Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities have had traditional and cultural ties with Canada’s oceans and waterways for generations. The next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan will continue to build on opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities to collaboratively protect, preserve, and restore our oceans and waterways.

“Indigenous Peoples from coast-to-coast-to-coast have long-standing cultural and traditional ties with our oceans and waterways. Today’s investment ensures they will continue to have a role in protecting our oceans and coastlines. Through the Oceans Protection Plan, we are working together to better protect our ecosystems, strengthen our supply chains, and make our oceans safer and cleaner for generations to come.”

The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport

• The new $50 million in funding for First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and coastal communities to partner in the Oceans Protection Plan represents an important financial increase over the funding provided during the first phase of the Plan.

• Since 2016, the Government of Canada has dedicated over $3.5 billion to the Oceans Protection Plan, making it the largest investment Canada has ever made to protect its coasts and waterways.

• Since its launch, the Oceans Protection Plan has:

  • signed Reconciliation Framework Agreements to help the Government of Canada and Indigenous partners coordinate and collaborate on ocean management and protection priorities on Canada’s West Coast;
  • helped 757 Indigenous Peoples, Inuit, Northerners, and women graduate from the Marine Training Program and acquire the skills they need for jobs in the marine industry;
  • co-launched Canada’s first Indigenous Coast Guard Auxiliary and provided funding to 16 Northern and Indigenous communities to buy search and rescue boats and equipment;
  • delivered training in emergency response and waterway management to Indigenous communities; and
  • worked with 75 Indigenous communities to develop a real-time information system that helps them make evidence-based decisions about their local marine environment.

• The Oceans Protection Plan is a whole-of-government effort, with responsibility shared across all partner departments including Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Health Canada, with support from Public Services and Procurement Canada and Global Affairs Canada.

Associated links

• Protecting our coasts through the Oceans Protection Plan
• Stronger partnerships with Indigenous and coastal communities
• Report to Canadians - Results of the Oceans Protection Plan
• Budget 2022 Backgrounder: Clean Air and a Strong Economy
• Prime Minister’s Statement: Delivering clean oceans and healthy coasts with an expanded Oceans Protection Plan
• Media: B-roll (please credit Transport Canada)
• Infographic: The Next Phase of the Oceans Protection Plan
• Infographic: Key investments of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan

Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
nadine.ramadan@tc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca