Under its Oceans Protection Plan, Canada announced an investment of $19.5 million to construct four double-hulled barges that will deliver fuel safely to Northern communities and also opened the Hay River Training Facility, which will provide marine safety training to Northern communities. The move aims to minimize the risk of a fuel spill and improve the safety of community resupply operations.
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.
Many northern communities rely on marine re-supply operations to receive up to 95% of their goods. I am pleased to announce this significant step in protecting the health of our Arctic coast and waters and enhancing the safety and security of re-supply operations.
…noted Michael V. McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories.
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 by the government in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders and coastal communities.
Today, the Government of Canada has taken additional steps to protect the health of our Arctic coast, strengthen the safety of Canada’s marine transportation system, and expand employment opportunities for Canadians. We are doing this by investing in Northern marine resupply operations and supporting the creation of a well-trained Northern marine labour force reflective of Canada’s diverse population.
…said Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Transport.