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General information
Name of horizontal initiative: Oceans Protection Plan (OPP)
Lead department: Transport Canada
Federal partner departments:
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
- Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)
- Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
- and Health Canada (HC)
Start date of the horizontal initiative: OPP start date: November 2016 renewal date: July 19, 2022
End date of the horizontal initiative: March 31, 2031
Description of the horizontal initiative: The OPP continues to advance measures to prevent and respond to marine pollution incidents, address abandoned, wrecked, and hazardous vessels, and take action to restore coastal habitats and mitigate the impact of day-to-day vessel operations on marine mammals.
Through the OPP, Transport Canada (TC) and OPP-partner departments are taking action to improve marine safety and enforce responsible shipping practices. These contributions are helping to:
- protect Canada’s waters and marine environment;
- restore and protect marine ecosystems and habitats; and,
- improve collaboration with Indigenous and coastal communities.
Governance structures: An interdepartmental senior management oversight committee is in place to:
- maintain oversight of activities;
- facilitate coordination amongst departments;
- and provide strategic direction on the OPP.
The committee is responsible for reviewing the interdepartmental reporting structure and overseeing the interdepartmental delivery of the OPP.
Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars): $2.03 billionFootnote 1 (cash)
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): $2.03 billion (cash)
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): $411.7 million
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: July 19, 2022
Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars): $2.03 billion (cash) through Budget 2022
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars): Not applicable.
Total planned spending since the last renewal: $2.03 billion
Total actual spending since the last renewal: $411.7 million
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2026-27
Performance highlights:
Over the course of 2023-24, work under all four pillars of the OPP advanced. Under the Marine Safety pillar, legislation was modernized and updated to enhance marine safety and mitigate the negative impacts of marine shipping activities on the environment. The legislative amendments will strengthen requirements for oil spill response, environmental protection, enforcement and compliance, while also ensuring Canada’s legal framework is aligned with new international standards and modern regulatory practices. Under this same pillar: the Marine Training Program expanded with training now offered in Hay River, NWT, in partnership with the Western Arctic Marine Training Consortium (WAMTC); construction began on the National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) Arctic hangar; the modern hydrography initiative completed 52 Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs).
During 2023-24, progress was made under the Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems pillar, including the completion of a final report on the Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. Transport Canada committed to funding up to $8.04 million for three projects which seek to improve ballast water management systems in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region. Through the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund, a total of 30 contribution agreements were signed to fund project activities including the restoration of important coastal habitats, such as eelgrass and kelp, as well as restoring important upstream staging pools and spawning habitats for migratory salmon in freshwater. The Comprehensive Strategy for Vessels of Concern initiative removed a total of 32 abandoned or derelict vessels in the past year, mitigating damage to local ecosystems and making Canada’s waterways safer for marine traffic. In October, eight new projects to remove 34 vessels were approved for funding through Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program.
Under the Strengthening the Evidence Base pillar, the Natural Resources Canada Multi-Partner Research Initiative finalized and signed a total of 21 contribution agreements to improve understanding of how oil spills behave, how to best contain and clean them, and how to best mitigate against environmental impacts. Additionally, ECCC’s Advancing Evidence Based Decisions through Environmental Data initiative published the British Columbia Seabird Colony Inventory to Open Data, helping to fill critical knowledge gaps and strengthen protection and conservation of wildlife in support of an enhanced marine safety system. The Ocean Networks Canada initiative hosted a workshop on Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR) in March to discuss challenges regarding CODAR installations and discuss lessons learned for application to future installations. Under the Environmental Response Science initiative, DFO’s Center for Offshore Oil Energy and Gas Research (COOGER) undertook research on the fate and behaviour of oil spills which will provide support for environmental response strategy and planning.
