With the longest coastline in the world, our oceans are part of who we are as Canadians. They support our workers, our communities and our local economies. Marine trade and transportation play a critical role in Canada’s supply chain and economy.
Since 2016, actions taken through Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan have improved marine safety, increased protections for marine ecosystems and species, and strengthened how we respond to marine pollution incidents across Canada.
Work through the Oceans Protection Plan has offered Indigenous Peoples greater opportunity to guide how their traditional coasts and waterways are protected. They have been stewards of these spaces for generations, and all Canadians are benefiting from the role Indigenous Peoples are playing in this initiative.
The Government of Canada renewed the Oceans Protection Plan in 2022 for an additional nine years because it’s a great success. Whether it’s strengthening our scientific knowledge, advancing reconciliation, introducing new rules and regulations to protect the marine environment from hazards, removing abandoned boats from our waters, or training the next generation of marine workers – the Oceans Protection Plan is delivering. The Plan is proving that when Indigenous Peoples, industry, coastal communities, academia, and government work together, we can achieve real results to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs.
I look forward to continuing our work together, to protect our coasts and waterways for generations to come, and to build a greener, more innovative, and stronger economy for Canada.
Sincerely,
Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport