NLIS 9
April 20, 2005
(Environment and Conservation)


The following statement was issued today by Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to advise of my appearance yesterday in Ottawa before the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources on Bill C-15 � An Act to Amend the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

As most of my honourable colleagues know, Bill C-15 outlines significant legislative changes to strengthen existing federal legislation that deals with marine pollution and illegal dumping of bilge oil in our oceans. The discharging of bilge oil is an issue this province takes very seriously. Such neglect for our marine environment and valuable wildlife by passing ships who deliberately dump their bilge oil is absolutely deplorable. These incidents have gone on too long in our waters � they are environmental crimes that must stop. We believe that Bill C-15 is critical to helping end the environmental travesty that continues to take place in Canadian waters.

Besides raising this issue several times in the past with the federal government, I also appeared before the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in Ottawa in November of last year in support of Bill C-15. Indeed, the recent incident last month where hundreds of oiled seabirds were discovered on our shores, including within the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, demonstrates, once again, the need to urgently proclaim Bill C-15 into law.

My message to the Senate Committee was simple � speedy passage of Bill C-15, without further amendments, is critical to the protection and future survival of our marine environment. During my presentation to the committee, which I am pleased to table in the House today, I reminded members that over 300,000 birds die each year off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador from deliberate discharges of bilge oil in our oceans. I also reminded the committee that for every oiled bird found on our shores, there are 10 others that are not found. And, I informed the Senate Committee that the 300,000 birds that fall victim to illegal bilge oil dumping is equivalent to an Exxon Valdez disaster every year. This comparison clearly shows the insurmountable negative impact from illegally dumping bilge oil at sea.

The bottom line is that those who are responsible for such environmental abuse must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They must be sent a strong message that there will be zero tolerance for such heedless actions.

I am confident that our province�s continued involvement in this extremely important issue, and my recent appearance before the Standing Senate Committee, will help move the passage of Bill C-15 forward in an expeditious manner. In the meantime, we will continue to do what we can as a government to address the illegal discharging of bilge oil in our waters.

Government is committed to the protection of our environment � whether it�s marine, land or air. We will continue to work diligently to ensure our environment and natural heritage are protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

2005 04 20                           2:50 p.m.


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