Through 2023-24, under the Advancing Indigenous Partnerships and Engaging Canadians pillar: initial engagement was conducted for the establishment of the Regulatory Roundtable sub-initiative, which seeks to increase collaboration and foster an inclusive regulatory development process between Canada and Indigenous Peoples; regional marine dialogue Forums were hosted in Pacific, Atlantic and Quebec regions which enabled engagement and created an avenue to exchange expertise, training, and lessons learned between OPP initiatives and marine system stakeholders; and, the Indigenous Marine Coordinator component of the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program (IMC-ILCEPP) was launched in March 2023. The call for proposals was open to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, entities, organizations, and governments for provision of up to foury ears of capacity funding to support OPP engagement and partnerships.
Contact information: Fabien Lefebvre, A/Director General, Ocean Protection Plan, fabien.lefebvre@tc.gc.ca
Shared outcomesFootnote 2
The Negative Impacts of Marine Traffic are Reduced
| Name of theme | Enhancing marine safetyFootnote 3 | Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems | Strengthening the evidence base | Advancing Indigenous partnerships and engaging Canadians | Internal servicesFootnote 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcome(s) | Federal marine safety system capable of preventing and responding to marine emergencies, responding to a broader range of pollution, and planning for recovery from marine oil spills | Marine ecosystems are restored, and proactive measures are in place for the ongoing protection against the impacts of marine shipping | Scientific information and capacity for expert analysis is available to inform decisions related to the prevention, prediction, and response of marine incidents, as well as to guide ecosystem protection | Indigenous Peoples are meaningfully participating and have a role in the marine safety system and ecosystem protection. | Not applicable |
| Transport Canada (TC)Footnote 5 | $525.53M | $139.35M | $1.01M | $43.80M | $68.9M |
| Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) | $710.15M | $242.36M | $93.45M | $11.28M | $95.4M |
| Environment and Climate Change CanadaFootnote 6 (ECCC) | $131.14M | $7.63M | $84.31M | $12.4M | |
|
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) |
$3.46M | $30.32M |
$1.3M |
||
| Health Canada (HC) | $9.40M | $0.8M |
Performance information
Horizontal initiative overview
|
Name of horizontal initiative |
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Planned spending |
2023–24 Actual spending |
Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) | 2023–24 Performance indicator(s) | 2023–24 Target(s)Footnote 7 | Date to achieve target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) | $2.03B | $316.08M | $265.0M | The Negative Impacts of Marine Traffic are Reduced | Increase in confidence amongst Indigenous Peoples and Canadians that the impacts from marine traffic on marine ecosystems have been reduced and that marine habitats and species are protected | 5% increase of survey respondents are confident in Canada’s marine safety system from the end of 2022 | Every two years beginning in FY 2023/24 | 8% increase of Canadian respondents and 10% increase of Indigenous respondents are confident in Canada’s marine safety system |
| Reduction in the volume of marine pollution spills over 10 litres detected | Less than 6,490 litres | March 2025 | 739L | |||||
| Ten-year marine accident rate (average per year, per 1000 commercial vessels) | Less than 10 per 1,000 commercial vessels | March 2031 | 6.1 per 1,000 commercial vessels | |||||
| Measures are in place to reduce impacts of marine safety incidents, marine shipping, vessels of concern and vessel traffic on marine ecosystems | Eight measures in place | March 2031 | 5 measures in place. | |||||
| Square meters of aquatic habitat in marine and coastal areas of Canada that have been restored | 700 million square meters restored | March 2027 | 30,000 square meters | |||||
| % increase in involvement of Indigenous Peoples throughout the marine safety system | A 25% increase of interested Indigenous groups in Canada’s marine safety system | March 2031 | N/A |
Theme horizontal initiative activitiesFootnote 8
Theme 1 - Enhancing Marine Safety
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Federal theme planned spending |
2023–24 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of responses to environmental incidents that meet established standards | 100% every year, ongoing |
Annual DFO/CCGFootnote 9: $88.08M ECCCFootnote 10: $15.50M NRCan: $0.70M HC: $1.10M All Departments (total): $194.93M |
100% DFO/CCG: $74.55M ECCC: $12.32M NRCan: $0.70M HC: $1.14M All Departments (total): $155.11M |
Federal marine safety system capable of preventing and responding to marine emergencies, responding to a broader range of pollution, and planning for recovery from marine oil spills | % of authorities sought to close gaps and strengthen marine safety and environmental protection receive Royal Assent. | 100% | March 2027 | 60% |
| % of search and rescue responses that meet established standards | 99% every year, ongoing | Annual | 98.85% | |||||
| # of distinct (coastal and inland) communities that have increased marine safety capacity from the Oceans Protection Plan | At least 50 distinct communities | April 2025 | 27 | |||||
Theme 1 – Enhancing Marine Safety - horizontal initiative activities
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Legislative and Regulatory Modernization | $13.51M / 5 years | $2.58M | $1.87M | The national prevention framework is adapted to prevent or minimize marine incidents and impacts from routine marine transportation and shipping | % of identified gaps in the national framework that are closed to ensure that the prevention framework is adapted to account for changes to marine transportation | 100% | March 2027 | 100% |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Mandate to Negotiate the Repeal of the Great Lakes Agreement, 1973 | No Funding | No Funding | No Funding | % of identified gaps in the national framework that are closed to ensure that the prevention framework is adapted to account for changes to marine transportation | 100% | March 2027 | 100% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways); DFO/CCG | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Enhanced Navigational Safety Assessment Program |
TC: $21.23M / 9 years, $2.37M Ongoing DFO/CCG $24.41M / 9 years, 2.65M Ongoing Total: $45.64M / 9 years, $5.01M Ongoing |
TC: $2.25M DFO/CCG: $2.70M Total: $4.95M |
TC: $1.52M DFO/CCG: $2.15M Total: $3.67M |
% of identified gaps in the national framework that are closed to ensure that the prevention framework is adapted to account for changes to marine transportation | 100% | March 2027 | 75% | |
| TC | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Active Vessel Traffic Management (Anchorages) | $2.24M / 3 years | $0.79M | $0.95M | % of identified gaps in the national framework that are closed to ensure that the prevention framework is adapted to account for changes to marine transportation | 100% | March 2027 | 50% | |
| DFO/CCG (Canadian Hydrographic Services) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Modern Hydrography | $84.01M / 9 years, $3.94M Ongoing | $15.59M | $15.73M | Tools are in place to facilitate safe navigation |
|
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1) 45.7% 2) 48.6% |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | National Pilotage Certification Program | $1.12M / 2 years | $0.45M | $0.58M | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Office of Boating Safety (OBS) | $29.78M / 9 years, $2.72M Ongoing | $4.47M | $3.57M | % increase in recreational boaters following safety boating practices | 10% increase from baseline | March 2027 | N/AFootnote 11 | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) Complex and Augmenting the NASP | $54.09M / 9 years; $2.8M ongoing | $18.30MFootnote 12 | $18.90M | Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement of federal marine safety and environmental regulations | NASP response rate to search and rescue and oil spill tasking | 70% response rate to search and rescue tasking and 100% response rate to oil spill taskings | March 2027 | No search and rescue or oil spill taskings in 2023-24 |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Strengthening and Modernizing Canada’s Domestic Vessel Oversight Regime | $28.28M / 5 years | $6.56M | $3.94M | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Strengthen the Port State Control Including Tanker Inspections - Modernization of the Mandatory Regulatory Cargo Inspection Program | $41.02M / 9 years, $4.18M Ongoing | $5.41M | $4.93M | Enhanced inspection of every foreign tanker inspected under Port State Control | 90% | March 2024 | 99% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Administration of the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act | $1.99M / 9 years, $0.22M Ongoing | $0.21M | $0.19M | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
|
TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways). DFO/CCG (Environmental Response, Aquatic Ecosystem Science, Fish and Fish Habitat Protection), ECCC (Substances and Waste Management), HC (Health Impacts of Chemicals), NRCan (Energy Innovation and Clean Technology) |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) |
TC: $8.39M / 9 years, $0.86M Ongoing DFO/CCG: $75.19M / 9 years, $7.83M Ongoing ECCC: $17.36M / NRCan: $3.46M / 5 years HC: $3.05M / 9 years, $0.33M Ongoing Total: $107.44M / 9 years; $10.92M Ongoing |
TC: $0.37M DFO/CCG: $8.63M ECCC: $1.77M NRCan: $0.70M HC: $0.36M Total: $11.83M |
TC: $0.20M DFO/CCG: $7.47M ECCC: $1.49M NRCan: $0.70M HC: $0.37M Total: $10.23M |
National direction and guidance are available to guide response in the event of a marine emergency | % of responders trained to participate in HNS incident response | 70% | March 2027 | 0% |
|
TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways). DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response (MPPR) |
TC: $48.94M / 9 years, $4.95M Ongoing DFO/CCG: $12.38M / 5 years Total: $61.32M / 9 years; $4.95M Ongoing |
TC: $5.82M DFO/CCG: $2.41M Total: $8.23M |
TC: $3.57M DFO/CCG: $1.94M Total: $5.51M |
% national policy/plans/frameworks updated to reflect the national system | 100% | March 2027 | 0% | |
|
TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways); CCG |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Enhanced Marine Emergency Management (EMEM) |
TC: No Funding DFO/CCG: $7.63M / 9 years, $1.04M Ongoing |
TC: No Funding DFO/CCG: $0.44M |
TC: No Funding DFO/CCG: $0.12M |
% national policy/plans/frameworks updated to reflect the national system | 100% | March 2027 | 0% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways); DFO/CCG | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Places of Refuge (POR) |
TC: $10.97M / 9 years, $1.23M Ongoing DFO/CCG: $5.89M / 9 years Total: $16.86M / 9 years; $1.23M Ongoing |
TC: $1.18M DFO/CCG: $1.55M Total: $2.72M |
TC: $1.16M DFO/CCG: $0.95M Total: $2.11M |
% of places of refuge designated | 75% | March 2027 | 25% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Integrated Data Fusion and Analytical Capacity | $6.18M / 9 years, $0.64M Ongoing | $0.94M | $0.68M | % increase in datasets and products shared with stakeholders to support decisions using real-time information | at least 50% | March 2027 | 25% increase | |
|
DFO/CCG (Search & Rescue) |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Risk-Based Analysis of Maritime Search and Rescue Delivery (RAMSARD) | $19.10M / 9 years, $2.33M Ongoing | $2.21M | $2.13M | # of search and rescue areas reviewed using the risk-based analysis methodology | Eight reviews annually starting in 2024 | Annual | 0 | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response), TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways). ECCC (Migratory Birds and other Wildlife, Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships, Substances and Waste Management), HC (Health Impacts of Chemicals) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Integrated Marine Response Planning program |
DFO/CCG: $246.29M / 9 years, $29.64M Ongoing TC: $10.28M / 9 years, $1.15M Ongoing ECCC: $65.07M / 9 years, $7.28M Ongoing HC: $2.93M / 9 years, $0.32M Ongoing Total: $324.57M / 9 years; $38.38M Ongoing |
DFO/CCG: $24.15M TC: $1.09M ECCC: $6.58M HC: $0.34M Total: $32.17M |
DFO/CCG: $20.61M TC: $0.98M ECCC: $5.13M HC: $0.36M Total: $27.08M |
# of integrated marine pollution response plans developed that are informed by science, Indigenous knowledge, and operational experience | Eight | March 2027 | 0 | |
| ECCC (Migratory Birds and other Wildlife, Substances and Waste Management, Compliance Promotion and Enforcement-Wildlife) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Environmental and Scientific Support to Environmental Emergency Response | $32.52M / 9 years, $3.23M Ongoing | $4.90M | $3.80M | The federal government, Indigenous and coastal communities have improved capacity to respond to marine incidents | % of occasions where the scientific and technical advice provided by ECCC is considered in response and remediation decisions | 90% | 2027 | 100% |
