On April 23, 2018, Canada ratified the 2010 Hazardous and Noxious Substances Protocol (HNS). HNS still needs ratification or accession by at least nine other countries to come into force internationally.

Canada’s legislation to enact HNS (by which international conventions become domestic law) was put on the books in 2014 via amendments to the Marine Liability Act, although the substantive portions will only come into force on proclamation. This in principle means rapid deployment as and when HNS comes into force at the international level.

Here is the news release.