Canadian Coast Guard Long-Term Strategy Discussion Paper: Governance pillar: How we continue to deliver our services

As of September 2, 2025, the Canadian Coast Guard has moved to the Department of National Defence. The text below was drafted while the Canadian Coast Guard was part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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The Canadian Coast Guard has served Canadians for more than 60 years. Established in 1962, the organization manages Canada’s only civilian fleet – we are not part of the military and our personnel are not armed. The Canadian Coast Guard was part of Transport Canada until 1995, when it moved under Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In 2005, the organization was made into a Special Operating Agency, giving it more flexibility to deliver on its mandate.

We are part of the Federal Public Service of Canada and are governed by its laws and policies. This includes having unions represent Canadian Coast Guard personnel. Many aspects of the organization are affected by policies from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, which is the government’s management board and employer.

The internal structures and processes within the Canadian Coast Guard have grown over time and will continue to change. As part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard supports departmental programs and services. We work closely with other federal departments and participate in many committees, working groups and task forces to advance planning and policy work. We are working to build strong relationships with Indigenous partners and are committed to the actions in the department’s Reconciliation Strategy. We are also an active member of several international organizations to promote Canada’s international priorities.

Our long-term goals

To enhance the Canadian Coast Guard’s governance structure and to support the delivery of our mandate, we are exploring approaches to:

Ensure laws and regulations that affect the Canadian Coast Guard are up to date, seamless, and support service delivery excellence. This includes aligning to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Enhance the Canadian Coast Guard’s transparency and accountability to Parliament and Canadians through open communication
Continue to incorporate the principles of reconciliation such as the Department of Justice’s Principles respecting the Government of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, into our governance structures, including recognizing rights-based and non-rights-based obligations
Ensure that our internal structures and processes are in line with our mandate and key programs and services
Collect stronger data to support future actions, including information on important topics like:
- Climate resilience
- Reconciliation
- Modernization
- Decision-making

The course to get there

Key to the Canadian Coast Guard’s governance agenda is making sure that there is always a balance between what we can physically do – thanks to our fleet, shore infrastructure, and personnel – and what we have the legal authority to do. Keeping this balance in place will be a constant effort on our part. As laws and policies change, the Canadian Coast Guard will continue to contribute its experience, expertise, and perspective. The organization will continue to update its services and operations to be in line with changing policy priorities.

Canada follows the rules set out by the International Maritime Organization and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. The Canadian Coast Guard is also part of many international agreements, frameworks, and partnerships. Among them are:

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
International Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents
Several conventions and treaties on fisheries conservation

For years to come, the Canadian Coast Guard will continue to implement these agreements across all of its programs and services.

Taking action

There are many ways to achieve the Canadian Coast Guard’s long-term goals for Governance. This includes key actions such as:

Working with our federal partners to ensure that all laws and regulations relevant to the Canadian Coast Guard are up to date to address gaps in authorities and capabilities
Identifying and addressing any gaps in our legal capabilities
Meeting our obligations to consult and cooperate with Indigenous peoples
Hold meaningful engagements and interactions with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people
Providing timely information about the Canadian Coast Guard to Parliament and Canadians through reports and other products or resources
Engaging more Canadians through public outreach and communications, including via social media platforms
Preparing advice for future governments so that they can make informed decisions on the Canadian Coast Guard’s role in law enforcement and security
Finding opportunities to incorporate Indigenous feedback into our operations and the creation of new policies, programs, and operations
Regularly reviewing and updating our internal structures and processes to make sure they are in line with departmental priorities
Working with our partners and stakeholders to provide better information to Canadians on Canada’s ocean economy and marine environment
Contribute to the creation of a departmental Data Strategy to help support decision making and keeping it up to date
Investing in leadership development, policy planning, and research to improve our ability to plan for the future

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2026-02-26

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Canadian Coast Guard Long-Term Strategy Discussion Paper: Governance pillar: How we continue to deliver our services

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