Enforcement of environmental standards in British Columbia

Petition: 469

Issue(s): Biological diversity; Compliance and enforcement; Human/environmental health; Toxic substances; Water

Petitioner(s): A Canadian resident

Petitioner location(s): Vancouver, British Columbia

Date received: 6 June 2022

Status: Completed—Response(s) to petition received

Summary: The petition raises concerns about sewer and rain runoff being flushed into the Fraser River, False Creek, and Burrard Inlet in British Columbia, Canada. The petition states that this action is in violation of subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. The petition questions if Fisheries and Oceans Canada has exempted this issue from being enforced under this part of the Fisheries Act.

Additionally, the petition refers to the 1993 Combined Sewer Overflow Inventory for Fraser River and Burrard Inlet report, which was commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada, formerly Environment Canada. The petition highlights that this matter was documented in the report and states that it is still occurring to this day. The petition claims that many companies mentioned in the report no longer exist and therefore questions whether the responsible department will update this document. Finally, the petition seeks clarification on the department responsible for resolving the introduction of deleterious matter into fish-bearing waters.

Federal departments/organizations responsible for reply: Environment and Climate Change Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada