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4.0 OCEANS-RELATED ACTIVITY: FEDERAL PUBLIC SECTOR ³⁶

Canada's oceans are part of the "global commons" and, therefore, the management premise of Canada's oceans is based on both national and international obligations and commitments. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 22 federal departments and agencies administer these commitments and obligations, generating about 2,500 person years of employment. While some departments and agencies have greater presence than others, collectively their specific authorities, policies and program responsibilities guide a wide range of activities: resource management; sovereignty and defence; economic, trade and industrial development; transportation and safety; and health and environment.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters; for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Canada's fisheries resources in marine and inland waters; for leading and facilitating federal policies and programs on oceans; and for safe, effective, and environmentally sound marine services responsive to the needs of Canadians in a global economy.

With approximately 1,200 full-time employees, DFO has the largest federal presence in Newfoundland and Labrador and is the only department with virtually its entire budget and staffing devoted to ocean-related activities. Programs and services for the public are delivered through several branches.

The Fisheries Management Branch is responsible for the management, conservation and protection of marine and inland fisheries. In addition to developing and enforcing annual harvesting plans for 40 different fish species, the harvesting and processing of which generates an export value of roughly $1 billion, the Branch is also responsible for addressing international issues, such as trans-boundary stocks managed through the Northwest Atlantic Fishery Organization (NAFO).

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) ensures the safe and environmentally responsible use of Canada's waters; supports the understanding and management of oceans resources; facilitates the use of our waters for shipping, recreation and fishing; and provides marine expertise in support of Canada's domestic and international interests. The CCG undertakes programs and activities to achieve its long-term objectives. The major program areas include marine safety, service and environmental protection, environmental response, boating safety, icebreaking, marine communications and traffic services, navigational aids, protection of the public right to navigation, and fleet support to fisheries enforcement and scientific research.

The Science, Oceans and Environment Branch provides timely and reliable scientific information and advice in support of the conservation, protection, and sustainable utilization of marine and aquatic resources in the region. Programs include research activities such as studies of the biology, life history and resource status of commercially important and emerging species and ecosystems, biological and physical oceanography, aquaculture, environmental sciences, habitat protection, and Oceans Act implementation. The Branch also contributes to marine safety through its hydrographic division, which produces marine navigation charts.

Through the collection and analysis of a wide variety of data, the Policy and Economics Branch provides analytical, economic and policy advice in support of fisheries management and development, and public investment initiatives affecting the fish harvesting, processing and aquaculture sectors.

With a focus on partnering with local Harbour Authorities, the Small Craft Harbours and Real Property Management Branch is responsible for long-term maintenance of 409 active fishing harbours in the region.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA) oceans related responsibilities and activities stem from its mandate and strategic focuses. Most funding in this area comes from ACOA's Business Development Program, Atlantic Investment Partnership, and through cost-shared federal-provincial agreements. Cost-shared agreements, worth a total of about $345 million³⁷, include:

ACOA also provides a Consulting Advisory Service to assist business clients. Oceans related industries that have taken advantage of this service include oil and gas, fishing, aquaculture, tourism, boating and shipping, ocean industries and technologies, and marine defence.

Marine Atlantic is a federal Crown corporation that operates ferries across the Cabot Strait between the island of Newfoundland and mainland Canada. Management functions are located in St. John's (head office), Port aux Basques (finance, accounting, computer systems and risk management) and North Sydney (operations management, human resources, purchasing, marine technical, and safety functions).

Ferries operate year-round on the 100 nautical mile route between Port aux Basques and North Sydney, and during the summer on the 280 nautical mile route between Argentia and North Sydney. The company owns four vessels: the MV Caribou (built in 1986, capacity of about 1,000 passengers and 350 autos); the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood (1990, similar capacities as the MV Caribou); the MV Leif Ericson (purchased in 2000, capacity of 500 passengers and 300 autos); and the MV Atlantic Freighter (1978, carries trailers without drivers, containers and dangerous commodities). Marine Atlantic experienced its second consecutive year of record traffic in 1999, carrying about 475,700 passengers.³⁸

Environment Canada delivers oceans-related programs through four branches. The Corporate Affairs Branch delivers the EcoAction funding program in the province and has responsibility for the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (two sites in the province). The Environmental Protection Branch enforces the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Fisheries Act (Section 36), and delivers several marine related programs such as the Shellfish Water Quality Protection Program, Ocean Disposal Permit Program, and Environmental Emergencies Program. The Meteorological Service of Canada provides weather warnings and forecasts (including marine forecasts) for the province and surrounding waters, and provides other services including extreme weather and sea state forecasts, monitoring, climatology and research in Atlantic storms. The Environmental Conservation Branch delivers the enforcement and science programs of the Canadian Wildlife Service, and participates in the provision of information and advice for environmental assessments and responses to marine environmental emergencies.

CFS St. John's serves as a support station for many aspects of the Department's operations in support of maritime operations. The most significant activity in this region focuses on HMC ships engaged in patrolling the offshore fishery. An estimated 125 sea days are committed to this task.³⁹ Coupled with this, St. John's serves as a replenishment, rest and recreation port for approximately 25 port visits by HMC ships per year. In addition, air support services are provided by Gander and Torbay airports for regular maritime patrol flights.

