2.1 – Advancing Your Mandate and Platform Commitments

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This brief provides analysis of ten Liberal Party Platform commitments, including potential roles for WD. Additional details for each commitment are evolving and, as a result, analysis is subject to changes. The department will apprise the Minister’s office of new developments.

WD and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were directly identified in two platform commitments:

1. RDAs were identified to deliver a $100 million Tourism Community Infrastructure Fund
2. WD was identified to administer a new cleaner fuel technology and commercial support fund (amount TBD)

There were other commitments that could implicate WD and/or RDAs in terms of a possible delivery, support and/or advice role:

3. Canada Entrepreneur Account
4. Fresh Water–Canada Water Agency
5. Agri-Food Businesses
6. Opportunities For Stronger Indigenous Economies
7. Supporting Canada’s Low-Carbon Energy Industry
8. Clean Technology
9. Healthy Oceans and Aquaculture
10. Small Craft Harbours–Canada’s Coastal Communities

1. Tourism Community infrastructure Fund

Commitment

• “To help these communities better serve their residents, we will build on the new federal tourism growth strategy and move forward with a tourism community infrastructure fund to invest $100 million in the local needs of communities that rely on tourism, over the next four years. These funds will be delivered and managed by regional economic development agencies.” (Platform, p. 22)

WD Analysis

• Significant portions of the western tourism industry are already oversaturated in peak season. There is a need to support tourism projects outside of peak season and in communities outside of traditional areas with concentrated tourism demand (e.g. Vancouver, Banff, and Jasper national parks), as well as infrastructure investment in communities with high tourism potential.
• The maturity of tourism markets and infrastructure vary across western Canada. In response to these conditions, WD’s regional offices tailor investments based on the needs and demands of each province. For example:
  • With a well-established tourism industry in BC, the region received the largest numbers of submissions in the West, and supported a wide range of investments in all CEF priorities including projects directed at winter and shoulder-season, rural communities, Indigenous tourism, LGBTQ2+ communities, and culinary and farm-to-table experiences.
  • In Alberta, tourism is a key industry and has the potential to act as an economic stabilizer during periods of volatility in the economy. While all CEF priorities were supported in Alberta, the interest from Indigenous groups was significant and will remain a focus of WD’s tourism investments in Alberta.
  • In Saskatchewan, the tourism industry is less mature. Investments have supported tourism development activities and industry capacity-building.
  • In Manitoba, tourism investments have strategically focused in areas where demand for community-based and immersive experiences are highly sought after. These include support for Northern experiences (Churchill), Indigenous tourism, and Francophone communities.
• Tourism is specifically referenced under the ‘communities’ pillar of Grow West: The Western Canada Growth Strategy to build community resilience and liveability. Supporting tourism investments in the West will diversify the economy, and attract visitors and newcomers to the West, particularly in rural communities.
• Given its recent involvement in the delivery of CEF, WD is well-positioned to implement any new tourism funding programs in support of the government’s priorities in this area.

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Other Considerations

• WD was considerably over-subscribed for the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), demonstrating that there is large demand for tourism funding across western Canada. The West is a large geographical area with a wide variety of urban centres and natural landscapes that offer the opportunity for a diversity of tourism experiences.
• In 2019-20, WD invested $12.8 million under the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF) to support 69 projects. For example:
  • The Indigenous Tourism Association of BC is creating business development and online tools to help scale-up Indigenous tourism businesses.
  • Alberta’s Food Incubation Hub is developing a facility to showcase local farm-to-table products, chefs, and businesses.
  • North Central Community Futures is developing the snowmobile tourism industry in northern Manitoba.
  • Saskatoon Fireworks Festival Inc. is creating a new international lighting festival in Saskatoon.
• WD’s investments under CEF are expected to result in more than 430,000 domestic and international tourist visits, over 700 jobs, and $16.2 million in revenue growth over two years.
• There are opportunities to collaborate with other organizations within the tourism sector, both within the federal system (e.g. Destination Canada, Parks Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada, Innovation Science and Economic Development–Tourism Branch) and outside it (e.g. provincial, local and Indigenous tourism organizations and tourism industry associations). Working in partnership with these departments and organizations will help integrate governance and investments in this sector, an important action to unlock the potential of Canada’s visitor economy.^{Footnote 1}
• The RDAs, Destination Canada, and Innovation Science and Economic Development are working together to create Tourism Investment Groups in each region of the country to attract the investment needed to grow the industry.

