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$6.9 million added to marine-monitoring project with 10 Indigenous groups

A marine-monitoring pilot project started in May and involving 10 B.C. Indigenous groups is being extended by two years, federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced Tuesday in Victoria. The initial funding announced last November was for $2.
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Minister of Transport Marc Garneau in Victoria: ÒThe Indigenous knowledge and expertise of these communities is extremely important to protecting CanadaÕs waters.Ó

A marine-monitoring pilot project started in May and involving 10 B.C. Indigenous groups is being extended by two years, federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced Tuesday in Victoria.

The initial funding announced last November was for $2.5 million over one year, and Garneau said more than $6.9 million is being added to take the project into 2022.

He said the project reflects the federal government’s commitment to build on relationships with Indigenous people.

“At the same time we have also committed to improving marine safety and protecting our coastal environment, and we know that these commitments go hand-in-hand,” Garneau said. “For generations, Indigenous coastal communities have been deeply connected to our oceans as a source of livelihood, food security, transportation routes and so much more.

“The Indigenous knowledge and expertise of these communities is extremely important to protecting Canada’s waters.”

The groups involved will be working on the so-called Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness initiative using web-based technology to provide information on such things as shipping traffic, weather and protected areas in their local waters, he said.

“This initiative is an important step in gathering informaton from our coasts and sharing it with local decision-makers,” Garneau said. “It ensures Canada has not only the best scientific advice and tools to protect our coasts, but the local knowledge of the coast to apply to any situation, as well.”

Chief Jeff Jones of the Pacheedaht First Nation, one of the communities involved in the project, said extension of the funding is good news. “This funding is very valuable to our nation,. It gave us an opportunity to purchase a vessel.”

The vessel is being used for marine monitoring and other activities, Jones said. “We’re very, very grateful that this opportunity is upon us.”

He said he is excited about having enhanced awareness of traditional Pacheedaht waters.

The added funding is part of the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan, which was launched in 2016.

Garneau is scheduled to make further announcements today in Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver. In Victoria, he is set to speak about a remediation project for the city’s middle harbour.

jwbell@timescolonist.com