Question Period Note: Pacheedaht First Nation Marine Safety Centre

Pacheedaht First Nation Marine Safety Centre

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Pacheedaht First Nation (PFN) are working together to advance the 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 the establishment of the MSC. The Government of Canada remains 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.
• An accommodation measure under the 2019 reconsideration of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project expanded the scope to include environmental response services to address PFN’s concerns over oil spills.
• In a letter to PFN dated August 12, 2019, the former Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the CCG confirmed the Department’s commitment to work with PFN to realize the shared vision for the MSC.
• 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 to achieve reconciliation (e.g., tourism, employment, lease revenues). The MSC, in PFN’s opinion, must also enable PFN to regain control of and protect sacred burial caves with historical and cultural significance to the Nation.
• The land requirement for the MSC supported by the OPP initiative and the accommodation measure differs greatly from the land requirement for the MSC envisioned by the PFN.
• While the MSC would strengthen CCG’s capacity in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, enabling a more timely response to a marine incident, and enabling PFN’s participation in response to a marine pollution incident,
• 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 throughout the development of the MSC.
• The recent fire aboard the M/V Zim Kingston and subsequent loss of 109 cargo containers approximately 38 nautical miles west of Juan de Fuca Strait entrance have caused the PFN to press for a renewed focus to expedite establishment the MSC.
• CCG continues to engage with the PFN on multiple subjects, and a meeting to to continue discussions on the MSC is planned for March 29, 2022.
• To date, during the 2021-22 fiscal year, under the Co-Developing Community Response TMX accommodation measure, CCG has funded over $640,000 in contribution funding (Vote 10) to PFN for on-going engagement relating to TMX issues, including the MSC.

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