Transport Canada has two main roles in the oceans sector: marine safety and overseeing the management of ports. Marine Safety encompasses the full spectrum of responsibilities related to the safety of ships, the protection of life and property, and the environment. The Harbours and Ports Branch is implementing a divestiture program consistent with the National Marine Policy while continuing to operate sites under its authority. There are presently 20 ports remaining to be divested in the province.⁴⁰

This department is responsible for energy resource stewardship, including funding for the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board; the cost-shared Offshore Development Fund; and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC).⁴¹ The GSC supplies a national geoscience knowledge base required to support effective mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and development across Canada, provides the geological basis necessary to understand and address health, safety and environmental issues, and advocates the interests of Canadian geoscience at the international level. The Atlantic Office is located in Nova Scotia and is responsible for marine geoscience.

Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada - involvement in the fishing and seafood industry is limited to market development activities. These activities include: one-on-one counseling regarding market development; provision of specific market information; trade leads related to the seafood sector; recruitment for trade shows; providing a Canadian pavilion at major shows; a fax-back information service; and a web site specifically for seafood market development.

Department of Canadian Heritage through Parks Canada - responsible for establishing a system of National Marine Conservation Areas that are representative of the country's ocean environments and the Great Lakes. This work is designed to represent the diversity of our nation's marine ecosystems; maintain marine ecological processes and life support systems; preserve biodiversity; serve as >models' of sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems; facilitate and encourage marine research and ecological monitoring; protect depleted, vulnerable, threatened, or endangered species, populations and habitats; protect and maintain areas critical to the lifecycles of economically important species; and provide interpretation of marine areas for the purposes of conservation, education and tourism. For the purposes of this study, oceans related activity from this Department includes specific oceans related research at the Terra Nova and Gros Morne National Parks. It does not, however include general operations and maintenance activities at these National Parks or any other National Historic Sites in the province.⁴²

Citizenship and Immigration Canada - three main activities that are oceans-related: shipping (monitoring and enforcement), oil and gas (employment authorizations), and tourism (ensuring that individuals meet entrance requirements).

Human Resources Development Canada - is involved in oceans-related activities indirectly through EI income support for many workers in marine related industries and employment programming funded through the EI account.⁴³

The EI fund also provides for employment programming through the Labour Market Development Agreement. This programming includes the provision of training seats at post secondary institutes, wage subsidies, self employment assistance and skill upgrading/job creation opportunities. Oceans related data is only available for training seat purchases made at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Over the 1997-1999 period, over 1,200 individuals received assistance through this program.

HRDC was also responsible for coordinating most TAGS (The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy) and FRAM (Fisheries Restructuring and Adjustment Measures) activity in the province, including income support, employment adjustment, training and early retirement measures (but excluding certain licence retirement and economic development components). These programs were established by the federal government in response to the groundfish moratoria of the 1990s and were terminated in August 1998.

Industry Canada - reviews industrial benefits plans, monitors contracting for offshore oil and gas projects, and identifies supply gaps and opportunities for Canadian participation. The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, also maintains a focus of international business development as it relates to the export of oceans technology products and services.

Justice Canada - provides its clients (i.e., federal government departments and agencies) with a variety of advisory and civil litigation services in connection with clients' oceans-related activity. The Department also prosecutes persons who are accused of violating oceans-related criminal legislation, and is assisted in these functions by private lawyers who are retained as agents of the Minister of Justice.

Public Works and Government Services Canada - provides architectural and engineering services to federal departments and agencies, including construction and project management for wharves, breakwaters and other marine structures, and offices, laboratories and related facilities. Services are generally on a cost recovery basis with the client department. The Department also provides property and facilities management, office accommodation and real estate advisory services, and serves, through its Supply and Services Directorate, as the federal government's chief purchasing agent.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency - manages and coordinates environmental reviews (panel review and comprehensive study process). During the 1997-1999 period, the Agency completed one panel review in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore (the Terra Nova Project which was released in 1997) and one comprehensive study process (the Newfoundland Transshipment Terminal in 1996). The Agency recently completed a comprehensive study process for the White Rose Project (2001).

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - responsible for the enforcement of the Fish Inspection Act, components of the Fisheries Act, and other food related legislation as it pertains to fish as food. Activities include: inspection of fish, fish products, fish processing establishments, water supplies used in fish processing, transport vehicles, fishing vessels and wharves and unloading sites; sampling and analysis of shellfish to ensure compliance with biotoxin and microbiology requirements of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP); certification of fish products for export; and licensing of processing establishments for export purposes.

Canadian Transportation Agency - maintains oceans related regulatory responsibilities under the Coasting Trade Act, Pilotage Act and Canada Marine Act.

National Research Council - operates the Institute for Marine Dynamics (IMD). IMD was established in 1985 as a national centre for ocean technology research and development. It provides technical assistance to Canadian businesses and works with international companies and research agencies to bring new technology to Canada.

Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness - reporting to the Minister of National Defence, this office is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to protecting Canada's critical infrastructure from threats and vulnerabilities, and ensuring national civil emergency preparedness. Specifically pertaining to ocean activity in Newfoundland and Labrador, the office administers the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements and, consequently, was involved in responses to the January 2001 storm on the South Coast and Hurricane Luis in 1995.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police - monitors pleasure boaters, engages in search and rescue efforts, and enforces coastal fishing and hunting activities under 258 Acts. The RCMP also maintains the Force's only Catamaran (PMV Simmonds) in Atlantic Canada. Based in Burin, this vessel is used to enforce the Customs and Excise Act between Canada and St. Pierre and Miquelon, and, as required, supports enforcement activities carried out by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

This information was current as of September 30, 2001.