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Tab B – Department 101

Department overview

A mandate that directly impacts the day-to-day lives of Canadians

The Department’s mandate facilitates positive change and achieves meaningful results that are felt across the country.

Informs key decisions on a broad range of priorities

Supporting Departmental Priorities

Fisheries management

Deciding who may access fisheries as a public resource, as well as where, when, and how many fish are harvested.

Environment

Taking action to conserve and protect species, ecosystems and the marine environments, including marine pollution response.

Economic prosperity

Working with fishers, coastal, and Indigenous communities to enable their continued prosperity from fish and seafood resources.

Safety

Making sure Canadians are able to safely use and travel our oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Indigenous rights

Taking steps to further a constructive relationship with Indigenous peoples.

International

Advancing Canada's objectives and interests with international partners and on the world stage.

Departmental programs and services support four overarching priorities

Fisheries

Ensure Canada’s fisheries, including aquaculture, are protected, managed sustainably, and support Indigenous participation, while ensuring a national network of harbours is open and in good repair.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Protecting oceans, freshwater, and aquatic ecosystems and species from negative human impact and invasive species through sound science and in collaboration with Indigenous communities.

Marine navigation

Maintain waterways year round so they are safely navigable by mariners and all Canadians.

Marine operations and response

Respond to maritime incidents, such as search-and-rescue and environmental emergencies, through our Coast Guard fleet and in collaboration with Indigenous communities.

A highly operational and service-oriented department

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Day-to-day, DFO employees:

Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is a special operating agency within Fisheries and Oceans Canada

CCG personnel:

With a strong workforce possessing a range of skills and expertise

The Department has approximately 13,000 employees across Canada (including Coast Guard personnel).

Day-to-day operations rely on a strong workforce with a wide range of skills and expertise, including:

An important regional presence

As a highly operational organization, over 75 per cent of employees work outside the National Capital Region (NCR) to deliver direct services to Canadians.

With over 350 work locations across the country, frontline departmental staff are often the main or only federal presence in Canada’s coastal communities.

In addition to the NCR, DFO is comprised of seven regions (Arctic, Gulf, Maritimes, Newfoundland & Labrador, Quebec, Pacific, and Ontario and Prairies), with an additional four Coast Guard regions (Central, Western, Atlantic, and Arctic).

In 2018, DFO/CCG established new dedicated Arctic Regions to advance Indigenous reconciliation and to reflect the Arctic’s growing economic and environmental importance to Canada. The former DFO/CCG Central and Arctic region are now respectively called the Ontario and Prairie Region (DFO) and the Central Region (CCG).

The department manages major program investments and a substantial asset base

Departmental funding

Departmental assets

Budgetary planning

Core responsibility and 2021-22 estimates

Science plays a key role in supporting decision making

Science is front and centre at DFO to support evidence-based decision-making.

Sustainable development: a strong science and evidence-base supports the responsible use of ocean resources, including fisheries, aquaculture, and offshore development.

Conservation and protection: assessments of habitat, species at risk, aquatic invasive species, and other ecosystem factors informs policy, enhances programs, and supports marine protected areas.

Oceans management: scientific data supports ocean governance and marine spatial planning, and hydrographic services enable safe navigation through Canada’s waterways.

Environmental monitoring: scientific research and monitoring on environmental changes to support fisheries and aquatic ecosystem management and marine operations and responses.

Regular engagement with stakeholders, Indigenous partners, and other governments

Fish Harvesters

Ensure fair access and allocation of fisheries resources to commercial harvesters; manage and administer licences; and, balance sustainability measures with positive economic outcomes.

Marine Sectors

Enable robust economic activity and trade via marine shipping and transport, marine safety, and aids to navigation; affirm Canada’s position in global fish and seafood markets.

Indigenous Groups

Support expanded access to fisheries resources; provide greater agency and autonomy in decision-making; and, increase partnerships in ocean governance.

