Transport minister says Canada's spill response not world class yet

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will have a stronger Coast Guard and more partnerships with Coastal First Nations when it comes to maritime spill responses under his government's new plan.

Trudeau made the announcement Mondayin Vancouver, but the announcement comes after maritime safety has been in question after two separate incidents on the Central Coast.

The tugboat Nathan E. Stewart ran aground and sank about 28 kilometres from Bella Bella on Oct. 13, spilling approximately 110,000 litres of diesel fuel; and over the weekend a barge loaded with sand and gravel flipped over, also near Bella Bella.

• Justin Trudeau announces $1.5B ocean protection plan
• Transport Canada Minister Marc Garneau visits diesel spill near Bella Bella, B.C.
• Heiltsuk First Nation fears wildlife affected by diesel spill on B.C. coast

"Two incidents in four weeks is too many for these coastal waters,saidHeiltsukFirst Nation electedcouncillorJessHoustyin a written release."The Coast Guard and other marine rescue services are already stretched thin.

"It is clear that [Transport Minister Marc] Garneau and Prime Minister Trudeau's promised regulatory changes can't come soon enough."

Now that those changes have been announced, Garneau spoke with Radio West host Audrey McKinnon about what it all means for the Central Coast.

How will the federal government better partner with Coastal First Nations?

We're going to put along the coast of British Columbia response equipment to deal with a spill or go out and deal with a search-and-rescue event. We're also going to provide training and we're going to co-op them to be part of that effort because of the enormous contribution they will be able to make. We will need their advice because they have a great deal of advice to offer in terms of how best to deal with an incident off our coasts.

What's the timeline for all that?

As quickly as we can. The announcement by the prime minister begins in April of next year and so we're going to try and get going as rapidly as possible. The prime minister gave me a mandate a year ago to improve marine safety. So that was an acknowledgement that marine safety is not where we need it to be.

We believe that with today's announcement we are going to bring marine safety on all three of our coasts to world-class levels. Certainly we are addressing the 11 points that the British Columbia government has drawn up with regards to marine safety and response.

Coastal First Nations have already responded to your announcement today. Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett wants a joint management plan in which First Nations are fully resourced and making decisions about vessel traffic in their waters. Will you allow first First Nations to make decisions like that?

Part of the ocean protection plan is to take account of where the sensitive waters are. Part of the importance of our coastal regions is the understanding that there are sensitive clam beds, for example, and other sensitive fish species. There are sea mammals that move along the coast of British Columbia and we have to take that into account.

When will you finalize a crude oil tanker ban on the North Coast?

Before the end of the year.

With files from CBC Radio One's Radio West

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity. To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Transport minister says Canada's spill response not world class yet