigenous Peoples as well as scientists and other experts.
The following Government of Canada departments are involved in the response efforts, depending on the location, type of product and source of the spill:
Industry
Any company that handles oil is responsible for making sure it is contained and managed safely and efficiently according to international and domestic standards, regulations, and conventions.
When transporting oil, everyone handling it must be trained to transport it safely and must know what to do in an emergency.
If a spill occurs, the company is liable for the costs related to its cleanup and pollution damage.
Indigenous Peoples
The Government of Canada values the knowledge and expertise of Indigenous Peoples and communities in protecting our coasts, waterways, and lands. This collaboration is key to safer shipping, stronger protections, and increased preparedness and improved ability to prevent, respond and recover from oil spills.
Indigenous communities are often first on the scene for spills on reserves and in remote parts of Canada. Based on their relationships with the land, water, and coastal resources required for food, livelihood, and cultural uses, Indigenous Peoples are uniquely positioned to provide expertise and knowledge about the affected lands and waters.
The Government of Canada offers Indigenous Peoples and local communities training so that they can participate in search and rescue missions, environmental monitoring, emergency-related risk assessments, and emergency response to marine emergencies.
Response organizations and contractors
Companies often hire response contractors to manage spill response operations on their behalf. These are specialized contractors with trained personnel and oil spill clean-up equipment. For example, marine response organizations are certified to handle spills on the water, while land-based response organizations handle spills on land, such as from a pipeline or refinery.
Provinces and territories
Provincial and territorial governments contribute in a variety of ways, including providing scientific advice, technical expertise, and leadership in their jurisdictions. Each province and territory has emergency management legislation.
An integrated Government of Canada response is required when:
- a province/territory requests federal support to deal with an oil spill outside of federal jurisdiction;
- an oil spill affects multiple jurisdictions and/or government institutions;
- the event is of national interest.
Formal arrangements can exist between levels of government to co-manage environmental protection issues related to oil spills.
For example, the Government of Canada and provincial governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labradorco-manage offshore oil exploration and production in the offshore areas adjacent to the provinces. This includes oversight of response to oil spills from offshore platforms, the day-to-day responsibility for which rests with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.
Cities and municipalities
Cities and municipalities are also responsible for the health and safety of their citizens and can provide local knowledge about their area and citizens that is relevant to the emergency. This includes technical expertise from local emergency management officials and first responders, such as local fire departments, police, paramedics, and public works. They are also well placed to communicate directly with the public.