Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has updated the Canada Shipping Act and the Marine Liability Act to better protect marine ecosystems from the impacts of shipping and strengthen the Canadian Coast Guard's authorities to respond to ship-source pollution incidents more proactively, quickly, and effectively.
As marine shipping evolves, Canada must ensure that it continues to address critical gaps and emerging marine safety risks. During the next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan, actions will be taken to further modernize the Canada Shipping Act and close critical gaps in the marine safety system, including strengthening requirements for oil spill response, environmental protection, and enforcement and compliance. These actions will also ensure Canada’s legal framework is aligned with new international standards and modern regulatory practices.