First Nations LNG Alliance Newsletter 01

This week’s highlights:

Article: Oceans Protection Plan to Work with First Nations
Infographic: Who is investing in BC LNG?
Headlines: Recent News

Oceans Protection Plan to work with First Nations

There are numerous management changes on the horizon that will help safeguard B.C.’s oceans, thanks to Canada’s nation-wide Oceans Protection Plan announced in November of 2016. The Oceans Protection Plan will help keep Canadian waters and coasts safe and clean. Under the plan, the Government of Canada will partner with Indigenous and coastal communities to develop a marine safety system and ensure that commercial shipping is taking place in a way that is safe for mariners and that protects and sustains the economic, environmental, social and cultural health of Canadian oceans and coasts. This is good news for coastal First Nations since it will provide extensive resources to keep our oceans healthy as LNG projects go ahead.

The extensive Oceans Protection Plan includes $1.5 billion in funding over a five year period, though given the magnitude of the plan, it will take some time for specific program and initiative announcements to roll out.

To implement the plan, the Government of Canada will partner with Indigenous and coastal communities and seek their advice regarding:

  • Environmental monitoring plans
  • Mitigation measures for marine mammals
  • Coastal habitat restoration
  • New systems for real-time information and modernized tools
  • Mitigation measures for marine traffic
  • Training
  • Emergency Response

Environmental Monitoring Plans

The federal government will work with First Nations to develop environmental monitoring plans on all three of Canada’s coasts. The plans will look at environmental indicators, proposals and strategies, and facilitate environmental data collection in order to detect changes in each respective ecosystem and improve our understanding of cumulative shipping effects.

 

Read the rest of the article on our website.

Recent news

First Nations LNG Alliance Newsletter