Bill C-215: Amending the Marine Liability Act
MP Johns tabled Bill C-215, An Act to amend the Marine Liability Act (national strategy respecting pollution caused by shipping container spills) on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025.
The 2016 Hanjin Seattle and 2021 ZIM Kingston shipping container spills littered our coast with toys, refrigerators, urinal mats, and other plastic items and toxic chemicals. Municipalities, environmental NGOs, and First Nations were left with the consequences and the responsibility to clean up after big polluters. Authorities such as the House of Commons' Fisheries and Oceans Committee and the Transportation Safety Board have pointed out that Canada is not well-prepared to deal with shipping container spills.
Bill C-215 would create a national strategy to prevent, respond, and clean up pollution caused by shipping container spills. Canada needs smarter measures to prevent spills before they happen, a better rapid response strategy, and an ecosystem service fee so industry pays to protect our marine environment.