Where is the Canadian Oceans Agency?
In a recent news conference, Canada’s top astronaut Steve MacLean said he was pleased with the federal government’s contribution of $110 million towards robotics research, saying it would allow the Canadian Space Agency to be ready when other nations announce major projects. Mr. MacLean said, “This $110 million allows us to protect the leading-edge technologies that we have.”
Canada’s federal budget (announced Jan. 27) called for the agency to receive $110 million to support development of space technology and advanced robotics. Mr. MacLean, speaking alongside Minister of Industry Tony Clement, praised the government’s commitment, saying he was “very pleased” with the amount of money the agency received and said it will allow Canada’s industry to be poised to act when other nations move forward with future plans.
While Marport is also very pleased for the funding received by our colleagues from outer space, we ask the question, “Where is the Canadian Oceans Agency?”
At over 240,000 km, Canada has the world’s longest coastline. Our ocean related industries currently contribute more than $22 billion annually to the national economy; and over 7 million Canadians live in coastal communities.
Canada’s prosperity is linked to our offshore and inland waters, which form a maritime highway that serves both national and international traffic. In trade with countries other than USA, 97% of Canadian exports and 70% of our imports move across ocean trade routes. Our 550 ports handle 400 million tonnes of cargo each year, and serve as the gateway to over 100 world economies.
Have we forgotten that we are a maritime nation? Our social, economic and physical security is dependent on modern integrated oceans management. However, the current approach to ocean technology is fragmented, complex, lacks transparency, and is often focused on solving problems usually after they appear. Given the importance and expanse of Canada’s oceans and waterways, federal and provincial governments need to develop a comprehensive strategy to more effectively manage this critical and strategic resource.
One should not confuse the need for a Canadian Oceans Agency with Canada’s existing Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). DFO’s mandate clearly states: “On behalf of the Government of Canada, DFO is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada’s scientific, ecological, social and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters.”
Let’s compare that with the mandate of the Canadian Space Agency – “The mandate of the Canadian Space Agency is to promote the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the knowledge of space through science and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians.”
If this country were to establish a Canadian Oceans Agency, it could be inspired to adopt an almost identical mandate to that used by the Canadian Space Agency – except replace the word “space” with “oceans”. The mandate would read something like this:
“The mandate of the Canadian Oceans Agency is to promote the peaceful use and development of our oceans, to advance the knowledge of our oceans through science and to ensure that ocean science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians.”
Given the importance of our oceans as a source of protein, energy and scientific knowledge isn’t it high time for the federal and provincial governments to properly develop a strategy to address the significance of our oceans?
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