C-215An Act to amend the Marine Liability Act (national strategy respecting pollution caused by shipping container spills)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 18, 2025
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 18, 2025
What it does
Creates a national strategy to address pollution from shipping container spills, with studies, reporting, and Indigenous collaboration.
What it does
- Requires the Minister of Transport to develop and implement a national strategy on pollution caused by shipping container spills.
- Requires Indigenous organisations to have a meaningful chance to help develop the strategy.
- Requires an independent study of gaps in the current rules, salvage capacity, ship manifests, tracking lost containers, and a possible cleanup fund.
- Requires the strategy to include measures to prevent spills, improve communication, create a joint spill response task force, and monitor and remove debris from lost containers.
- Requires the strategy to fund research on polystyrene, microplastics, other plastics, and removal methods.
- Requires a report on the strategy within one year, then yearly progress reports starting in the second year, and publication on the Department of Transport website.
Who it affects
- Marine shipping industry
- Coastal communities
- Indigenous organisations
- Federal and provincial governments
- Local authorities
- Commercial fishing organisations
- Non-governmental organisations
Background
The bill adds a new part to the Marine Liability Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPGord Johns· June 18, 2025
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-215, An Act to amend the Marine Liability Act (national strategy respecting pollution caused by shipping container spills). I am pleased to introduce a bill today that would amend the Marine Liability Act to require the development and implementation of a national strategy to address pollution caused by shipping container spills.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.