ISCO member Aqua-Guard Spill Response Inc. is celebrating a significant policy milestone following the adoption of four policy resolutions by the membership of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, including two key marine and environmental policies developed through the North Vancouver Chamber’s Marine & Waterfront Sector Roundtable.
As an active participant in the Roundtable, Aqua-Guard worked alongside the North Vancouver Chamberand fellow industry leaders to help identify challenges facing British Columbia’s marine sector and develop practical policy recommendations that strengthen marine safety, improve environmental protection, and encourage the adoption of Canadian innovation.
Among the policies approved by the B.C. Chamber were:
Boosting B.C.’s Marine Potential Through Safety and Access
Developed through the North Vancouver Chamber’s Marine & Waterfront Sector Roundtable, this policy calls for a coordinated approach to improving marine safety, investing in waterfront infrastructure, and strengthening access to B.C.’s waterways to support a safer and more competitive marine economy.
Reduce Costs & Delays in B.C.’s Environmental Water Quality Regulatory System
Also developed through the North Vancouver Chamber’s Marine & Waterfront Sector Roundtable, this policy advocates for more efficient environmental permitting to reduce project delays while maintaining strong environmental protections.
Importantly, the policy recognizes that Canadian environmental technology innovation can be leveraged to support this regulatory framework while supporting economic development.
It recommends creating a transparent, coordinated pathway to validate and integrate Canadian-developed environmental protection technologies into the regulatory framework. Technologies in areas such as spill response systems and green infrastructure materials could be supported through demonstration projects that also serve as proving grounds for international clients seeking strong domestic references.
The policy further recommends establishing an intergovernmental process to review and recognize such innovations, promoting cleaner operations and faster adoption of proven environmental technologies across Canadian ports and waterways.
For Aqua-Guard, these recommendations represent an important step toward ensuring Canadian-made environmental technologies have a clear pathway from innovation to implementation.
“This is an important milestone for British Columbia’s marine sector and for Canadian environmental innovation,” said Nigel Bennett, Co-Founder of Aqua-Guard Spill Response Inc.
“For years, Canadian companies have developed world-leading environmental technologies, yet often face significant barriers to demonstrating and deploying them at home. These policy recommendations recognize that governments can protect the environment while also supporting Canadian innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening our economy. We are proud to have contributed to this collaborative effort through the North Vancouver Chamber’s Marine & Waterfront Sector Roundtable.”
With adoption by the B.C. Chamber membership, the North Vancouver Chamber’s approved policies now become part of the B.C. Chamber’s advocacy platform with the Provincial Government. Aqua-Guard congratulates the North Vancouver Chamber, its Marine & Waterfront Sector Roundtable members, and all contributors whose collaboration helped advance these important initiatives.
The company looks forward to continuing to work with government, industry, Indigenous Communities and marine stakeholders to help accelerate the adoption of innovative environmental technologies that improve marine safety while protecting Canada’s waterways.
