Canadians are proud of our oceans. With the longest coastline in the world, marine and coastal areas are essential to our livelihoods and economy right across the country. Since it was launched in 2016, the Oceans Protection Plan has strengthened protections for our coasts and wildlife, improved marine safety, and advanced partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay, Wayne Long, announced an investment of up to $447 million to further protect and restore coastal ecosystems across Canada, as part of the next phase of Canada's Oceans Protection Plan.
Since its launch in 2016, Canada's Oceans Protection Plan has increased protections for our marine ecosystems and species, including the restoration of 60 marine ecosystems nationally. Moving forward, the Oceans Protection Plan will continue to protect these important coastal areas through actions such as:
- removing and disposing of wrecked, abandoned, and hazardous vessels to reduce hazards to navigation and harmful impacts to our waters across the country;
- providing new funding for aquatic restoration projects in coastal and upstream inland communities that protect and restore Canada's coastal areas;
- reducing risks and mitigating damages related to marine habitats and coastal communities from marine shipping;
- introducing a ban on the use and transport of heavy fuel oil for many vessels in the Canadian Arctic, thus reducing the risk of heavy fuel oil spills in the region;
- working with Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities to conduct new regional assessments on cumulative effects of marine shipping and identifying potential mitigation measures; and
- investing in scientific research, monitoring, and protection measures to reduce the impacts of marine shipping activities and vessel-related traffic on whales and marine mammals.
The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, academia, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. A renewed and expanded Oceans Protection Plan will keep our oceans and coasts healthy, advance reconciliation, and build a clean future for our children and grandchildren.
