Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a $1.2-billion investment to strengthen the protection of Canada’s oceans, marine ecosystems and coastal communities as the country prepares for increased marine traffic and major infrastructure and energy projects on the West Coast. Carney made the announcement in Vancouver on Tuesday, saying Canada must strengthen ocean protection alongside efforts to expand trade infrastructure and develop the country’s resource economy. The new funding will support marine monitoring, conservation, emergency preparedness and measures aimed at protecting marine life. More than $740 million of the new funding will be directed toward strengthening ocean conservation and marine safety over the next four years. The measures include expanding the Canadian Coast Guard’s ability to monitor marine traffic, improving search-and-rescue capabilities and extending very-high-frequency radio and radar coverage in areas where it remains limited. The government also plans to develop a national high-resolution nearshore forecasting system to improve real-time responses to marine emergencies. A new environmental recovery framework will provide longer-term responses to marine pollution incidents, including spills involving chemicals in addition to oil. Another $136 million will be invested over four years specifically to strengthen protection for marine mammals. The funding will support a national marine mammal oil-spill response plan, training and equipment for local partners, and expanded monitoring of underwater noise in the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic regions.
The government says reducing underwater noise will be an important part of protecting marine species, particularly in areas experiencing increased vessel traffic. It plans to work with vessel operators on technologies such as quieter propellers, electric and hybrid motors and improved hull designs. An Arctic monitoring program will also be established to study underwater noise and help inform future project planning. The announcement also includes $186 million for the Northern Shelf Bioregion Reconciliation Framework Agreement. The investment will support collaborative governance, conservation, waterway management, emergency preparedness and work addressing cumulative environmental impacts in the Great Bear Sea region.
Additional funding will support Indigenous-led stewardship and restoration efforts in the Lower Fraser River Estuary, strengthening the role of Indigenous communities in managing and protecting coastal ecosystems. The announcement comes as Canada prepares for potentially greater tanker and commercial vessel traffic along the West Coast. The federal government is expanding strategic infrastructure around the Port of Vancouver and the Roberts Bank Terminal 2, while major energy projects are also moving forward. Earlier Tuesday, LNG Canada announced that it would proceed with a Phase 2 expansion of its Kitimat, B.C., facility, which is expected to double the project’s LNG production capacity. The expansion could bring additional vessel traffic to the region as Canada increases its LNG exports to international markets. The ocean-protection announcement also comes ahead of a federal decision on a proposed new pipeline from Alberta to the southern British Columbia coast. Ottawa faces a Thursday deadline to decide whether the project should be designated as a project of national interest. The government is presenting the ocean investment as part of a broader strategy to balance economic development with environmental protection. Carney has argued that Canada can expand infrastructure, diversify trade and strengthen its resource economy while maintaining safeguards for marine ecosystems. Canada has already committed to protecting 30 per cent of its oceans by 2030. The federal government says the latest funding builds on approximately $3.2 billion previously invested in ocean protection systems, research and personnel. The new measures also build on Canada’s recent international ocean commitments. At the United Nations General Assembly earlier this month, Carney announced $82 million to strengthen ocean observation and support the Global Ocean Observing System. Canada also ratified the High Seas Treaty, which is designed to improve protection and sustainable management of marine biodiversity in international waters. The federal government is expected to release additional elements of its national ocean strategy in the coming months, including plans focused on securing Canadian waters and developing a sustainable ocean economy. Canada will also host the 12th Our Ocean Conference in Halifax in May 2027, bringing together governments, Indigenous leaders, scientists, industry representatives and coastal communities to discuss marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate change and ocean security. The latest investment comes as Canada seeks to expand its role in global energy and trade while facing growing pressure to ensure that new infrastructure and increased marine activity do not create additional risks for sensitive coastal and ocean environments.