Oceans Protection Plan

Location: National

Key Messages:

  • Launched in 2016, and renewed in 2022, with a total investment of $3.5 billion, the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) is enhancing Canada’s robust marine safety and environmental protection system.

  • The OPP is strengthening marine incident prevention, emergency preparedness and recovery, and ecosystem protection, and fostering new partnerships with Indigenous and coastal communities.

  • The OPP continues to support reconciliation through establishment of Indigenous roles in the marine safety system. The success of the OPP is due in large part to the unprecedented partnerships that have been formed.

Summary of Issue / Background:

  • The Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) is a national, whole-of-government plan to protect our oceans and coastlines from the potential impacts of marine shipping. The OPP involves five other federal departments (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada), with Transport Canada (TC) as the designated lead department.
  • With a total investment of $3.5 billion, the OPP places a strong emphasis on collaboration with the provinces, Indigenous Peoples, marine industries, environmental organizations, coastal communities, and the public.
  • A number of recent initiatives have been launched including:
    • First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations were invited to apply for funding to establish Indigenous Marine Coordinator positions.
    • A new $12.5M Ballast Water Innovation Program was launched to support industry efforts to advance solutions to address technical challenges with the installation, operation and maintenance of Ballast Water Management Systems on vessels in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region thereby increasing environmental protection.
    • The extension of the Marine Training Program for four 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 underrepresented groups, and increasing diversity and recruitment in the marine sector.
      • Over 650 students graduated from the Marine Training Program from coast-to-coast-to-coast sending them to careers in B.C. Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other areas of the marine industry.
  • In addition, work continues to advance core OPP initiatives, including Proactive Vessel Management, addressing the Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping, and Enhanced Marine Situational Awareness, a platform co-developed with Indigenous partners.
  • Under the OPP, the Government of Canada passed legislation and amendments (Canada Shipping Act 2001; Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act; Pilotage Act; Marine Liability Act; and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act) to strengthen marine safety and environmental protection and modernize Canada’s marine liability and compensation regime.
  • The Government of Canada co-developed the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness initiative with Indigenous partners. This initiative is a web-based platform that shares near real-time marine traffic and environmental data to help enhance local marine safety. A pilot project program was successfully launched to support partners to develop, test and evaluate the system.
  • The OPP has 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.
  • It has also provided funding through the Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities (SEBMINC) Initiative to make Arctic resupply operations more efficient and safer for communities, workers, and the environment. Canada provided $92.5M under OPP 1.0 and $60M under OPP 2.0 (total of $152.5M) in Grants & Contributions funding for SEBMINC.
  • The Government of Canada has 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.  
  • Engagement is a core priority of the OPP: under the program, the Government of Canada has convened 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, and identify a greater role for Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s marine system.
  • The first-ever Reconciliation Framework Agreement For Bioregional Oceans Management and Protection was signed 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.
  • The Government of Canada 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.