Government of Canada delivers marine safety training and barges to Northern communities through the Oceans Protection Plan

HAY RIVER, NT (Oct. 14, 2018) – Protecting the marine environment and all users of Canada’s oceans and waterways is of paramount importance. The Government of Canada, under the Oceans Protection Plan, is making sure our coasts are protected in a modern and advanced way.

On October 13^th, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, announced an investment of $19.5 million, under the Oceans Protection Plan, to construct four double-hulled barges that will deliver fuel safely to Northern communities and opened the Hay River Training Facility, which will provide marine safety training to Northern communities.

The four new double-hulled barges will be commissioned by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Currently, fuel is carried to some Northern communities, particularly those along the Mackenzie River watershed, in single-hulled barges. The risk of a fuel spill increases when fuel is carried in this way during low water conditions. These new double-hulled barges will minimize the risk of a fuel spill and improve the safety of community resupply operations.

This $19.5 million investment is part of the $94.3 million Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities initiative under the Oceans Protection Plan. The initiative helps to make Arctic resupply operations more efficient and safer for communities, workers, and the environment through investments in marine safety equipment and infrastructure.

The Hay River Training Facility is an important part of the Government of Canada’s $21 million Northern Marine Training Program. The Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium received $12.6 million through the Program to deliver marine training to Northern communities, which includes expanding programming at their Iqaluit campus and opening this satellite training facility in Hay River.

The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan is the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways. Through this plan, the Government of Canada is creating a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while protecting our coasts and waterways for generations to come. This work is being done in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders and coastal communities.

Quick Facts

• The four new double-hulled barges will be designed for safe operations on Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River watershed, along the coastlines of the Northwest Territories, and delivery offshore from Tuktoyaktuk Harbour.
• The Marine Training Program is expanding and enhancing marine training and opportunities for underrepresented groups in the marine sector, such as women, Northerners, Inuit and Indigenous peoples.

For further information: 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