Today’s investments are part of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan

Vancouver, British Columbia – Protecting the marine environment and the safety of mariners, fishers, recreational boaters and all users of Canada’s oceans and waterways is of paramount importance to the Government of Canada.

Last November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan. This national strategy is creating a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while protecting our coastlines and clean waters for generations to come.

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced measures that the Government of Canada is taking under Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan to deliver on its commitments.

The Oceans Protection Plan provides the Canadian Coast Guard with the equipment required to effectively respond to marine emergency and safety incidents. Today Ministers LeBlanc and Garneau introduced the new Coast Guard Emergency Response Vessel that will be stationed at the Coast Guard Base Kitsilano in Vancouver. The vessel’s primary functions will be search and rescue and environmental response but will also be used in exercises and training for Coast Guard personnel, First Nations, and local stakeholders. The Coast Guard is renovating the Kitsilano Base to further improve the services to mariners in the Greater Vancouver area, as announced in Budget 2016. Renovations will include improvements to the marine infrastructure as well as significant renovations to the outside of the building.

In addition to these investments in the Coast Guard, Ministers also announced additional projects funded through Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan, including:

A $1.3-million investment over the next five years for a new Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) program to remove abandoned and wrecked vessels from small craft harbours. These vessels are a growing problem for coastal communities across Canada, as they create significant environmental, economic and safety concerns.

The start of an online engagement with Canadians so they may share ideas and provide input into the Oceans Protection Plan. The new web portal called Let’s Talk – Oceans Protection Plan is a way for Canadians to join the conversation as the Government of Canada delivers more than 50 initiatives to protect our coasts and waterways while growing our economy.

Steps to support the recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale including studying the impact of contaminants that threaten the recovery of resident killer whale populations, improving their access to an adequate and accessible food supply, and reducing underwater noise levels within their habitat.