Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, Anita Anand, has announced that the country will invest over $109 million (USD$76 million) through two initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan to strengthen marine safety in 47 communities across Canada.
Launched in 2016, the Oceans Protection Plan works to make shipping safer and improve prevention and response to marine incidents; increase protections for marine ecosystems from the impacts of shipping; strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ role in how their traditional coasts and waterways are managed; contribute to lasting reconciliation and cooperative relations between government, industry and Indigenous Peoples.
The funding will support Indigenous communities in hiring marine coordinators, through the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program (ILCEPP); and expand the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness initiative (EMSA), which provides an overview of the marine environment to local governments and organizations to advance marine safety, environmental monitoring, and protection in their communities.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples share ties to Canada’s oceans and waterways that span generations, the government said in a release. Their in-depth traditional knowledge and expertise is critical to protecting Canada’s coastal waters. The government said it was dedicated to working with these communities to deliver the Oceans Protection Plan and respect the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
“Canada’s marine response network is stronger when we all work together,” said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. “Advancing reconciliation means listening, collaborating, and taking action. By sharing marine situational knowledge, we are responding to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit interest in having a broader role in the marine safety system, ensuring strong response capacity in Indigenous coastal communities from coast to coast to coast.”
