Chamber
commons
Stage
2nd Reading
Introduced
Sep 22, 2025
Progress
This bill increases protections for Canadian marine areas by expanding liability for ocean dumping and irresponsible vessel transfers.
Key Changes
- Expands the prohibition on ocean dumping under CEPA 1999 to include 'allowing' disposal, not just personally disposing of substances
- Prohibits vessel owners from transferring ownership to someone who lacks the ability, resources, or intent to properly maintain or dispose of the vessel
- Adds the new vessel transfer prohibition (section 34.1) to the list of offences under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
- Increases liability for damage to marine areas by broadening who can be held responsible
Gotchas
- The prohibition on vessel transfers uses a 'reckless as to whether' standard, meaning owners can be held liable even without definitive proof they knew the buyer was unfit — this is a relatively broad legal threshold
- The bill does not define what counts as sufficient 'ability, resources or intent' for a buyer, which could create uncertainty in enforcement or legal challenges
- No new enforcement mechanisms or funding are introduced; the bill relies on existing regulatory and penalty frameworks under both Acts
- The expanded 'allowing disposal' language in CEPA could affect companies or individuals who are indirectly involved in dumping operations, such as contractors or facility operators
- Fiscal or administrative costs of implementing the new vessel transfer rules are not addressed in the bill
Who's Affected
- Vessel owners looking to sell or transfer boats
- Buyers of vessels, particularly those without resources to maintain them
- Marine industries operating near Canadian coastlines
- Environmental enforcement agencies (Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada)
- Coastal communities affected by abandoned or hazardous vessels
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The prohibition on vessel transfers uses a 'reckless as to whether' standard, meaning owners can be held liable even without definitive proof they knew the buyer was unfit — this is a relatively broad legal threshold
- The bill does not define what counts as sufficient 'ability, resources or intent' for a buyer, which could create uncertainty in enforcement or legal challenges
- No new enforcement mechanisms or funding are introduced; the bill relies on existing regulatory and penalty frameworks under both Acts
- The expanded 'allowing disposal' language in CEPA could affect companies or individuals who are indirectly involved in dumping operations, such as contractors or facility operators
- Fiscal or administrative costs of implementing the new vessel transfer rules are not addressed in the bill
Summary
Bill C-244, called the Clean Coasts Act, makes two main changes to existing Canadian environmental laws. First, it updates the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to make it illegal not only to dump harmful substances in Canadian waters, but also to allow such dumping to happen — closing a loophole where someone might claim they didn't personally do the dumping. Second, it changes the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act to prohibit vessel owners from selling or transferring their boat to someone they know — or should know — cannot properly maintain, operate, or dispose of it. This targets situations where owners offload vessels to irresponsible buyers, leading to abandoned or hazardous wrecks in Canadian waters. The bill was introduced by MP Patrick Weiler as a private member's bill in September 2025. It aims to reduce marine pollution and the problem of abandoned vessels along Canada's coastlines, which can leak fuel, chemicals, and debris into the ocean. By expanding who can be held liable and restricting negligent transfers of vessel ownership, the bill seeks to hold more people accountable for damage to marine environments.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses
Recorded Votes
| Date | Description | Yeas | Nays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2026 | 2nd reading of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act | 202 | 125 | Agreed To |