OCEANS PROTECTION PLAN
- Launched in 2016 and renewed in 2022 with a total investment of $3.5B, OPP continues to enhance Canada’s robust marine safety and environmental protection system.
- Through renewal, OPP is building on existing work and expanding to address remaining gaps in marine incident prevention, emergency preparedness and recovery, and ecosystem protection, and fostering new partnerships with Indigenous and coastal communities.
- Launched in 2016 and renewed in 2022 with a total investment of $3.5B, OPP continues to enhance Canada’s already robust marine safety and environmental protection system.
- The OPP is addressing remaining gaps in marine incident prevention, emergency preparedness and recovery, and ecosystem protection, and fostering new partnerships with Indigenous and coastal communities.
SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES
- Under the OPP, Canada has amended legislation, improved navigation products, services, and infrastructure, increased marine preparedness and response capabilities, enhanced marine situational awareness for indigenous groups and communities, and procured new, modern environmental response equipment and capacity in order to enhance Canada’s already robust marine safety and environmental protection system.
- We will continue working with our partners to implement measures to address environmental and marine shipping related concerns, while also enhancing the safety and efficiency of the marine sector.
- The success of OPP is due in large part to the unprecedented partnerships that have been formed. OPP continues to support reconciliation through establishment of Indigenous roles in the marine safety system.
- Underpinning the importance of partnerships within OPP - Grants & Contributions funding represents almost a quarter of the total renewed OPP budget.
UPDATE
The Oceans Protection Plan was renewed through Budget 2022 with $2.0 billion over nine years, bringing the total investment to $3.5 billion. Since renewal, a number of initiatives have been launched, including:
- the Minister of Transport has launched a call for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations to apply for funding to establish Indigenous Marine Coordinator (IMC) positions;
- A new Ballast Water Innovation Program was also launched, aimed at keeping invasive species out of the Great Lakes; and
- the Marine Training Program was extended for four additional years, with $29.8 million in funding, to continue supporting partner institutions in delivering marine training courses, creating a safe learning environment and equitable work culture for its students, and increasing diversity and recruitment in the marine sector.
In addition, work continues on key OPP initiatives, including Proactive Vessel Management, addressing the Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping, and Enhanced Marine Situational Awareness, which is a platform that was co-developed with Indigenous partners.
SUPPORTING FACTS AND FIGURES
Highlights of OPP implementation to date:
- Passed legislation and amendments (e.g. CSA 2001, WAHVA, Pilotage Act, MLA, Oil Tanker Moratorium Act) to strengthen marine safety and environmental protection and modernize Canada’s marine liability and compensation regime; further amendments being proposed as part of BIA 2023
- Working with Indigenous peoples on the West Coast, ongoing work to understand and mitigate the cumulative effects of marine shipping.
- Co-developed the Enhanced Marine Situational Awareness (EMSA) initiative with Indigenous partners (a web-based platform that shares near real-time marine traffic and environmental data to help enhance local marine safety).
- Bolstered incident response capacity, increased aerial surveillance, and developed ocean models in the South Salish Sea, Vancouver Harbour, and the Lower Fraser River to improve navigation safety and support incident response.
- Provided funding through the Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities Initiative to make Arctic resupply operations more efficient and safer for communities, workers, and the environment.
- Funded projects to remove, dispose and address the growing number of identified wrecked, abandoned or hazardous wrecked vessels that threaten marine ecosystems, navigation, local economies, and public safety.
- Held over 2,300 engagement sessions, including over 1,800 engagement sessions with Indigenous Peoples, communities and organizations to work together to modernize marine safety and environmental protections in Canada.
- Created the Marine Training Program to help underrepresented groups (Indigenous peoples, Northerners, and women) access marine training through advanced training and exercises delivered through virtual and in-person courses. Over 650 students from underrepresented groups from coast-to-coast-to-coast have now graduated, sending them to careers in B.C. Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other areas of the marine industry.
- Signed the first-ever Reconciliation Framework Agreement For Bioregional Oceans Management and Protection between the Government of Canada and 14 Pacific North Coast Nations in British Columbia to address shared marine safety and environmental protection priorities, and better coordinate and collaborate on solutions to related local ocean issues. Since then, three more First Nations have signed the agreement.
- Provided $5.8 million in funding through the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program for 21 projects with Indigenous organizations across the country. This funding supports their ongoing, long-term engagement and partnership on OPP initiatives.
BACKGROUND
Launched in 2016 and renewed in 2022, the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) is enhancing the already robust marine safety and environmental protection system in Canada and fostering new partnerships with Indigenous and coastal communities. The OPP is addressing remaining gaps in marine incident prevention, emergency preparedness and recovery, and ecosystem protection, and is demonstrating that marine shipping, ocean protection and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the marine space, can be advanced simultaneously.