Critics contend the federal government's assessment of the cruise sector's compliance with new pollution guidelines isn't transparent, and the proposed rules don't address the biggest source of wastewater.
Transport Canada planned to crack down on the cruise ship industry’s biggest source of pollution earlier this year, but that type of wastewater was missing when the department released new regulations.
The trade group representing the cruise ship industry unsuccessfully pushed international authorities to water down new environmental regulations despite its members’ climate commitments, experts in marine air pollution warn.
As cruise ships return after a two-year COVID hiatus on the B.C. coast, environmental organizations expect a continued wave of wastewater to follow in their wake.