2. Cleaner Fuel Technology and Commercial Support Fund

Commitment

• “With our abundant natural resources, Canada is also home to many of the key ingredients for cleaner fuels, such as canola, waste from agricultural crops, and wood.
  
  “To help producers get the technology and infrastructure they need to scale-up and create more good jobs, we will move forward with a new technology and commercial support fund, administered through Western Economic Diversification. This fund will help connect farmers, researchers, agribusinesses, and energy companies, and help give producers an advantage in the clean economy.” (Platform, p. 25)

WD Analysis

• A cleaner fuels fund would reinforce the Government of Canada’s prior commitment to move toward cleaner fuels by way of the Canadian Clean Fuel Standard (CFS), which requires liquid fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of domestically supplied products starting in 2022.
• It would also build on past Government of Canada investments in clean fuel technology development and demonstration, including:
  • Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) ecoENERGY for Biofuels program, which ran from 2008 to 2017 and committed $1.5 billion towards provision of operating incentives to producers of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel. The program made investments in production facilities more attractive by partially offsetting the risk associated with fluctuating feedstock and fuel prices.
  • Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s (SDTC) NextGen Biofuels Fund, which ran from 2007 to 2017 and committed $500 million towards the establishment of first-of-kind commercial demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels and co-products from non-food feedstocks.
• New clean technologies can come with high initial capital costs and unproven track records that result in higher investment risks for technology adopters. A cleaner fuels fund could help reduce the risk of adopting cleaner fuel technologies, and could assist technology developers in bringing new innovations to market.
• Key partners in the development of a fund would include NRCan, SDTC, the Clean Growth Hub, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial governments, and industry groups such as the Canadian Fuels Association, Canadian Gas Association, Advanced Biofuels Canada, Canadian Canola Growers Association and the Council of Forest Industries.

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Other Considerations

• WD’s past support for cleaner fuels has focused on the commercialization and market growth of biomass technologies, industrial bioproducts, and bioenergy. WD has also supported rural and Indigenous communities’ transition to cleaner energy.
• Examples of past and ongoing WD cleaner fuel and biomass projects include:
  • Enerkem Alberta Biofuels L.P. commercialized a facility to produce liquid biofuels and chemicals from municipal solid waste on a commercial scale.
  • The University of Saskatchewan is establishing a specialized suite of equipment to assist industry in commercializing new biofuel, biochar, and biopellet products.
  • Composites Innovation Centre Manitoba Inc. is facilitating the increased use of agricultural biomass and industrial bioproducts.
  • BioScience Association of Manitoba Inc. is undertaking a Biomass Trade Initiative to support export sales growth among Manitoba’s biotech and agricultural biotech companies.
  • Saulteau First Nations is installing a community biomass energy system.
  • Old Massett Village Council is converting heating systems of five community buildings from propane, diesel-generated electricity and fuel oil furnaces to a biomass system.
• WD is actively engaged with the Energy Futures Lab, a network of Fellows working to advance energy systems change, which is supporting the development of both a biojet industry and a hydrogen economy in Alberta. WD has also had early discussions with the Transition Accelerator, a non-profit organization working to support a pathway to a hydrogen economy anchored by heavy freight transport, beginning with a pilot hydrogen truck project between Calgary and Edmonton.

3. Canada Entrepreneur Account

Commitment

• “To make it easier and more affordable to start and grow a business, we will create the Canada Entrepreneur Account, administered through the Business Development Bank of Canada, to provide up to 2,000 entrepreneurs with as much as $50,000 each to launch their new businesses.” (Platform, p. 19)
• Program parameters are currently unknown, however, platform commitment details note that the Account would be a three-year $300 million pilot project. (Platform, p. 19)

