In the early 2000’s, Transport Canada announced its intentions to amend the regulations governing discharge of raw sewage from vessels in Canadian waters. The first draft received by Council would require all vessels to travel 12 miles of the west shore of Vancouver Island to dump at sea.
Council entered into a protracted lobbying effort to amend these proposed onerous requirements. Through its efforts with the MP’s and Transport Canada staff in Ottawa, the regulations were modified to be more acceptable for the conditions in the coastal waters of BC.
The amended regulations were introduced in May 2007 with a 5 year phase in.
In May 2012, the regulations came into full force and effect.
The full regulations can be found here.