A pilot project aimed at increasing the availability of maritime data will be launching across Canada's coasts in the spring -- and 4 B.C.coastal First Nations will be a part of it.
The T’Sou-ke and Pacheedaht Nations will share a pilot project on the South Coast of Vancouver Island, and the Council of the Haida Nation and Gitga’at Nation will host 2 projects on the North and Central Coast.
Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau confirms over $2.5 million is being awarded to develop a web-based, user-friendly system offering near real-time data, including vessel traffic and weather information.
" This one year pilot project scheduled to launch in the spring of 2019 will test and evaluate a new maritime awareness information system. It will provide essential local maritime information to communities so that they can known what is happening in their local waters, including shipping traffic."
In total, 10 Indigenous communities, governments and organizations from across Canada’s coasts will be piloting the new system.