What is the role of the federal government in regulating water?
The federal government has focused primarily on its constitutional responsibility for fisheries and navigation, and for waters that lie on or across international borders. In recent years, however, the federal government has assumed a greater role in relation to water quality, particularly with respect to toxic substances. The key water-related statutes administered by the federal government include: • Canada Shipping Act – controls pollution from ships by imposing penalties for discharging pollutants without a permit or failing to report a spill; administered by Transport Canada; • Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 – establishes a regime for identifying, assessing and controlling toxic substances; imposes reporting requirements on anyone releasing a toxic substance; creates a national inventory of toxic releases; requires the development of Pollution Prevention Plans; controls nutrient discharges and marine pollution; administered by Environment Canada; • Fisheries Act – pro