WD Analysis

• Recent estimates suggest that 36% of new businesses do not survive past five years, and 85,000 small businesses disappear annually. In addition, rising input costs and a lack of access to financing are major obstacles often reported by entrepreneurs. The Account could assist entrepreneurs in addressing these barriers, particularly for groups that may possess less personal wealth and capital to invest in a new businesses, such as youth, women, Indigenous people, recent immigrants, and those living in rural and remote areas.
• It is anticipated that there would be significant interest in the Account in western Canada based on recent non-core, direct to business funding initiatives delivered by WD. Under the Steel & Aluminum Initiative (SAI) there was three times more in demand (number of applications and amount of funding) than projects and funding approved. In the case of the Women Entrepreneurship Fund (WEF) there was over ten times more requested (number of applications and amount of funding) than projects and funding approved.
• The Canada Entrepreneur Account aligns with the Business Development Bank of Canada’s (BDC) client base and within its suite of existing programs and services for entrepreneurs.
• The BDC has a significant presence in western Canada. Forty-three of its one-hundred client contact centres are located in the four western provinces. By comparison, WD has five points of service, and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) together have 39 locations.
• WD and its service delivery partners could develop, promote, and refer interested entrepreneurs to the BDC and the Account once it is established

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4. Fresh Water – Canada Water Agency

Commitments

• “To ensure that Canada is better prepared to protect and manage our fresh water in a changing climate, we will move forward with a new Canada Water Agency. The Agency will work together with the provinces and territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists, and others to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean, and well-managed.” (Platform, p. 36)
• Suggested new investments in the “Canada Water Agency and other measures to protect oceans and fish and support coastal communities” are $45 million for 2020-21, and $70 million for the three subsequent years, through to 2023-24 (Platform, p. 81).

WD Analysis

• This new agency will have an important role to play in promoting agricultural, industrial and community water security, and responsible water and land management on the Prairies. This region has significant potential to expand agri-food production to help meet growing global and domestic demand for food, while generating prosperity for years to come.
• The Canada Water Agency will help build on the momentum established by WD during the development of a Prairie Water and Land Management Strategy. It would be well-positioned to advance a bold infrastructure project that is under consideration to increase water flow from Lake Diefenbaker to southern Saskatchewan to support agri-food production and economic development. WD will continue to lead this project until the Canada Water Agency is established.
• WD could assist with the launch of the Canada Water Agency by:
  • sharing information from its recent work on a Prairie Water and Land Management Strategy, and its experience working on other water management and infrastructure projects;
  • connecting the Minister to key water management contacts and subject matter experts such as the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for Hydrology and Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS); and,
  • offering to serve as secretariat for committees (e.g. federal senior officials steering committee, external advisory group, to be determined) that would help establish the new agency and set its mandate.

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Other Considerations

• On January 11, 2019, the Prime Minister and then Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, hosted a water security roundtable with key stakeholders in Saskatchewan.
  • The Honourable Ralph Goodale has been a long-time supporter of expanding irrigation in Saskatchewan. His leadership has been instrumental for, both, WD’s work to develop a Prairie Water and Land Management Strategy, and the commitment to create a Canada Water Agency.
• Out of the discussion at the roundtable, as well as findings and recommendations from Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables, WD was provided with up to $1 million to work with partners and stakeholders to develop a water and land management strategy for the Prairies that would help the region capitalize on opportunities to expand agri-food production, while at the same time preparing for increased climate volatility.
• As part of its work to build a strategy, WD is studying the feasibility, economic viability and impacts of a potential pilot infrastructure project that would divert water from Lake Diefenbaker to an area in southcentral Saskatchewan to expand irrigation by more than 100,000 acres.
• In April 2019, Global Water Futures, a research programme affiliated with the GIWS and the Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan, convened a national discussion on the future of water security in Canada. Participants underscored the need for greater federal leadership in water management, and recommended creating a Canada Water Security Centre to assist with research and policymaking, as well as a National Water Security Commission, which would have investigative and enforcement powers.
• To launch development of the prairie water and land management strategy and discuss the proposed pilot infrastructure project, WD hosted a Summit on June 24-25, 2019, in Regina. More than 130 participants attended from across the Prairies, representing industry, provincial governments, municipalities, Indigenous communities, academia, and the not-for-profit sector. WD continues to engage with numerous partners and stakeholders to identify issues, challenges, opportunities and priorities to advance this work.
• Provinces and Indigenous communities have significant rights and responsibilities for water management. It will be important for officials to collaborate closely with these partners to ensure the new agency is respectful of established jurisdiction, roles and responsibilities.
• On November 14, 2019, the Saskatchewan Premier, Scott Moe, announced Saskatchewan’s new Growth Plan for 2020-2030. In it, the province committed to:
  • development and implementation of a water management strategy to support enhanced water security, including the development of resilient water supply infrastructure; and,
  • expanding irrigation by supporting irrigation district infill development to add an additional 85,000 irrigable acres, and pursuing efforts to attract private sector investment to provide additional irrigable land.