| DFO/CCG (Search & Rescue) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Enhanced Arctic Response Station | $27.42M / 9 years, $3.10M Ongoing | $4.31M | $2.49M | # of days the Arctic Response Station is operating per year (June-October) | 115 days per year starting 2023 | Annual | 125 days | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Improving Environmental Response Community Caches in the Arctic | $6.92M / 9 years, $0.38M Ongoing | $2.16M | $1.60M | # of caches (community packs) delivered to identified communities at prescribed locations | 29 | March 2027 | 0 | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Acquisition of Pollution Response Vessels (PRVs) for Environmental Response | $10.05M / 5 years | $0.47M | $0.14M | # of new pollution response vessels delivered to environmental response depots | 8 | March 2027 | 0 | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Expanding the Communication Portal for Integrated Incident Response (CPIIR) | $24.15M / 9 years, $1.5M Ongoing | $4.69M | $3.86M | # of coastal communities and partners that have received access to a CCG integrated communication tool to supports on-water marine response | 38 | March 2027 | 0 | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Heiltsuk Marine Emergency Response Team | $5.18M / 5 years | $1.08M | $1.15M | % MERT responders trained and equipped to respond to marine pollution incidents | 100% | March 2027 | 0% | |
| DFO/CCG (Environmental Response) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Coastal Marine Response Teams | $40.50M / 5 years | $5.68M | $1.25M | # of coastal marine response teams (CMRT) trained, equipped, and ready to respond to marine pollution incidents | 19 | March 2027 | 0 | |
| DFO/CCG (Search & Rescue) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Project (ICBVP) | $35.51M / 9 years, $3.97M Ongoing | $4.02M | $4.48M | % of Indigenous community units funded under the Indigenous Community Volunteer Program who are active members of the CCG Auxiliary | 100% | March 2027 | 0% | |
| DFO/CCG (Search & Rescue) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Coast Guard Auxiliary Renewal | $34.10M / 9 years, $4.85M Ongoing | $2.86M | $3.42M | % of maritime SAR responses to which the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary responded | 25% (five-year average) | March 2027 | 20.7% | |
| DFO/CCG (Search & Rescue) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Indigenous Search and Rescue Training and Exercising | $24.29M / 9 years, $3.37M Ongoing | $2.02M | $1.87M | # of Indigenous Peoples who participate in marine emergency response training and/or exercising through agreements and arrangements with Coast Guard | 360 | March 2027 | 14 communities (over 100 Indigenous peoples) | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness | $109.19M / 9 years, $12.73M Ongoing | $11.08M | $11.26M | % increase of users with access to EMSA (current baseline is 650 users) | 100% increase (1300 users) | March 2027 | 52.6% increase (992 users) | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities | $62.03M / 5 years | $15.40M | $0.28M | % of targeted Northern Indigenous communities deploying new safety equipment and/or basic marine infrastructure | 90% | 2027 | 22.8% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways); DFO/CCG | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Indigenous Participation and Training – Marine Training Program |
TC: $38.94M / 5 years DFO/CCG: $9.99M / 5 years Total: $48.93M / 5 years |
TC: $7.76M DFO/CCG: $0.79M Total: $8.56M |
TC: $6.60M DFO/CCG: $1.19M Total: $7.79M |
% of Marine Training Program graduates who are employed in the marine sector | 70% | March 2027 | 61.46% | |
| ECCC (Substances and Waste Management), DFO/CCG (Environmental Response, Aquatic Ecosystem Science), HC (Health Impacts of Chemicals) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Recovery from Environmental Emergencies Involving Marine Oil Spills |
ECCC: $13.51M / 9 years, $1.36M Ongoing DFO/CCG: $3.09M / 5 years HC: $3.42M / 9 years, $0.37M Ongoing Total: $20.02M / 9 years; $1.73M Ongoing |
ECCC: $1.90M DFO/CCG: $0.61M HC: $0.40M Total: $2.90M |
ECCC: $1.39M DFO/CCG: $0.29M HC: $0.41M Total: $2.09M |
Recovery operations are coordinated to minimize residual impacts of marine oil spills and compensation to affected parties for impact of pollutants is enhanced | The Recovery Framework is established | By 2027 | 2027 | No |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Liability and Compensation | $12.78 / 9 years, $1.40M Ongoing | $1.50M | $1.32M | Availability of compensation for all future losses of income or profit in all spills | December 2022 | December 2022 | Yes |
