I was thrilled to host one of my favourite Cabinet Ministers here on the waterfront in Dartmouth yesterday.
Huge welcome to Minister Catherine McKenna. Welcome to the beautiful community of Dartmouth!
Minister McKenna announced The Oceans Protection Plan. It’s a 1.5 Billion dollar investment over 5 years to strengthen and ensure Canada is a world leader in marine safety.
Specifically for Dartmouth I’m thrilled that the Bedford Institute of Oceanography will see a significant investment to increase ocean sciences.
I am also pleased that we are making good on our promise to re-open the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John’s. It’s the right and safe thing to do.
The Oceans Protection Plan is about:
- creating a world-leading marine safety system that improves responsible shipping and protects Canada’s waters, including new preventive and response measures;
- restoring and protecting the marine ecosystems and habitats, using new tools and research, as well as taking measures to address abandoned boats and wrecks;
- strengthening partnerships and launching co-management practices with Indigenous communities, including building local emergency response capacity; and,
- investing in oil spill cleanup research and methods to ensure that decisions taken in emergencies are evidence based.
The Oceans Protection Plan was developed based on work done over the past two years between Indigenous and coastal communities and various government programs, and will be implemented next year.
A Dartmouth Celebration:
To celebrate the announcement I brought the Minister and my colleagues to one of my favourite spots- Seamus David’s Pub for a Nine Locks local craft brew!
