Today, Canada joins countries across the globe in honouring the vast waters that surround us. This year’s theme, “Awaken New Depths”, encourages us to change the way we interact with and acknowledge the ocean. We must awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration, and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains.
The ocean sustains coastal communities, provides essential habitats for endangered species, strengthens our supply chains, and creates jobs in the marine sector – our oceans are part of who we are as Canadians. That’s why our government is taking action to protect our oceans, especially in the face of challenges like pollution and climate change. Over the last decade, we’ve gone from protecting fewer than one per cent of our oceans to helping protect over 840,000 square kilometres – about 14.66 per cent – and exceeded our initial protection goal ahead of schedule.
Collaboration between all levels of government, environmental groups, Indigenous partners, and scientists and researchers is required to keep advancing solutions that will protect marine areas, ecosystems, and oceans. We’re making great strides toward our goal of conserving 2 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2025, including internationally as well.
Today, I encourage Canadians from coast to coast to coast to reflect on the importance of our oceans, what they mean to our communities, climate, and country, and join people throughout Newmarket-Aurora and all over the world reconsider their relationship with the bodies of water around us.