Provinces & Territories

Jointly manage freshwater fisheries, ecosystems, and waterways with provincial and territorial governments and work collaboratively to address important issues within their jurisdiction.

International Partners

Demonstrate Canadian leadership; promote Canada’s international trade agenda; advance Canadian priorities for international fisheries; and, engage domestic stakeholders on international issues.

ENGOs

Advance environmental conservation; strengthen protections for species at risk; enhance sustainability requirements for fisheries; build environmental response capacity.

Canadian Coast Guard Overview and Programs
Safety First, Service Always

Coast Guard: What we do

Coast Guard’s mandate is derived from the Oceans Act, the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act.

From coast to coast to coast

On an average day, the Coast Guard:

Coast Guard Regions

Map of Canada showing Coast Guard regions, FTEs, assets
Description

Western: 1,370 FTEs

  • 7 Operational Bases
  • 13 SAR Stations
  • 4 Seasonal IRB stations
  • 5 Staffed ER Depots
  • 2 MCTS Centres
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 ROC
  • 3,856 Aids to Navigation
  • 27 Staffed Lightstations

Arctic: 102 FTEs

  • 1 MCTS Centre
  • 1 IRB Station
  • 1 Staffed ER Depot
  • Hay River Base
  • 1,930 AtoN
  • 11 remote Communication Sites
  • 3 AIS, 24 ER caches, 1 RAT
  • 1 Regional HQ Office (Yellowknife)

Atlantic: 2,125 FTEs

  • 3 Operational Bases
  • 14 SAR Stations
  • 9 seasonal IRB Stations
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 MRSC
  • 1ROC

Central: 1,610 FTEs

  • 11 Operational Bases
  • 15 SAR Stations
  • 13 Seasonal IRB stations
  • 4 Staffed ER Depots
  • 4 MCTS Centres
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 MRSC
  • 1 ROC
  • 6,801 Aids to Navigation

NCR / College: 1,244 FTEs (Ottawa, ON)

Coast Guard College (Sydney, NS)

  • 5 Staffed ER Depots
  • 5 MCTS Centres
  • 6,675 Aids to Navigation
  • 24 Staffed Lighthouses

Note: FTEs accounted for above represent the planned workforce as per Coast Guard’s approved 2020-21 Business Plan

The Arctic Region is inclusive of the Yukon North slope, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Hudson and James Bay. This boundary is inclusive of Inuit Nunangat.

The Western Region consists of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon, minus the Yukon slope.

The Central Region consists of Ontario and Quebec, minus the Nunavik region in northern Quebec.

The Atlantic Region consists of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, minus the Nunatsiavut region in Labrador.

Fleet

(as of 8/20/2021)
* In addition, the fleet is supplemented by two leased Emergency Towing Vessels on the West Coast.

Our People and the College

Our People

Canadian Coast Guard College

Coast Guard asset management

Shore-based asset readiness

Ensure Coast Guard shore-based assets are available, capable, and reliable to support the delivery of the following Coast Guard programs:

Manage the following assets throughout their entire life cycle:

Fleet Maintenance

Marine Search and Rescue (SAR)

The Coast Guard is the federal lead for marine search and rescue in Canada.

Aids to Navigation and Waterways

The Coast Guard facilitates safe navigation through Canadian waters

Marine Communications and Traffic Services

183 remote communication sites which include 11 in the Arctic to support Coast Guard services.

12 Marine Communications and Traffic Service centres:

Icebreaking and Ice-Management

During winter, 14 icebreakers and two air cushioned vehicles operate in southern Canada. During the summer, an average of seven vessels operate in the Arctic.

Marine Pollution Response

Environmental Response (ER)

Hazardous Vessels

Vessels of Concern (VOC)

Maritime Security

The Coast Guard is often the only federal presence in Canada’s waters, most notably in the Arctic. This presence contributes to security and promotes Canadian sovereignty.

