Canada Cruise Ship Regulations: Cruising on Pollution Loopholes

A problem unaddressed for years

In response to mounting concerns about the environmental impact of Canada cruise ship pollution regulations Transport Canada issued an Interim Order in 2023: Respecting the Discharge of Sewage and the Release of Greywater by Cruise Ships in Canadian Waters. This was a response to long-standing concerns over marine pollution. This regulation aimed to address the shocking 32 billion liters of contaminated wastewater discharged yearly into British Columbia’s waters by the cruise industry, whose coast has been labeled the coast as Canada’s “toilet bowl.” On June 6th, 2024, Transport Canada renewed the Interim Order for another year, and did nothing to improve the baseline regulations from the original Interim Order.

No forward momentum

Overall, the original Interim Order was a step in the right direction. It explicitly acknowledged the problem of pollution from cruise ships, and brought in mandatory measures similar to our coastal neighbouring states. In addition, then-Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Joyce Murray, emphasized this step as crucial for safeguarding our oceans for future generations.

Not without complications

Despite the original positive step of the original Interim Order, the renewed Order still contains significant loopholes. It allows for considerable exemptions. It allows for considerable exemptions. Some of which are based on the geographic location or onboard storage capacities of ships. Thus, such exemptions could enable continued pollution under a variety of conditions. Most importantly, it still does not truly tackle the discharge of scrubber wastewater—the primary pollutant from cruise ships.

Something is better than nothing

The expiration of this Order in June 2024 was an opportunity for Transport Canada to strengthen these regulations tapproaches in June 2024. There is a particularly pressing need to reinforce and establish more permanent regulations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. This report argues for stricter national standards comparable to those of our neighbours in Alaska and Washington. It recommends prohibiting scrubber use within all Canadian waters, designating comprehensive no-discharge zones, and implementing rigorous, independent monitoring to ensure compliance.

Looking forward together

Presently, this critical analysis seeks not only to highlight the deficiencies of the current regulatory framework but also to advocate for a robust legal structure that truly protects the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of Canada’s coastal and marine ecosystems from the adverse impacts of cruise ship pollution.