With the longest coastline in the world, keeping our oceans safe and clean is a top priority for the Government of Canada. Since its launch in 2016, the Oceans Protection Plan-the largest investment ever made to protect our oceans and keep our coastlines clean-has led to over 50 initiatives and the completion of more than 300 projects to keep our waters safe and clean from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
To build on this investment in our oceans, today the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced over $1.2 billion for 29 initiatives as part of the next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan. This investment includes $890.3 million for 19 initiatives to strengthen Canada's marine safety and prevention response. An investment of $337.3 million will be provided for 10 initiatives to support measures that build partnerships between the Government of Canada and Indigenous and coastal communities to better protect our waters.
Since 2016, under the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has invested in scientific research and solutions to help make our response to marine incidents-especially oil spills-more efficient and comprehensive. Investments announced today will continue to advance this work and expand it to more areas, including:
- developing a coordinated national pollution response system regardless of location or type of good spilled.
- purchasing new pollution response vessels, communications tools, and equipment-especially for the Arctic.
- developing a national network of trained emergency responders that includes multiple levels of government, Indigenous Peoples, and coastal communities to strengthen marine emergency response-especially in remote communities.
- enhancing science to protect the environment during the cleanup and recovery of a spill.
- growing the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The Government of Canada is committed to continuing to work meaningfully with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and coastal communities in delivering the Oceans Protection Plan and respecting the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Today's funding announcement aims to continue advancing this work, and offers new opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities to:
- play a more meaningful role in emergency response and waterway management;
- partner in decision-making; and
- train in marine safety, search and rescue missions, environmental monitoring, and emergency spill response.
The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, scientists, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. This renewed and expanded Oceans Protection Plan will keep our oceans and coasts safe and healthy; will advance reconciliation, and build a clean future for our children and grandchildren.
