The Government of Canada is committed to the safety and security of Canada's marine transportation system. A critical part of that system is a flexible, robust, transparent, fair, and consistent enforcement program that keeps Canadians safe.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced new regulations under the Canada Marine Act, effective immediately. These regulations allow for enforcement officers to issue administrative monetary penalties, or fines to individuals, corporations, or ships for violations of the Act and its associated regulations, providing them with more flexibility in dealing with situations where rules or standards are not being followed.
Fines are an enforcement tool that allow enforcement officers to issue monetary penalties rather than recommending legal action. They allow for a flexible, step-by-step enforcement process that both motivates rule breakers to return to compliance and discourages them from breaking the rules again. The total penalty amounts, up to a maximum of $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation or ship, vary depending on the severity of the violation and the factors that make it worse or less harmful. This approach is expected to decrease the number of violations in the marine industry as a whole, and ultimately keep the sector and Canadians safe.
Before implementing these new regulations, Transport Canada undertook extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and the public, beginning in 2018. These new regulations allow for the issuance of fines for violations of existing rules.
The Government of Canada's priority is keeping Canadians safe. These new regulations aim to do just that by encouraging those who break the rules to correct their actions and prevent future violations.
