In December 2019, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard was mandated to lead the development of a comprehensive blue economy strategy to enable Canada to grow its ocean economy in order to create jobs and opportunity for coastal communities, while advancing conservation objectives. The September 2020 Speech from the Throne reiterated the importance of this initiative and its connection to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples…

 

Over a span of 158 days, the Ministry talked with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners and a wide range of Canadians involved in ocean industries, environmental and social justice initiatives, academia, science, and research & development. They also encouraged all Canadians to share their feedback by answering online survey questions or by sending written input.

 

The Ministry’s engagement activities included a series of virtual roundtables and meetings led by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in partnership with many other Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, and senior departmental officials….In addition, several organizations also held their own blue economy engagement sessions, including Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ecology Action Centre and SeaChoice, Students on Ice, and the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.

 

The Ministry recently shared an overview of the input they received through this What We Heard report.