M-64 Health of the ocean

That:

(a) the House recognize that

(i) Canadians care deeply about the health of the ocean, and coastal communities depend on a thriving ocean ecosystem,

(ii) cruise ships generate significant amounts of pollutants that are harmful to human health, aquatic organisms and coastal ecosystems,

(iii) Canada's regulations under the Canada Shipping Act to control dumping and pollution from cruise ships are the weakest along the west coast of North America,

(iv) many vessels in Canadian waters employ Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) rather than switching to cleaner low-sulfur fuels, leading to an increase in other air pollutants such as particulate matter, black carbon and greenhouse gases,

(v) washwater produced by EGCS contains known carcinogens and heavy metals, and is highly thermal and acidic,

(vi) Canada’s less stringent regulations encourage cruise ships to discharge their waste off British Columbia,

(vii) Canada can mitigate the risks to human health and the environment and support a cleaner cruise industry by establishing world-class ocean protections; and

(b) in the opinion of the House, the government should

(i) prohibit vessels from using EGCS in Canadian waters and require vessels to use cleaner low-sulfur fuels instead,

(ii) set standards for cruise ship sewage and greywater discharges equivalent to or stronger than those in Alaska,

(iii) designate no-discharge zones to stop pollution in marine protected areas, the Salish and Great Bear Seas, and in critical habitat for threatened and endangered species,

(iv) require regular independent third-party monitoring while ships are underway to ensure discharge requirements are met.