As per the press release the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, was in attendance today as the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) practiced its oil spill response capabilities in an exercise in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Personnel from CCG Maritimes Region Environmental Response branch were on the waters of the Miramichi River June 16, 2010 deploying vessels and equipment in a regularly scheduled annual exercise.
Commenting on the demonstration Minister Shea said that it is encouraging to see that the Canadian Coast Guard stands ready to react to oil spills in Canadian waters. She added that exercises such as Miramichi 2010 demonstrate that Canada has the capacity and coordination to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an oil spill in our waters.
The press release states that CCG Environmental Response works closely with its federal, provincial and private-sector response partners to ensure an effective response during an oil spill in Canadian waters. In Miramichi, CCG Maritimes Region Environmental Response is deploying several new pieces of equipment. These include a new oil recovery system capable of operating in areas of significant water current.
The Miramichi area was chosen for this year’s exercise due to challenging conditions that exist in the river system which is navigable for 33 miles from its mouth in the Gulf of St Lawrence. MP Tilly O’Neill-Gordon said that the demonstration shows that the Canadian government is determined to protect our oceans for those Canadian families whose livelihoods depend on it.
