GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TRANSPORTATION SUBMISSION TO THE TANKER SAFETY EXPERT PANEL
Key Point for the Panel’s Consideration
Tanker safety and the safety of all marine transportation movements and activity in the North could be enhanced through improved charting and properly developed/maintained on-shore/off-shore support infrastructure. The exit of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) from funding Northern Remote Resupply Sites (NRRS) and related maintenance/development activity has increased the risk to marine resupply activities.
Background
Since the 1930’s (if not earlier), various federal departments have had a direct involvement in the movements of goods to remote Arctic communities via marine transportation. Tracts of land were identified as areas to be used for the offloading of goods and supplies. In some cases, rudimentary structures have been built at these sites, beach areas have been cleared, mooring ballasts have been installed, manifold and valves placed for the offloading of petroleum products, all resulting in these areas or places to be known under various names, but always as a federal government entity. The activity and authority to establish and maintain these sites was at one time vested under the Transport Canada NRRS program.
It appears that due to various transfers of administrative responsibility between federal departments a lack of concentrated effort by any Department to ensure the continual maintenance/development of these sites has resulted.
During 2007/2008 a retrospective analysis of the Northern Remote Sites Program was undertaken by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Some of the notable recommendations out of the analysis among others included the following:
1. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans give a high priority to engaging in a serious discussion on the commitments made in the 1995 National Marine Policy document of Transport Canada in an effort to establish a proper funding level to meet the needs of Arctic remote sites.
2. The Government of Canada should commit to both Territorial Governments to establish a focal point for the development of adequate infrastructure to serve the needs of residents of Arctic remote sites, and as well to provide for the same safety and security standards at these sites consistent with sites in southern Canada.
Current Status
2012/13 was the last fiscal year in which DFO funding for NRRS was provided to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The annual $1 million contribution was shared equally between the two territories and was used to maintain NRRS and on occasion to undertake new hydrographic surveys on various approaches to resupply sites.
Recommendation
The Panel is encouraged to consider the following recommendations:
1. That funding for the maintenance of NRRS be reestablished by DFO;
2. That funding levels and territorial allocations reflect current needs; and
3. That the recommendations from the 2007/08 retrospective analysis be reexamined with a new commitment to initiate this through new program funding or other sources
Other Considerations
It is the GN’s opinion that improved charting and maintenance/development of marine resupply infrastructure could be funded through:
1. Reestablishing and enhancing former program funding within DFO; and
2. A carve out of the annual interest generated by the Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund (this could be facilitated through changes to current legislative and Treasury Board instruments). Use of some or all of the annual interest would keep the fund at a level able to address major spills
P.O. Box 1000, Stn. 1500 Assistant Deputy Minister ((867) 975-7832
Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0 Transportation 6(867) 975-7880
Government of Nunavut
Department of Economic Development & Transportation