The Canadian Coast Guard’s spring icebreaking operations on the St. Lawrence River between Montréal and Québec City will start on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The Canadian Coast Guard advises that the CCGS Vincent Massey will conduct icebreaking operations near Owen Sound, Ontario, beginning on or around January 16, 2026.
The Canadian Coast Guard has begun winter icebreaking operations in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary, the St. Lawrence River, and the Great Lakes and interconnecting waterways.
Today, Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Glace Bay and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced Sydney, Nova Scotia, as the preferred location to explore the maintenance port for the Canadian Coast Guard’s future polar icebreakers.
On behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Sydney—Glace Bay and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, will make an announcement regarding next steps in planning the Canadian Coast Guard’s Polar Icebreakers’ future maintenance port, in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Coast Guard advises that the CCGS Vincent Massey will conduct icebreaking operations near Thunder Bay, Ontario, beginning on or around January 8, 2026. The purpose of this operation is to facilitate safe navigation for commercial vessels in and out of the area, and/or to break up any ice jams that could cause flooding.
The Canadian Coast Guard advises that the CCGS Vincent Massey will conduct icebreaking operations near Midland, Ontario, beginning on or around January 6, 2026. The purpose of this operation is to facilitate safe navigation for commercial vessels in and out of the area, and/or to break up any ice jams that could cause flooding. The timing of these operations is subject to change depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.
The following Canadian Coast Guard seasonal search and rescue stations in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, are scheduled to conclude operations for the winter by December 31, 2025.
On October 9, 2025, the Canadian Coast Guard exercised its authority under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act to issue an Administrative Monetary Penalty to the owner of a vessel located in Seal Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. The owner of the vessel, Colette, a 32-foot power boat, failed to comply with a direction issued under the Act following the determination that the vessel poses a hazard to the marine environment and public safety.
Today, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Icelandic Coast Guard signed a letter of intent to formalize a shared commitment to cooperation and collaboration on coast guard operations. This agreement marks a significant step forward in strengthening international partnerships that enhance maritime safety, environmental protection, and operational readiness in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.