Coast Guard plays a critical role in supporting Canada’s maritime and national security by:

Partnerships

Coast Guard provides operational platforms and expertise to several federal partners, including:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Vessel platforms to various programs such as Science, Oceans Conservation and Protection, and the Canadian Canada Hydrographic Service

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Supports law enforcement agencies, such as through the Canada-U.S. Shiprider Program, which removes the international maritime boundary as a barrier to law enforcement by enabling seamless continuity of enforcement and security operations across the border

Transport Canada

Supports the enforcement of marine regulations

Internal collaboration

Coast Guard maintains strong partnerships with a number of countries, most notably, the United States and participates in various multilateral fora

The Coast Guard is engaged in a variety of capacity building activities:

The Coast Guard also participates in numerous international committees to consider the use of standards, strategies, and technologies in Canada.

Key Initiatives

Fleet Renewal: Coast Guard has received approval and funding for 2 polar icebreakers, [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.] large ships and [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.] small ships to replace existing vessels as they retire and ensure that Coast Guard retains full operational capacity to fulfill its mandate.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) guides procurement decisions for the Coast Guard fleet, including construction, repair, refit and maintenance work.

Decisions to date

Five large vessels were approved and funded when the NSS was announced in 2010:

Between 2005 and 2012, 34 small vessels were also approved and funded; 24 have been delivered.

In 2019, DFO secured funding for an additional 24 CCG large vessels:

In May 2021, DFO secured funding to complete the full renewal of the Coast Guard fleet:

Annex: Coast Guard Partnerships

Partners

Clients

Think Tanks / Academia

International

Senior Officials: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Description

ADM: Assistant Deputy Minister

RDG: Regional Director General

EA: Executive Advisor

Deputy Minister: Timothy Sargent

  • Chief of Staff: Jody Proctor
  • Departmental Assistant: Johanna Hill

Associate Deputy Minister: Lawrence Hanson

  • EA: Nathalie Altherr

Sector heads

Senior ADM, Strategic Policy: Niall O’Dea

  • EA: Erin Wilson

Senior ADM, Fisheries Harbour Management: J.-G. Forgeron

  • EA: Sarah Hampel

ADM, Aquatic Ecosystems: Alexandra Dostal

  • EA: Julie Richter

ADM, Ecosystems and Ocean Science: Arran McPherson

  • EA: Stephanie McGill

ADM and Chief Financial Officer: Hugo Page

  • EA: Johanne Mongrain

ADM, Human Resources and Corporate Services: Dominic Laporte

  • EA: Syed Husainy

Senior General Counsel: Caroline Clark

Chief Audit Executive: Leslie Levita

  • EA: Janice Carkner

Canadian Coast Guard

Commissioner: Mario Pelletier

  • Chief of Staff: Miriam Trudeau                  

Deputy Commissioner, Shipbuilding and Material: Andy Smith

  • EA: Annie Bisaillon

Deputy Commissioner, Operations : Chris Henderson

  • EA: Gaston Doucette

Assistant Commissioner, Western Region: Roger Girouard

  • EA: Connie Gress

Assistant Commissioner, Arctic Region: Neil O’Rourke

  • EA: Tanis Hunter

Assistant Commissioner, Central Region: Marc-André Meunier

  • EA: Stacy Poulin

Assistant Commissioner, Atlantic Region: Gary Ivany

  • EA: Wanda Tremblett

Regional heads

RDG, Pacific Region: Rebecca Reid

  • EA: Kirsten Lawrie

RDG, Maritimes Region: Doug Wentzell

  • EA: Pauline Rossignol

A/RDG, Newfoundland and Labrador Region: Tony Blanchard

  • EA: Terrena White

RDG, Gulf Region: Serge Doucet

  • EA: Manon Diotte

A/RDG, Quebec Region: Sylvain Vézina

  • EA: Genevieve Couturier-Dubé

RDG, Ontario and Prairie Region: Michelle Langan

  • EA: Cindy Scale

RDG, Arctic Region: Gabriel Nirlungayuk

  • EA: Aimee Nagy
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