Book 2, Tab B3 - Provincial and Territorial relationships

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• Provincial and Territorial responsibilities
• Aquaculture management in Canada
• The department engages both bilaterally and multilaterally with key provincial and territorial partners
• The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) is the Minister’s most important tool for multilateral engagement
• Other multilateral fora are available and can be convened as needed
• Provincial and Territorial Interests

Provincial and Territorial responsibilities

• In non-tidal waters in a province (i.e., freshwater), the constitutional jurisdiction over fisheries is shared, but in practice, has been largely delegated to provinces.
  • Fisheries in non-tidal waters are generally referred to as recreational fisheries, or inland commercial fisheries (e.g., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Ontario).
• With respect to freshwater, provinces and territories are generally responsible for fisheries management, including licensing and enforcement. That said, a mix of federal, provincial, and territorial management responsibilities has evolved over time, with different variations by jurisdiction.
  • These responsibilities are based on judicial interpretations, as well as specific federal/ provincial/territorial agreements and memoranda of understanding.
  • The different approaches across Canada reflect the diversity of regional needs. 

Aquaculture management in Canada

• Aquaculture management in Canada is a shared responsibility among federal and provincial/territorial governments.
• Constitutional authorities and legal rulings have resulted in three different aquaculture management regimes in place across the country.
• British Columbia and Prince Edward Island have special arrangements with the federal government for some aspects of aquaculture management in their jurisdiction
  • DFO has authority over day-to-day operations and oversight, and monitoring of fish farm activities in these jurisdictions.
• In all other jurisdictions, the management of the aquaculture industry remains a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments.
• Further information regarding the management of aquaculture in Canada is also included within your overview materials.

The department engages both bilaterally and multilaterally with key provincial and territorial partners

While DFO engages most often with the departments shown here, we also work with other departments on cross-cutting environmental, natural resources, agriculture and agri-food, or transportation issues.

• YK, Ministry of Environment
• NT, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
• NU, Department of Economic Development and Transportation
• BC, Ministry of Land, Water, and Resource
• AB, Ministry of Environment and Parks
• SK, Ministry of  Environment
• MB, Ministry of Natural Resources and Northern Development
• ON, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
• QC, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• NL, Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• PEI, Ministry of Fisheries  and Communities
• NS, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• NB, Ministry of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries

The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) is the Minister’s most important tool for multilateral engagement

CCFAM provides a structured, regular mechanism for federal, provincial, and territorial ministers and their officials to collectively address fisheries and aquaculture issues of national importance

• Formalized through the 1999 Agreement on Interjurisdictional Cooperation with Respect to Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Convened annually
• Co-chaired by the Minister and a rotating provincial or territorial counterpart
• Our Minister’s current co-chair is the Manitoba Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development

Description:

• CCFAM Ministers
  • CCFAM Deputy Ministers
    • Interjurisdictional Working Group
    • Committees
      • Strategic Management Committee on Aquaculture
        • Ongoing support for Aquaculture Development Strategy work, and related files
      • National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee
        • Ongoing support for aquatic invasive species (AIS) work
      • Inland Fisheries Committee
        • Support work related to recreational fisheries and inland commercial fisheries
      • Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Committee
        • Policy development and implementation for fish habitat protection under the new Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act
      • Economic Development Task Group
        • Promote economic development in fish and seafood sectors, in a post-COVID-19 environment

Other multilateral fora are available and can be convened as needed

In addition to the CCFAM, two regional intergovernmental ministerial fora exist:

• The Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (ACFAM), and
• The Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (PCFAM).

Both Councils operate under the same terms and conditions as the CCFAM

Neither is currently active

When the need arises, additional ad hoc multilateral mechanisms can be established.

• For example, Ministers from Canada, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador meet from time to time in what is referred to as the Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (EFAM) forum. This body also convenes at the DM level.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ministers and deputy ministers used this ad hoc forum to hold regular calls to coordinate on complex shared concerns regarding industry support and expanded safety requirements in the marine environment.

Provincial and Territorial Interests

Yukon

• Yukon River salmon/governance conservation and management
• Arctic Policy Framework
• Indigenous programs

Northwest Territories

• Aquatic invasive species
• Great Slave Lake revitalization ‒ infrastructure investments
• Arctic region

Nunavut

• Arctic region
• Nunavut Fisheries Regulations
• Marine Protection:
  • Lancaster Sound
  • High Arctic Basin

British Columbia

• Salmon aquaculture
• Protection of wild salmon
• Species at risk (whales, steelhead)
• MCT/MPAs
• Reconciliation
• Major projects (TMX)

Alberta

• Aquatic invasive species
• Whirling disease
• SAR: trout
• Fisheries Act

Saskatchewan

• Aquatic invasive species
• Fisheries Act
• Authorization for E.B. Campbell Generating Station

Manitoba

• Aquatic Invasive Species
• SAR: Lake Sturgeon
• Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin Outlet Channel

Ontario

• Aquatic Invasive Species
• Aquaculture
• Indigenous relationships/ management authority
• Canada-Ontario Agreement renewal

Quebec

• Quebec Fisheries Fund and CFSOF
• Collaboration on Stratégie maritime, Blue Economy
• MCT/MPAs Whale interactions and market impacts

New Brunswick

• Aquaculture leg/reg reform
• Reconciliation
• Whale interactions and market impacts
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation
• MCT/MPAs
• Small Craft Harbours

Nova Scotia

• MCT/MPAs
• Aquaculture leg. reforms
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation
• Whale interactions and market impacts
• Oceans Supercluster

Prince Edward Island

• Aquaculture leg/reg reform
• North Atlantic Right Whales
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Balancing ocean protection and economic objectives
• Snow crab fishery – precautionary approach
• Arctic surf clam quota
• Aquaculture sustainable growth
• Atlantic salmon and devolution of inland fisheries management
• Industry access to US markets
• Market access for seals
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation