In Ottawa, June 15th saw the introduction of Bill C-55‘s proposed amendments to the Oceans Act, and complementary amendments to the Canadian Petroleum Resources Act.
The changes proposed in this Bill are aimed at facilitating the marine protected areas (MPAs) designation process without sacrificing sound science or the public’s opportunity to provide input.
The major improvements to the Acts are the ability to “freeze the footprint” of activity for a set time period in an area under consideration for protection; and when an area is designated as protected, the ability to cancel encompassed oil and gas interests while accepting the potential need to compensate the owners of those interests.
Conservation-minded groups in general see these proposed amendments as a good first step toward more effective protection of our marine environment than we have today.