Horizontal Initiative - Oceans Protection Plan

From: Transport Canada

General information
Name of horizontal initiative	Oceans Protection Plan
Lead department(s)	Transport Canada
Federal partner organization(s)	Partner organizations include: Fisheries and Oceans Canada; The Canadian Coast Guard; Natural Resources Canada; and Environment and Climate Change Canada
Non‑federal and non‑governmental partner(s)	This includes: Provinces and territories, including provincial- and territorially-owned entities; Municipalities, including municipally-owned entities, and local and regional governments; Indigenous communities and entities; For-profit private organizations; Not-for-profit private organizations (e.g., St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation); Public sector organizations; Academia; and Individuals.
Start date of the horizontal initiative	November 7, 2016
End date of the horizontal initiative	March 31, 2022
Description of the horizontal initiative	OPP is putting into place concrete measures to prevent and to better respond to marine pollution incidents, to address abandoned, wrecked and hazardous vessels, and to take action to restore coastal habitats and mitigate the impact of day-to-day vessel operations on marine mammals. Through OPP, Transport Canada and partners are undertaking a number of actions to improve marine safety and enforce responsible shipping practices. These contributions will continue to protect Canada’s waters and marine environment; restore and protect marine ecosystems and habitats; and encourage collaboration with Indigenous and coastal communities.
Governance structures	Interdepartmental senior management oversight committee to maintain oversight of activities; facilitate coordination amongst departments; and provide strategic direction on the Oceans Protection Plan. The committee is and will continue to be responsible for reviewing the interdepartmental tracking scheme, and overseeing the interdepartmental rollout of the Oceans Protection Plan.
Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)	$1.7343 billion (cash)
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative	Not applicable
Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal and source of funding (dollars)	Not applicable
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)	Not applicable
Funding contributed by non‑federal and non‑governmental partners (dollars)
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation
Shared outcome of federal partners	A world-leading marine safety system for Canada’s three coasts that protects marine ecosystems.
Performance indicator(s)	Number of marine safety incidents and spills from vessels in Canada’s waters Percentage of projects funded through Coastal Restoration Fund contribution agreements leading to rehabilitation of aquatic habitats Number of vessels of concern addressed Number of Indigenous groups that participate in Canada’s marine safety system Percentage of policies and operational response plans developed through OPP that are supported by scientific, local/traditional, and other relevant information/knowledge The percentage of Canadians who are confident in Canada’s marine safety system
Target(s)	By 2022, a reduction in the number of small oil spills and marine incidents relative to the number of vessel trips, compared with the average of the previous five years [specific target to be determined by April 2020 following establishment of baseline] 90% of projects funded through Coastal Restoration Fund contribution agreements lead to rehabilitation of aquatic habitats By 2022, a reduction in the number of abandoned, derelict and wrecked vessels present in Canadian waters, compared with a 2019 baseline [specific target to be determined by April 2020 following assessment of vessels of concern] By 2027, an increased number of interested Indigenous groups are active partners in Canada’s marine safety system [specific target to be determined by April 2022 following engagement with Indigenous partners] By 2022, 100% of policies and operational response plans are supported by scientific, local/traditional, and other relevant information/knowledge By 2022, an increased percentage of Canadians are confident in Canada’s marine safety system [specific target to be determined by April 2020 following establishment of baseline]
Expected outcome of non‑federal and non‑governmental partners	Not Applicable
Results	Introduced legislation to protect Canadians, the environment and local economies from the negative consequences of wrecked, abandoned and hazardous vessels Actively implementing the Oceans Protection Plan in partnership with Indigenous groups Advancing knowledge and the scientific advice provided to oil spill responders to inform the response approach to a spill and the resulting decision-making Continuing to raise awareness on the Oceans Protection Plan and receive input from Canadians
Contact information	Jane Weldon, Executive Head, Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada

Performance information
Federal department	Link to the department’s [Program Alignment Architecture or Program Inventory]	Horizontal initiative activities	Total federal allocation (from start to end date) (dollars)	2018–19 Planned spending (dollars)	2018–19 Actual spending (dollars)	2018–19 Performance indicators	2018–19 Targets	Date to achieve target	2018–19 Actual results