Theme 2 - Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Federal theme planned spending |
2023–24 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems | $389.33M |
TC: $25.96M DFO/CCG: $41.70M ECCCFootnote 13: $1.76M Total: $69.42M |
TC: $18.11M DFO/CCG: $43.27M ECCC: $0.96M Total: $62.34M |
Marine ecosystems are restored, and proactive measures are in place for the ongoing protection against the impacts of marine shipping | # of measures in place to reduce impacts of marine safety incidents, marine shipping, vessels of concern and vessel traffic on marine ecosystems | Seven | March 2027 | 4 |
| # of square meters of aquatic habitat in marine and coastal areas of Canada that have been restored | 700 million square meters restored | March 2027 | 30,000 square meters |
Theme 2 - Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems - horizontal initiative activities
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping | $8.29M / 5 years | $1.90M | $1.48M | Scientific information and tools are available to inform decisions related to marine ecosystem and marine mammal protection | # of regional assessments completed on the cumulative effects of marine shipping on marine environments and local communities | Six regional assessments completed | March 2027 | 0 |
| DFO (Aquatic Ecosystem Science) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Assessment and monitoring of physical and acoustic (noise) effects on marine mammals from major marine development projects, including the continued delivery of TMX Project Recommendation 5-6 | $28.06M / 5 years | $5.89M | $6.13M | # new science products related to SARA-listed marine mammals, whale detection, underwater noise and noise management | At least four | March 2027 | 6 publications and 2 DFO technical reports | |
|
TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways), DFO/CCG (Small Craft Harbours), ECCC (Migratory Birds and other Wildlife, Substances and Waste Management) |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Comprehensive Strategy for Vessels of Concern |
TC: $64.02MFootnote 14 / 5 years DFO/CCG: $112.14M / 5 years, $0.39M Ongoing ECCC: $7.63M / 5 years Total: $183.89M / 5 years; $0.39M Ongoing |
TC: $14.09M DFO/CCG: $21.88M ECCC: $1.76M Total: $37.73M |
TC: $8.96M DFO/CCG: $22.68M ECCC: $0.96M Total: $32.60M |
Abandonment of vessels is reduced and vessels of concern are addressed |
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1) 59 (18 by ABP and 41 by SCH-AWVRP) 2) N/A |
| DFO (Fish and Fish Habitat Protection) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund | $85.40M / 5 years |
$12.30M | $12.52M | Aquatic restoration efforts are expanded to include in-land waterways | % of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects taking place in freshwater environments | 20% | March 2027 | 42% |
| Indigenous Peoples play a more significant role in aquatic habitat restoration |
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| DFO/CCG (Marine Planning and Conservation) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Establishing and implementing Marine Environmental Quality tools under the Oceans Act to address key stressors and support decision making in the marine environment | $14.53M / 9 years, $1.57M Ongoing | $1.64M | $1.86M | Measures are in place, and complied with, to reduce the risk of stressors on marine ecosystems |
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|
Begin reporting results in FY25-26 |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species through Marine Transportation | $66.94MFootnote 15 / 9 years, $4.62M Ongoing | $9.97M | $7.67M | % of ships inspected compliant with Ballast Water Regulations | 95% of vessels over 400 gross tonnage comply with the Ballast Water Regulations | March 2027 | 93.2% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Arctic Ban on Heavy Fuel Oil Use by Ships | No Funding | No Funding | No Funding | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| DFO/CCG (Fisheries Management) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Marine Mammal Response Program | $1.01M / 1 year | No Funding | $0.06M | # of partners equipped or trained to respond to marine mammal incidents | 11 | March 2023 | Project complete | |
| DFO (Aquatic Ecosystem Science) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Reducing the Threat of Vessel Traffic on Whales and Other Marine Mammals through Detection and Avoidance | $1.22M / 1 year | No Funding | $0.01M | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Theme 3 - Strengthening the Evidence Base
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Federal theme planned spending |
2023–24 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strengthening the Evidence Base | $209.08M |
TC: $0.11M DFO/CCG: $20.88M ECCCFootnote 16: $12.32M NRCan: $7.47M Total: $40.78M |
TC: $0.01M DFO/CCG: $15.71M ECCC: $10.82M NRCan: $7.27M Total: $33.81M |
Scientific information and capacity for expert analysis is available to inform decisions related to the prevention, prediction, and response of marine incidents, as well as to guide ecosystem protection | # of scientific publications, products and programs | 65 | March 2027 |
2023-24: 49 scientific publications, products and programs Cumulative result: 64 scientific publications, products and programs |
Theme 3 - Strengthening the Evidence Base - horizontal initiative activities
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECCC (Migratory Birds and other Wildlife, Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Advancing Evidenced Based Decisions Through Environmental Data (AED) | $62.71M / 9 years, $6.55M Ongoing | $9.51M | $8.19M | Increased access to new research and data to inform safer navigation and to support incident response | % of priority areas by region that have environmental data available for environmental emergencies | 100% | March 2027 | 19.75% |
| DFO/CCG (Aquatic Ecosystem Science) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | DFO Environmental Response Science | $41.65M / 5 years | $10.52M | $5.38M | # of scientific publications and products related to oil in the marine environment | Beginning in 2023, at least five per year until 2027 | Annual | 9 publications and/or products | |
| NRCan (Energy Innovation and Clean Technology) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Multi-Partner Research Initiative | $30.32M / 5 years | $7.47M | $7.27M | Data and research products are available to inform safer navigation, emergency response planning and marine ecosystems impacts | # of scientific publications and products related to oil in the marine, offshore, offshore platform and near-shore environments, as well as onshore pipeline oil spill scenarios | Beginning in FY 2023/24, at least five per year until 2027 (20 in total) |
Annual | 0Footnote 17 |
| DFO (Oceans and Climate Change Science) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Oceans Network Canada | $51.79M / 5 years | $10.35M | $10.33M | # of CODAR sites where real-time or near real-time data is available | 14 | March 2027 | 12 CODAR sites | |
| ECCC (Migratory Birds and other Wildlife) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Community-based Partnerships for Marine Response | $21.60M / 9 years, $2.02M Ongoing | $2.81M | $2.62M | % of engaged Indigenous groups providing data and/or information to support marine safety | 100% of engaged Indigenous groups are contributing local information to support marine safety | March 2027 | 25% | |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | World Maritime University (WMU) Chair Position | $1.01M / 9 years, $0.11M Ongoing | $0.11M | $0.01M | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Theme 4 - Advancing Indigenous Partnerships and Engaging Canadians
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Federal theme planned spending |
2023–24 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing Indigenous Partnerships and Engaging Canadians - horizontal initiative activities | $55.08M |
TC: $8.75M DFO/CCG: $2.20M Total: $10.95M |
TC: $11.19M DFO/CCG: $2.35M Total: $13.55M |
Indigenous Peoples are meaningfully participating and have a role in the marine safety system and ecosystem protection. | % of Indigenous groups who feel that they meaningfully participated in the Oceans Protection Plan |
1) By March 2027, there is a 40% average increase in the participation rate of Indigenous groups at Dialogue Forums and priority engagements. 2) By March 2027, 30% increase of agenda items co-developed and/or presented by Indigenous partners |
March 2027 |
|
| % of Canadians who are confident in Canada’s marine safety system | By March 2027, 2% increase of survey respondents are confident in Canada’s marine safety system from the end of 2022 | March 2027 | 8% increase of Canadian respondents and 10% increase of Indigenous respondents are confident in Canada’s marine safety system |
Theme 4 - Advancing Indigenous Partnerships and Engaging Canadians - horizontal initiative activities
