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She said the bill would also make the coast guard responsible for directing the removal of all abandoned vessels.

Setting areas of clear responsibility is key, said the member for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

“I think the real failing that we’ve got right now is that there’s no process and there’s no one single-point ministry, and my legislation is intended to fill that gap,” said Malcolmson.

She said she modelled her initiative on legislation already long in place in American states, like Washington and Oregon.

The Washington state program pools state and federal money together for emergency response and an advanced registration system helps officials track down owners in order to make them responsible for the bill, Malcolmson said. Harbour masters can also obtain purchase orders that can help prevent derelict vessels from sinking.

“If you can get it before it goes down, your costs are minuscule compared to the calamity of the inevitable oil spills that result from abandoned vessels.”

Last month, the federal government announced $6.85 million in funding over five years to help address the problem posed by abandoned vessels.

The money under the Abandoned Boats Program is meant to help provincial and local governments, and indigenous groups cover 100 per cent of the eligible costs of assessments and 75 per cent of removal and disposal costs.

The program includes money for education and awareness projects aimed at boat owners. Under the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan announced last fall, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will work with the Canadian Coast Guard to prevent and clean up wrecked and abandoned boats while holding owners accountable.