Transport Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard Environment and Climate Change Canada	Protecting Oceans and Waterways	Pillar 1- Initiatives involved in enhancing the prevention of marine incidents include: New information-sharing systems - the Government of Canada will work with Indigenous and coastal communities to design new information-sharing systems and platforms so they have access to real-time information on marine shipping activities to support safer navigation in local waters Proactive Vessel Management - allow those involved in the marine safety system – governments, communities, Indigenous groups – to inform local traffic management Safer resupply in Arctic communities – funding new tools and equipment to unload essential goods in northern communities Stronger polluter-pay principle – remove the per-incident limit of liability on Canada’s domestic compensation fund for ship-source oil spill response Initiatives involved in strengthening of responses to marine incidents include: A stronger Canadian Coast Guard - The Canadian Coast Guard’s command systems will be strengthened where gaps have been identified. The Coast Guard will be given greater power to intervene directly to prevent marine incidents, such as where ship operators have been reluctant to act Increased emergency response: 24/7 response capacity will be established to effectively manage marine incidents; and baseline environmental data on B.C.’s North Coast will be collected. Increased towing capacity - towing kits will be added to major Canadian Coast Guard vessels on the East and West to improve the capability to take swift action. Two new vessels will be leased with the ability to tow large commercial ships in distress Risk-Based Response Planning – building upon the lessons learned from the Area Response Plan initiative pilot project that previously took place, this new initiative will support the development of a national approach to response planning Alternate response measures – research and policy on alternate response measures – such as dispersants and in-situ burning – that could be used only when there is an environmental benefit to do so.	$1.1495B	TC: $66.7M DFO/CCG: $195.8M ECCC: $16M Total: 278.56M	TC: $30.2M^{Footnote 1} DFO/CCG: $144.9M^{Footnote 2} ECCC: $15.4M Total: $190.5M	The number of marine safety incidents and spills from vessels in Canada’s waters	The number of marine safety incidents and spills from vessels in Canada’s waters	Specific target to be determined by April 2020	Partnered with ten Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada for a pilot project to test a new user-friendly system that will increase access to local near real-time maritime information – including vessel traffic – and support marine safety and environmental protection for Indigenous partners, coastal communities and stakeholders. TC launched the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness (EMSA) system in May 2019 to Indigenous partners across Canada and provided funding to partners for project capacity, the purchase of equipment, infrastructure upgrades, and to further enhance the system. Partners are regularly testing the system and collaborating with TC to prioritize improvements to ensure the system meets varying community and user needs. Collaborated with Indigenous and coastal communities and other marine stakeholders to co-develop a draft National Framework that will assist in developing and implementing voluntary measures to address vessel traffic concerns in local waterways using a consensus-based approach. Concluded the Pilotage Act Review on April 30, 2018. The Review involved extensive consultation with stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples. The Pilotage Act Review final report is available on Transport Canada’s website. Following the public release of the Review’s report on May 22, 2018, a national Ministerial Roundtable was held on July 4, 2018. During the remainder of 2018, Transport Canada officials further engaged with stakeholders and Indigenous groups through in-person meetings and teleconferences, providing a forum for participants to express their perspectives on the report and discuss the modernization of the Act. Amended the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, the Pilotage Act, and the Marine Liability Act to enhance marine safety and environmental protection, including: enabling more proactive, rapid, and effective environmental response by the Canadian Coast Guard; modernizing and strengthening Canada’s marine pilotage system; and modernizing Canada’s Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund including enabling full compensation for responders and victims of ship-source oil spills. Enacted the new Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations to address the unique hazard encountered by vessels that operate in the Arctic. Completed the first call-for-proposals targeted at the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to improve community sealift and resupply. Announced a contribution of $19.5 million to the Government of the Northwest Territories for four double-hulled barges, which will be used for community resupply in the Arctic. Reopened the Canadian Coast Guard’s Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland to better coordinate on-the-water responses to marine incidents. Opened new Canadian Coast Guard search and rescue stations in Victoria, British Columbia and St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador Leased two emergency offshore towing vessels for operations off the coast of British Columbia Established an interim in-shore rescue boat station in Rankin Inlet in the Arctic in July 2018. Across Canada, the Coast Guard employs post-secondary students to provide supplementary maritime search and rescue services during the busy summer season; in the North, the recruits are Indigenous students. Coast Guard successfully established 24/7 Regional Operations Centres in the Atlantic, Western, and Central and Arctic regions, as well as a 24/7 National Command Centre. These centres monitor and assess marine events, mainly marine pollution incidents. Acquired emergency tow kits for large Canadians Coast Guard vessels to strengthen our ability to tow large disabled vessels. Invested in new, modern environmental response equipment for the Canadian Coast Guard across Canada, and took delivery for the first shipments of equipment for the West Coast. The new equipment includes curtain boom, which forms a temporary barrier to contain an oil spill, making the recovery of a spill easier and helping reduce the spread of oil, and medium-sized portable skimmers, which are used to collect, separate and remove oil from the water surface. Collected baseline information on shorelines and marine birds, including: 7,000 km of coastal aerial imagery; more than 1,200 km of at-sea survey data; tagging of seven priority marine bird species on breeding colonies. Hired Emergencies Officers and Wildlife Emergency Response Coordinators in four regions to support emergency preparedness and response; and developed the National Policy on Wildlife Emergency Response in Canada Integrated newly acquired ecological datasets and spatial layers into emergency preparedness and response planning processes. Hired, trained and deployed additional enforcement officers. Participated in INTERPOL’s Operation 30 Days at Sea, which provide a global framework to investigate marine pollution. Provided timely and relevant information to facilitate effective responses to marine environmental emergencies.
Transport Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard		Pillar 2 - Preservation and Restoration of Marine Ecosystems include: Collection of baseline data and cumulative effects assessment - working closely with Indigenous and coastal communities, the Government of Canada will create a pilot baseline program to better understand the cumulative effects of shipping on coastal ecosystems Protect aquatic ecosystems - new measures will be funded that implement a real-time whale detection system to alert mariners to the presence of whales, which will help them avoid interactions and vessel strikes Addressing abandoned vessels - The Government is implementing a national strategy that focuses on the prevention and removal of these problem vessels	$342.2M	TC: $16.0M DFO/CCG: $52.7M Total: $68.7M	TC: $15.7M^{Footnote 1} DFO/CCG: $54.5M Total:$70.2M	The number of vessels of concern addressed Percentage of projects funded through Coastal Restoration Fund contribution agreements leading to rehabilitation of aquatic habitats	Specific target to be determined by April 2020 90% of projects funded through Coastal Restoration Fund contribution agreements lead to rehabilitation of aquatic habitats	2022	Amended the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to enhance safeguards to protect marine ecosystems, including marine mammals, from the impacts of shipping and navigation activities. Received Royal Assent of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, which will further protect Canadian coastlines and shorelines by strengthening owner responsibility and liability for their vessels particularly at end-of-life, while also enhancing federal powers to take actions on problem vessels as they arise. Announced Abandoned Boats Program (ABP) funding for 94 projects (139 projects total since the ABP’s program launch, including five education and awareness and three research projects) consisting of: 61 projects to assess abandoned boats (84 total since the ABP’s launch); and 33 projects to remove abandoned boats (45 total since the ABP’s launch). DFO also reduced the number of abandoned or wrecked vessels located in federally-owned small craft harbours by assessing or addressing 14 vessels of concern. These vessels were removed from the site and from Transport Canada’s inventory of abandoned boats. In addition, Coast Guard continued to advance the national strategy on vessels of concern by continuing to update a national inventory of vessels of concern across Canada, and advanced the development of a Risk Assessment Methodology which provides a risk-based strategy to prioritize vessels in the national inventory to determine the scope and scale of the issue. DFO allocated $55 million in funding under the Coastal Restoration Fund to protect and restore important marine ecosystems on all Canadian coasts. As well, DFO worked with Indigenous and coastal communities and other stakeholders to establish and begin 39 projects to collect coastal baseline information at six sites, including one in the Arctic.
