The Government of Canada announced the allocation of $877,838 for a new maritime information system pilot project by partnering with the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council. This project is part of the Oceans Protection Plan’s Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness (EMSA) Initiative.
On April 17, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Sean Fraser, along with Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester, Bill Casey, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport. The Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council will develop, test, and evaluate the new maritime awareness information system.
“The work being done with our Indigenous partners, including the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council, is crucial to the success of this pilot project. Thanks to the progress we are making on projects like this, our marine safety system is stronger now than it has ever been,” said Minister Garneau.
The system will provide “a range of valuable near real-time maritime information, including data on vessel traffic, weather, and marine protected areas,” according to a press release. Through its participation in this project, “the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council will test, provide feedback, and apply their local, traditional knowledge to improve and develop the system.”
Starting this spring, the Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council will contribute fishing vessels to test the system in a real-world, on-water environment. This will result in changes and updates to the system to meet the needs of coastal communities across Canada.
The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan is a strategy to keep the waters and coasts of Canada safe and clean today and in the future. It also provides economic opportunities for Canadians by working closely with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders, and coastal communities.
(Image: Government of Canada)