5. Agri-food businesses

Commitment

• “To give food producers and processors better and more timely support, and to meet our goal of making Canada the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products by 2025, we will merge existing financial and advisory services currently scattered between several agencies into Farm Credit Canada, whose mandate will be expanded and enhanced. The new entity, Farm and Food Development Canada, will serve as a single point of service to help all parts of Canada’s food economy develop, grow, and export to new markets.” (Platform, p. 25)
• “To help more food businesses access the capital and support they need to succeed and grow, we will also move forward with increasing Farm and Food Development Canada’s capital lending capability by up to $5 billion per year, on top of the existing support delivered by Farm Credit Canada.” (Platform, p. 25)

WD Analysis

• This commitment advances the Barton Report’s goal of increasing Canada’s global share of agriculture exports to 8% by 2027, an increase of $11 billion from 2015, making Canada the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter after the United States.^{Footnote 2}
• Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is the appropriate organization to lead this initiative. FCC provides business and financial services and products to Canadian agriculture producers, agri-food operations, and agri-businesses of all sizes.
• Other departmental partners impacted by this commitment may include: Business Development Canada, Export Development Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
• WD and FCC have a good working relationship and refer clients to one another.

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Other Considerations

• WD is providing leadership in the development of regional agri-food clusters and supports the development of the agriculture and agri-food innovation ecosystems leading to more commercialization. In 2018-19, WD approved 34 food and agriculture projects for total WD funding of $19.8 million and total project costs of $44.1 million.

6. Opportunities for Strong Indigenous Economies

Commitment

• “Moving forward with investments that will see all First Nations communities are off diesel and instead powered by clean, renewable and reliable sources of energy – such as hydro, wind, and solar – by 2030.” (Platform, p. 63)
• “Moving forward with a new target to have at least 5% of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.” (Platform, p. 67)

WD Analysis

• Efforts to transition rural and remote Indigenous communities from diesel to clean, sustainable sources of power are widely supported by stakeholders in the West.
• WD does not have the capacity to lead on the commitment to see all First Nations communities off diesel, but is well-positioned to support this commitment. WD currently delivers programming in British Columbia through a partnership with the Province of BC, Indigenous Services Canada’s Strategic Partnerships Initiative, and New Relationships Trust called the British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI). Through this initiative, WD is providing support and capacity-building funds to Indigenous communities working on the development of clean energy projects. WD’s experience with the BCICEI could inform the development of a broader, national program, or a suite of regional programming. BCICEI has been lauded as a strong example of working on a Nation-to-Nation basis.
• WD does not have the capacity, nor the mandate, to lead on the assignment of federal contracts, but is well-positioned to support Indigenous businesses in developing capacity to secure and fulfil federal contracts. Current programming is delivered in partnership with Indigenous-led organizations, including the network of Community Futures Organizations (CFs).

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Other Considerations

• BCICEI provides funds to Indigenous communities for the development of clean energy projects and has been cited by First Nations leaders as a strong example of nation-to-nation governance. To date, BCICEI has invested $6.12 million in 44 projects led by 39 Indigenous communities.
• CFs provide services including business development loans, technical support, business training, and community economic development services. Indigenous entrepreneurs are eligible for support through all of the CFs in the West, including 13 Indigenous CFs that receive $4.1million in core funding from WD.
• In partnership with the Prairie Federal Council and the Office of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, WD led a pilot project in Alberta, which brought together Indigenous suppliers from the Edmonton area with procurement officers from 13 federal departments. Two similar events are planned for January 2020 in Edmonton and Calgary, with an additional event upcoming in BC to be hosted by the British Columbia Federal Council.

