Question Period Note: Patcheedaht First Nation Marine Safety Centre

Patcheedaht First Nation Marine Safety Centre

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Patcheedaht First Nation (PFN) are working together to advance development of a multi-purpose marine response facility (Marine Safety Centre, or MSC) in Port Renfrew, located in PFN's territory on western Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

The MSC will provide marine search and rescue and environmental response services, strengthening marine safety and response capacity in the Juan de Fuca Strait

Collaborative discussions are ongoing to advance establishment of the MSC, and we remain committed to enhancing response capacity in the Port Renfrew region to keep mariners safe and protect the coast of British Columbia.

• The Port Renfrew multi-purpose marine response facility (Marine Safety Centre, or MSC) began as a Search and Rescue (SAR) station in Port Renfrew approved under the 2016 Oceans Protection Plan.
• It evolved to become a CCG accommodation measure under the 2019 reconsideration of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project, envisioned to include environmental response services to address PFN’s concerns over oil spills.
• PFN has been very clear that in addition to the TMX accommodation, the MSC must enable the much-needed economic development opportunities for the Nation that are needed to achieve reconciliation (e.g., tourism, employment, lease revenues). The MSC must also enable PFN to regain control of and protect sacred burial caves that are historically and culturally significant to the Nation.
• The MSC would also strengthen CCG’s capacity in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, enabling a more timely response in case of a marine incident, and enable PFN’s participation in response to a marine pollution incident.
• In a letter to PFN dated August 12, 2019, the former Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard confirmed the Department’s commitment to work with PFN to realize the shared vision for the MSC.
• A joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PFN and CCG was signed on June 29, 2020, capturing the shared vision for the MSC and highlighting the relationship and partnership between the two organizations. The MOU also outlines a governance structure, roles and responsibilities, and facilitates a consensus-based decision-making process as development of the MSC advances.
• Both PFN and CCG have agreed upon a preferred location for the MSC, and they are working together to acquire the property and commence construction of the Facility.
• The recent fire aboard the M/V Zim Kingston and subsequent loss of 109 cargo containers approximately 38 nautical miles west of the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait have caused PFN to press for a renewed focus to expedite the establishment the MSC.

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