Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

Mr. Speaker, we really have not been able to find where the spilled oil has gone. I can assure the hon. member that no oil has drifted on to shore. The best information I have is that there is not likely to be any environmental damage from the oil that has been spilled.

I mentioned yesterday that a small patch had been found in the vicinity of where the stern was then positioned. I should have said that patch was seen near where the bow was located at that point. I have had other reports today indicating that there have been a further few, very small patches found but nothing to be concerned about. As I said before, we still do not know where the bulk of the bunker C has gone.

Hon. Len Marchand (Acting Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I shall be pleased to direct the hon. member's question to the attention of the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs later today. He will be back in the House tomorrow. Judging from the content of the question, though, perhaps the hon. member should direct it to the Minister of Transport who, I am sure, can explain the situation to the satisfaction of the hon. member and of the House.

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

Mr. Speaker, on the looks so far by my officials and officials of the Department of Transport, we have not been able to get a good handle on where the 3,500 tons of bunker C might be. There are a number of possibilities. If it was in a slick at some point, we feel we would have found it. A slick has been found in the last little while near the present location of the stern portion of the vessel, but it is a very small one.

The best indications we have as of now are that we do not foresee any environmental damage. Some of the guesses are that the bunker C that has escaped has possibly all been broken up and dissipated, or that it has sunk to the bottom of the ocean. As time goes on, we will be monitoring the situation. I will be pleased to give the hon. member any information I have as it becomes available.

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

Kitimat is not an option; it is as dead as dead can be.

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

There was a good deal of chattering around about me when the member was asking his question and I did not hear the first part. I will look at the record later and consider the hon. member's question.