7. Supporting Canada’s low-carbon energy industry

Commitment

• “It is estimated that additional federal corporate income tax revenues resulting from the Trans Mountain Expansion Project could generate $500 million per year once the project has been completed. This money, as well as any profit from the sale of the pipeline, will be invested in natural climate solutions and clean energy projects that will power our homes, businesses, and communities for generations to come.” (Platform, p. 31)
• “Ensure energy workers and communities can shape their own futures by introducing a Just Transition Act, giving workers access to the training, support, and new opportunities needed to succeed in the clean economy.” (Platform, p. 29)
• “To ensure that Indigenous communities directly benefit from major resource projects in their territories, we will move forward with a new national benefits-sharing framework.” (Platform, p. 60)
• Another previous commitment during the election period was to continue supporting construction of LNG Canada’s complex in Kitimat, BC.

WD Analysis

• Supporting Canada’s low-carbon energy industry, and leveraging TMX pipeline revenues to help in the transition will diversify the economy and demonstrate a commitment to western Canada. Canada has a world-class energy sector, and actions are needed to bolster national and international recognition of its efforts to produce clean and innovative hydrocarbons.
  • Canada lacks a cohesive, regionally-sensitive strategy to support a clean and competitive oil and gas sector. Building on the work of the Resources of the Future Economic Strategy Table, and in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, WD can help develop a regional approach for the sector’s transition.
• The value-added oil and gas industry, including petrochemicals, represent a significant opportunity to build on regional advantages, particularly in Alberta.
  • WD is positioned to lead regional federal efforts to support value-added energy economic development through advocacy, working with federal partners to address competitiveness barriers, providing funding for business scale-ups, enabling regional research into the circular economy, and supporting stakeholder partnerships.
• As part of the Government of Canada’s phase-out of coal-fired electrical generation by 2030, the government has committed to assisting impacted communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan to diversify their economies, including new opportunities in the low-carbon economy.
  • WD is currently delivering funding to support economic diversification in impacted communities. WD is continuing its support by working with impacted communities to identify potential infrastructure projects that will enhance economic diversification efforts.
• LNG is critical to the future of western Canada’s natural gas sector, and western Canada is strategically positioned to become a reliable global provider. WD is delivering $55 million in federal funding to support the reconstruction of the Haisla Bridge in Kitimat, BC, in support of community and LNG sector economic development.
• Indigenous communities across the West have expressed their desire and intention to take a leadership role in Canada’s natural resource management systems and industries, including the transition to a low-carbon energy sector.
• Investment in Canada’s oil and gas industry has declined significantly in recent years due, in part, to transportation constraints and regulatory changes, which have contributed to uncertainty regarding Canada’s investment environment. In addition to reduced capital spending among oil and gas companies, the Canadian energy sector has also seen several high-profile foreign divestitures, including Kinder Morgan, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell Plc., and Equinor ASA.
• Widespread opposition to Bill C-69 in the prairie provinces is in part based on concerns that the legislation will damage business competitiveness and investment, and make it difficult for future pipeline and other infrastructure projects to be approved in Canada.
• Canada needs a clear and stable regulatory environment to maintain industry competitiveness and prevent further divestment from the western Canadian energy sector. This will also help promote greater private sector investment into the clean energy space, enabling Canada to become a more strategic player in the low-carbon economy.

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Other Considerations

• Supporting market access and the energy sector is important to help ease tensions between the federal and Alberta governments, and to reduce feelings of western alienation.
• In Alberta, there has been widespread industry and government opposition to Bill C-69 and the potential unintended consequence of harming energy sector investment competitiveness.
• Since 2015, WD has provided over $30 million in funding to support oil and gas sector clean technology projects, including providing support for the Clean Resources Innovation Network. WD also provided $15 million in funding for 21 projects to support Indigenous groups in accessing pipeline-related opportunities.

