Location: National
Key messages:
- The Government of Canada respects, appreciates, and relies on the traditional knowledge and expertise of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples in order to develop and improve a safe and reliable transportation system.
- To date, Transport Canada (TC) has actively collaborated with Indigenous partners and other departments in many areas, including:
- Under Oceans Protection Plan, creating regional partnerships with Indigenous and local communities to identify opportunities where they can play an active role in the marine safety regime.
- Under the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, working with Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada as well as Indigenous Services Canada to continue advancing Inuit priority projects identified by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (the National Inuit Organization) for which TC can play a role, including regarding northern infrastructure.
- Participating in over 40 Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA)-led ‘Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination’ discussions with Indigenous groups, offering opportunities for collaborative exploration of Indigenous interests, development of mandates and pursuit of solutions.
- Participating in whole-of-government consultation processes to meet legal obligations in fulfilling the duty to consult (e.g. natural resource development projects).
- Working closely with federal, territorial, provincial, Indigenous and Inuit partners in the development and ongoing implementation of Canada’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework that envisions a future where northern and Arctic people are striving, strong, and safe.
- Supporting marine conservation initiatives in the North through participation in negotiations of Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements with Regional Inuit Associations. (e.g. Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area).
- Indigenous Peoples have had fundamental ties with Canada’s oceans and waterways since time immemorial. Indigenous knowledge and expertise are critical to protecting our coastal waters now and into the future.
- TC’s various initiatives bring Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, scientists, and government together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country.
- Moving forward, TC will continue to build on opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to collaboratively protect, preserve, and restore Canada’s oceans and waterways.
Summary of Issue / Background:
- TCs work in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples has evolved significantly and the Department continues to adapt its activities in response to the changing Indigenous relations landscape in Canada.
- In June 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent. It provides a roadmap for the Government of Canada and Indigenous Peoples to work together to fully implement the Declaration and move Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples forward. In addition, agreement, new direction from the courts and government announcements continue to create new obligations and change the frame within which TC operates across all modes.
- The Minister of Transport’s portfolio offers a range of existing opportunities that may provide an opportunity to further Canada’s commitment to the nation-to-nation relationship, including:
- Supporting collaborative governance models through co-management/co-development in the marine environment under recent measures to strengthen marine safety and oversight of navigable waters;
- Managing Indigenous and treaty rights and title-related issues on TC-owned lands (e.g., airports and ports);
- Considering further Indigenous governance and decision-making at Canada Port Authorities (e.g. establishment of Indigenous Advisory Committees under the Ports Modernization Review) and explore potential opportunities within other modes (e.g. rail);
- The Crown consultation process on major projects (e.g. Roberts Bank Terminal 2) and the issuance of regulatory approvals (e.g. under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act) to address potential adverse impacts to Indigenous rights (e.g. via appropriate accommodation measures); and
- Targeted funding through Transport Canada-administered programs (e.g. National Trade Corridor Fund), to facilitate transportation infrastructure projects to the benefit of Indigenous communities.
Partnership and Co-Development
- Building on successes from recent years, TC intends to continue the implementation of Oceans Protection Plan initiatives across the country in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
- Since the 2019 coming into force of the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and the Wrecked, Abandoned, or Hazardous Vessels Act, TC has entered into over 60 funding agreements to facilitate consultation with and collaboration with Indigenous communities and organizations in the implementation of the decisions and policy initiatives related to these Acts. The establishment of new agreements and arrangements for how Transport Canada administers the Acts (e.g. facilitating monitoring and/or enforcement) will provide additional opportunities to build partnerships.
- To date, the Government of Canada has 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 Oceans Protection Plan’s initiatives.
Enhancing Engagement in Rail Safety
- Indigenous groups have clearly expressed the need to be partners in decisions and measures that impact the safety and security of their communities.
- The Auditor General echoed this need in a February 2021 Follow-up Audit on Rail Safety, which concluded significant and emerging risks to communities. Canada is committed to enhancing meaningful engagement in rail safety with Indigenous and local communities.
- In March 2022, TC sought funding on “Modernizing Rail Safety and Security to Protect Canadians and their Communities,” to allocate $19.8 million towards expanding engagement with local and Indigenous communities and organizations on matters pertaining to rail safety, with $8 million in proposed grant funding and $1.6 million in contribution funding.
- In 2021, TC launched a rail safety component of the Community Participant Funding Program and in 2022, launched the Program to Enhance Rail Safety Engagement. Both programs are designed to increase Indigenous and local community participation in rail transportation.
- Through the High Frequency Rail Project (HFR), TC is working with VIA HFR to support consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities in or around the vicinity of the Quebec to Toronto rail corridor, including providing capacity funding through the Community Partnerships Funding Program to enhance the participation of these Indigenous communities and organizations throughout the phases of the HFR Project
Relationship and Capacity Building
- TC interacts with many Indigenous communities in carrying out its day-to-day activities and in consultations for major projects.
- Further, National Indigenous Organizations expect Canada to maintain its commitment to dialogue, joint-priority setting, co-development, and meaningful consultation. Effectively maintaining these relationships requires significant capacity from all parties.
- The Indigenous Participant Funding Program (IPFP) funds projects and initiatives designed to support the capacity of Indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA) and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (WAHVA) processes which include measures aimed at supporting the objectives of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
- This program supports the participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada by providing funding through grants and contributions.
Indigenous Training in the Transportation Sector
- Labour shortages threaten the health, safety, and economic viability of Canadians – particularly Indigenous, Northern, and remote communities dependent on transportation.
- TC's strategy to address labour and skills shortages in the transportation sector focuses on recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups, including Indigenous Peoples.
- Through the Oceans Protection Plan, TC has partnered with Canadian marine training institutions to deliver training to underrepresented groups in the marine sector, such as Indigenous Peoples, Northerners, and women.
- Under the Marine Training Program, and through advanced training and exercises delivered through virtual and in-person courses, over 650 students from underrepresented groups from coast-to-coast-to-coast graduated, sending them to careers in B.C. Ferries, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other areas of the marine industry.
- In 2023, the Marine Training Program was extended 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 its students, and increasing diversity and recruitment in the marine sector—resulting in more skilled workers entering the Canadian marine industry.