New water investments for Canada

News Release

Funding in hydrography, charting for safer navigation in British Columbia ports, and wastewater science to protect our marine environment

October 12, 2017      Vancouver

Mariners, Indigenous peoples and coastal communities rely heavily on the hydrographic surveys and charts to keep them safe and make a living. The world is also seeing the effects of pollution and contaminants and this reminds us of the need to preserve our unique, Canadian environment.

Under the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada is making navigation safer by delivering modern and improved hydrography and charting in key areas. Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport announced an investment of close to $20 million over five years to chart high-profile ports and near-shore areas in British Columbia.

This new investment will allow Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Hydrographic Service to enhance services and deliver improved and modern hydrography and charting in key areas of high traffic commercial ports and waterways to support safe and efficient navigation. The information will also give us a better understanding of the seabed type to help us protect our marine environments.

Canada is also committed to furthering the understanding of conventional and emerging contaminants in wastewater. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced today that the Government of Canada is investing $400,000 this year for a technical review of contaminants in wastewater to be conducted by Canadian Water Network. An expert panel, chaired by University of British Columbia’s Dr. Don Mavinic, will undertake the review. This initiative demonstrates Canada’s commitment to cleaner water.

The Government of Canada will continue to invest in science to provide a cleaner environment and cleaner waterways.

Quotes

“This investment in hydrography and charting will improve navigational charts and access to dynamic hydrographic products in critical areas across the country with limited or out-of-date navigational information. This delivers on our promise to improve marine safety and efficiency as we continue to protect Canada’s coastal habitats, ecosystems and marine species.”

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

“Canada is tackling issues that are important to the everyday lives of Canadians – from investigating harmful and emerging contaminants of concern in wastewater and exploring new technologies that may help reduce environmental risks to determining what resources can be usefully recovered from a treatment facility. The Government of Canada is committed to using science to inform decisions and to help deliver cleaner rivers, lakes and oceans for all Canadians.”

Jonathan Wilkinson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

  • All vessels in Canadian waters must carry and use nautical charts. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Hydrographic Service is responsible for gathering, managing, transforming and distributing bathymetric, hydrographic and nautical information into paper and electronic nautical charts.

  • The Canadian Hydrographic Service is responsible for charting the world's longest coastline (243,792 kilometres) as well as 6.55 million square kilometres of continental shelf and territorial waters.

  • Canadian Water Network’s wastewater expert panel will produce a report on the information it gathers. The report is not a review of existing federal regulations and policies related to wastewater. The project will be completed by March 31, 2018.

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Contacts

Delphine Denis
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Delphine.Denis@tc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca

Internet: http://www.tc.gc.ca
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Laura Gareau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Laura.Gareau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca 
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Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473
marie-pascale.desrosiers@canada.ca

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca

Internet: http://www.ec.gc.ca
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