8. Clean Technology

Commitment

• “To take advantage of this opportunity to attract and grow businesses that will help us meet the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, we will cut in half the corporate tax paid by companies that develop and manufacture zero-emissions technology. These lower taxes will create a strong incentive for businesses to set up shop in Canada, and help make Canada a true world leader in zero-emissions clean tech.” (Platform, p. 20)

WD Analysis

• The global market for clean technology is large and growing quickly. Estimates–depending on the source and methodology–range from around $1.15 trillion^{Footnote 3} a year on the low end, up to $3 trillion^{Footnote 4}, and even as high as $5.8 trillion^{Footnote 5} on the high end. Discrepancies aside, there is no doubt that clean technology represents a significant opportunity.
• In 2017, clean technology accounted for $62 billion and 3.0% of Canada’s gross domestic product; clean technology jobs totalled 282,000, representing 1.5% of all jobs in Canada; and clean technology exports reached $12.4 billion.^{Footnote 6}
• The West’s clean technology developers have strengths in areas such as energy storage, industrial wastewater treatment, hydrogen and fuel cells, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and smart grids. These firms benefit from proximity to and partnerships with traditional industries (e.g. oil and gas, mining, forestry, construction, heavy equipment vehicle manufacturing) that are increasingly seeking clean technology solutions and providing opportunities for research collaborations, demonstration projects, and reference clients. Clean technology developers also benefit from expertise in adjacent technology fields, including digital media, artificial intelligence, genomics and materials science.
• WD has significant experience, a strong network, and a good track record among stakeholders of supporting clean technology in western Canada. This positions the department well to support the platform commitments by accelerating clean technology commercialization and adoption, helping clean technology businesses scale-up, and by convening stakeholders to help inform development of a Just Transition Act.
• Key partners include other federal departments and agencies (e.g. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada), provincial government agencies and funds (e.g. Emissions Reductions Alberta, British Columbia Innovative Clean Energy Fund), and ecosystem support organizations (e.g. BC Cleantech CEO Alliance, Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre, Alacrity Foundation, Clean Resources Innovation Network, Alberta Clean Technology Industry Alliance, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, the Transition Accelerator, Energy Futures Lab, Vehicle Technology Centre).

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Other Considerations

• There are strong synergies between platform commitments in this area and commitments to support Canada’s low carbon energy industry, particularly as they intersect with efforts to improve environmental performance and lower emissions intensities in the West’s oil and gas sector. For example, in Alberta, members of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance have spent over $1.4 billion on environmental innovation to date.
• Budget 2016 bolstered WD’s track record of clean technology activities by committing Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to collectively double their baseline spending on supports to the clean technology sector.
• Since 2018-19, WD has approved 56 clean technology projects totalling $59 million in funding commitments across the West. Outcomes to date from these investments include business sales growth of $122 million and creation of 582 highly qualified personnel jobs. Examples include:
  • Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre is establishing an industry-led cluster initiative to facilitate collaboration among clean technology developers, academia, government and other ecosystem support organizations.
  • The Clean Resource Innovation Network is strengthening cluster linkages, building strategic alliances within the clean resources innovation industry, and supporting clean technology business opportunities for innovative SMEs and the oil and gas sector.
  • Saltworks Technologies Inc. is scaling up its industrial desalination business by introducing new technology and undertaking market development in China.
  • The University of Regina is establishing the Western Canada Clean Energy Initiative to support industry in the development of clean technologies related to oil/water separation, wastewater treatment, and desalination to lower emissions.
  • The University of British Columbia is expanding its solar powered micro-grid, enabling industry partners to develop, demonstrate, and commercialize solar transportation technologies.
  • CMC Research Institutes Inc. is accelerating the development and adoption of commercially viable greenhouse gas-reducing technologies.
• During Grow West engagement sessions, western Canadians called on the resource sectors to develop and deploy new technologies, and increase their environmental stewardship. Investing in cleaner resource development is a priority under the Grow West diversification pillar.

9. Healthy oceans and aquaculture

Commitment

• “To keep Canada’s oceans healthy, we will move forward with more investments in marine science and fighting invasive species, and will work with coastal communities, Indigenous communities, and others to better protect fish stocks and marine habitats from changes resulting from climate change. This will include introducing Canada’s first-ever Aquaculture Act. In British Columbia, we will work with the province to develop a responsible plan to transition from open net pen salmon farming in coastal waters to closed containment systems by 2025.” (Platform, p. 36)