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2023–24 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2023–24 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways), DFO/CCG (Shore-Based Asset Readiness) |
M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Oceans Protection Plan Engagement Hubs and Marine Dialogue Forums |
TC: $9.60M/5 years DFO/CCG: $2.51M/5 years Total: $12.11M/5 years |
TC: $1.76M DFO/CCG: $0.49M Total: $2.25M |
TC: $2.95M DFO/CCG: $0.62M Total: $3.57M |
Strengthened engagement with Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, and stakeholders through enhanced collaboration, coordination, and information-sharing. | % increase of survey respondents participating in the Salish Sea Strategy and Marine Dialogue Forums who indicate engagement has helped their participation in the marine safety system or environmental protection | 20% increase from baseline | March 2027 | N/A |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Salish Sea Strategy | $2.03M / 5 years | $0.57M | $0.64M | Strengthened engagement with Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, and stakeholders through enhanced collaboration, coordination, and information-sharing. | % increase of survey respondents participating in the Salish Sea Strategy and Marine Dialogue Forums who indicate engagement has helped their participation in the marine safety system or environmental protection | 20% increase from baseline | March 2027 | N/A |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Building Public Confidence in Canada’s Marine Safety System | $7.05M / 5 years | $1.40M | $1.30M | Strengthened engagement with Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, and stakeholders through enhanced collaboration, coordination, and information-sharing. | % increase of survey respondents participating in the Salish Sea Strategy and Marine Dialogue Forums who indicate engagement has helped their participation in the marine safety system or environmental protection | 20% increase from baseline | March 2027 | N/A |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways), DFO/CCG (Shore-Based Asset Readiness) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Advancing Indigenous Partnerships: Governance, Policy Framework and Partnership Agreements |
TC: $25.12M/5 years DFO/CCG: $8.77M / 5 years Total: $33.89M / 5 years |
TC: $5.02M DFO/CCG: $1.71M Total: $6.73M |
TC: $6.31M DFO/CCG:$1.74M Total:$8.04M |
Meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships | # of partnership agreements signed and maintained with those Indigenous groups who have indicated interest | Maintain two existing and up to four new partnership agreements nationally | March 2027 | Maintained 2 existing partnership agreements and signed 1 new partnership agreement nationally |
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways), DFO/CCG (Shore-Based Asset Readiness) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Advancing Indigenous Partnerships: Proactive Vessel Management | Meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships | # of partnership agreements assessed using performance indicators co-developed with Indigenous partners | At least two partnership agreements assessed | March 2027 | 0 | |||
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Advancing Indigenous Partnerships: Regulatory Roundtable | Meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships | # of Indigenous groups engaged in developing a collaborative governance framework | Up to five regional or national Indigenous groups or partners | March 2027 | 0 | |||
| TC (Protecting Oceans and Waterways), DFO/CCG (Shore-Based Asset Readiness) | M60 (Protecting Oceans and Waterways) | Advancing Indigenous Partnerships: Northern Low Impact Shipping Corridors | Meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships | # of targeted Indigenous partners contributing to developing and recommending a governance model to support low impact shipping corridors in the North | 10 targeted Indigenous partners | March 2027 | 0 |
Total spending, all themes
| Theme | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewaltable note * | 2023–24 Total federal planned spending | 2023–24 Total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancing Marine Safety | $1,379.7M | $194.9M | $155.1M |
| Protecting and Restoring Marine Ecosystems | $389.3M | $69.4M | $62.3M |
| Strengthening the Evidence Base | $209.1M | $40.8M | $34.0M |
| Advancing Indigenous Partnerships and Engaging Canadians | $55.1M | $10.9M | $13.6M |
| Total, all themes | $2033.2M | $316.1M | $265.0M |