The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today issued the following statement:

"It was as always, a real pleasure to be in British Columbia this past week to announce investments from our Government totaling over $57 million in BC science facilities, marine protection and Pacific Salmon research.

I also attended a very moving ceremony to welcome the CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M. to the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. This vessel, named after a real Canadian hero, Nichola Goddard, who served and died in Afghanistan, will support fisheries protection and management as well as play a supporting role in search and rescue and environmental response off the British Columbian coast. These are just some recent investments we have made to protect BC's cherished environment.

While in Vancouver, I also spoke about the fuel leak that happened a few weeks ago in English Bay. I know it has been a trying time for Vancouverites, and indeed all British Columbians, who cherish their pristine waters.

As a resident of a coastal community, I fully appreciate the anguish caused by this unfortunate incident. I understand and share the frustration of having a foreign ship enter our harbour and leak oil into our waters. I want to thank the citizens of Vancouver and the nearby municipalities for their active engagement, their outpouring of concern and overwhelming willingness to be involved in clean up efforts.

I made a clear commitment to British Columbians that a robust review of this incident is being conducted and will be presented to them by the Canadian Coast Guard by the end of July. The review will assess the course the actions of the Canadian Coast Guard and other parties involved.

I am pleased that several partners and individuals want to be involved and I share the view that the primary objective of the review is, as a collective, to ensure that we are always very well prepared.

As a trading nation, Canada depends on marine shipping for economic growth, jobs and prosperity. Yet the protection of our coast is of paramount concern. It is critical that economic activity on our waters be conducted safely and responsibly. Canada has one of the strongest marine safety regimes in the world and our Government is committed to making it even stronger. This review will help us to build on this commitment."

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 30 May 2015 )