The 2012 Fall Report of Scott
Vaughan, federal Commissioner of the
Environment and of Sustainable Development, was tabled today
at 10:00 a.m. in the House of Commons. This Report focusses on the
gaps between federal programs to promote resource development, and
the environmental threats posed by those developments:
Atlantic Offshore Oil and Gas Activities
More needs to be done to prepare for a major
offshore oil spill
Financial Assurances for Environmental
Risks
Financial assurances may not cover environmental
costs
"The federal government needs to review its absolute
liability limits in the nuclear and offshore oil and gas
sectors," said Mr. Vaughan.
The audit found that absolute liability limits for nuclear
facilities such as power-generating stations have not changed in
35 years while those covering offshore oil and gas development
have not been updated in more than 20 years. Absolute
liability limits are also much lower in Canada than in
