Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney met Jan. 13 with Coastal First Nations leadership in Prince Rupert, B.C. to discuss collaboration on marine conservation and ocean protection.
Carney met with Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative (CFN) president Chief K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett as well as other CFN leadership.
“In a time of global uncertainty, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control: building our strength at home and reliable partnerships abroad,” Carney said. “We are working at pace to transform our economy, protect our environment and communities, and empower Canadians with greater security, prosperity, and opportunities. As a maritime nation, safeguarding our oceans and coastlines is not just a moral obligation – it is an economic necessity.”
Carney committed to renewing funding for the Oceans Protection Plan Reconciliation Framework Agreement (RFA) in 2026-27 and directed ministers to work with all the RFA partners to present a five-year funding pathway by this spring, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) readout said.
He also said the government is committed to conserving 30 per cent of Canada’s land and waters by 2030, including working with First Nations on identified Marine Protected Areas in the Great Bear Sea.
The government will also fund a Marine Traffic Risk Assessment study, extend leases on two Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) until 2028, and ensure ETV capacity is consistent with shipping activity, the readout said.