WD Analysis

• Marine ecosystems and their biodiversity provide critical services to human well-being including the regulation of atmospheric and marine CO₂ concentrations and the provision of oxygen. Ocean health has diminished as a result of human activity, leading to ocean acidification, marine habitat and species loss, and other changes.^{Footnote 7} Improving ocean health through research, technology development, partnerships and investment is critical for the livelihood of future generations.
• WD has a strong network of companies and organizations working in oceans-related fields, and has partnered with different levels of government, Indigenous communities, and academia in support of oceans-related initiatives in western Canada.
• WD is not positioned to lead delivery of these commitments, but can play a supporting role achieved through pathfinding and stakeholder convening activities, as well as through funding support for select ocean health-related initiatives.
• Under the communities and diversification pillars of Grow West, WD can also play a role in supporting coastal community resiliency and the broader oceans and marine economy in the West, including for example in marine construction, navigation and emergency notification, and marine renewable energy (e.g. tidal and wave energy).
• With respect to the specific commitments to introduce an Aquaculture Act and transition BC open net pen salmon farming in coastal waters to closed containment systems by 2025:
  • Opinions on finfish aquaculture in BC are polarized, with some stakeholder groups staunchly opposed to the continuation of open net pen farms–largely owing to ecological concerns like transmission of sea lice and parasites to the wild salmon population, as well as potential hybridization of species–and strong support for farms from workers and businesses in the industry.
  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is undertaking open consultation sessions with the Canadian public, Indigenous Peoples, provincial and territorial governments, industry, and other impacted stakeholders until December 21, 2019, to seek input into an Aquaculture Act. Following these sessions, a ‘What We Heard’ report will be created and new rounds of engagement sessions will commence in early 2020.

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Other Considerations

• Examples of recent oceans and aquaculture-related investments WD has made include:
  • Ocean Networks Canada Society is supporting sustainable oceans management, world-class marine safety and mitigation, and responsible energy infrastructure development through implementation of the Smart Oceans BC program.
  • The University of Victoria is creating the Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) to support commercialization of marine renewable energy technologies and ancillary products and services.
  • The Association of British Columbia Marine Industries is supporting partnerships between industry and research and training institutions to grow an inclusive and innovative West Coast Marine industry and increase participation from underrepresented groups.
  • Metlakatla Development Corp., Coastal Shellfish Corp., and Coastal Shellfish LP are commercializing sustainable aquaculture operations in the Prince Rupert area by expanding and upgrading scallop farming, harvesting and processing capacity.
  • The University of Manitoba established the Churchill Marine Observatory, which plays a key role in learning about the impacts of Arctic marine transportation, and oil and gas exploration and development throughout the Arctic.
• WD is working with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the National Research Council to develop workshops that will bring industry stakeholders together to collaborate and create technologies that improve ocean resiliency and create economic prosperity. WD’s role includes pathfinding and convening stakeholders. This work is ongoing.
• WD is working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the BC Ministry Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to co-fund an ocean marine economic study to better understand the scale and scope of BC’s oceans economy. This work is ongoing.

10. Small Craft Harbour – Canada’s coastal communities

Commitment

• “To build on our investments in renewing and repairing small craft harbours, and to ensure that Canada’s coastal communities are home to good middle class jobs for years to come, we will move forward with increasing investments in small craft harbours by $40 million per year. We will also work with communities to develop local economic development plans so that these harbours better service the needs of the fishing industry and local residents.” (Platform, p. 23)

WD Analysis

• The Small Craft Harbours (SCH), created in 1972, is a nationwide program administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The SCH’s mandate is to provide the commercial fishing industry with harbour infrastructure that is safe and meets operational needs. Non-core harbours (recreational or low-activity harbours) are to be divested or removed.
• DFO uses three main strategies to fulfill its mandate: Maintain a network of harbours; support harbour authorities in managing the day-to-day operations of commercial fishing harbours; and transfer the ownership of non-essential harbours and recreational harbours to other levels of government or not-for-profit organizations.
• As of September 2018, the program is responsible for 1,008 fishing and recreational small harbours. Of the total, 180 (BC = 107, MB = 48, SK = 14, AB = 11) are located in the West.
• In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada invested $250 million over two years in the SCH program. However, according to the National Harbour Authority Advisory Committee, the main challenge of the SCH program is the lack of dedicated funding for divestitures of recreational and non-core fishing harbours. Delays in divestitures frustrate local communities/municipalities who want to take over the harbour and the continued deterioration in some harbours are leading to increased liabilities.
• These harbours are important infrastructure for Indigenous communities. They are not only used for commercial fishing, but in some instances are the only ways in and out of communities.

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