Transport Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard		Pillar 3 - Active role - the Government will create opportunities for Indigenous communities to participate and play an active role in responsible shipping and the marine safety regime	$136.2M	TC: $21.5M DFO/CCG: $7.8M Total: $29.3M	TC: $16.2M^{Footnote 1} DFO/CCG: 10.8M Total: $27M	The number of Indigenous groups that participate in Canada’s marine safety system	Specific target to be determined by April 2022 following engagement with Indigenous partners	2027	Established a collaborative oceans management governance structure in partnerships with 14 Pacific North and Central Coast First Nations in British Columbia, to address marine planning, shipping, marine safety and oceans protection over a large geographic area. Created the Marine Training Program to help underrepresented groups, such as women, Northerners, Indigenous people, access marine training. Issued a call for proposals under the Indigenous and Local Communities Engagement and Partnership Program, to provide funding to support the participation of Indigenous communities in long-term work on Oceans Protection Plan initiatives. Provided emergency response and waterway management training to Indigenous communities in British Columbia to increase their knowledge and skills, and support the important role they play in marine safety in their communities. Identified 6 pilot sites and engaged communities and Indigenous nations across all sites to collaboratively understand issues and concerns with respect to marine vessel traffic activities on all three coasts, and worked to identify geographic boundaries for the study areas. Signed the Commitment to Action and Results, an agreement between the Government of Canada and the First Nations Fisheries Council, to align Oceans Protection Plan engagement on the South Coast of British Columbia.
Transport Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard Natural Resources Canada		Pillar 4 - A Stronger Evidence Base and Increased Community Participation and Public Awareness	$106.4M	TC: $1.2M NRCan: $1M DFO/CCG: $21.3M Total: $23.5M	TC: $1.2M NRCan: $1M DFO/CCG: $21.8M Total:$24M	The percent of policies and operational response plans developed through the OPP that are supported by scientific, local/traditional, and other relevant information and knowledge	100% of policies and operational response plans are supported by scientific, local/traditional, and other relevant information/knowledge	2022	Advancing knowledge and the scientific advice provided to oil spill responders to inform the response approach to a spill and the resulting decision-making For example, under the new OPP project, Improving Substance Drift Prediction and Near-shore Modelling, the Government of Canada started building and refining models for the prediction of ocean characteristics like current, water level, temperature, and salinity in ports. New or improved ocean models will allow the Government of Canada to better predict the path of drifting substances, like spilled oil. This will enhance the protection of coastal communities.
Transport Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian Coast Guard Natural Resources Canada		Pillar 4 - A Stronger Evidence Base and Increased Community Participation and Public Awareness	$106.4M	TC: $1.2M NRCan: $1M DFO/CCG: $21.3M Total: $23.5M	TC: $1.2M NRCan: $1M DFO/CCG: $21.8M Total:$24M	The percentage of Canadians who are confident in Canada’s marine safety system	An increased percentage of Canadians are confident in Canada’s marine safety system [specific target to be determined by April 2020 following establishment of baseline	2022	Continuing to raise awareness about the Oceans Protection Plan and marine safety, including engaging and receiving ongoing input from Canadians A Clear Seas/Angus Reid public opinion poll December 2018 found a “measurable increase in public confidence in Canada’s marine shipping regime since 2016” and that ” most Canadians have a high level of confidence in the [Oceans Protection] plan’s ability to increase marine shipping safety.”

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Horizontal Initiative - Oceans Protection Plan