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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Our Water & Ocean Q&A WITH
Erin Brockovich We sat down with renowned environmental activist and consumer advocate, Erin Brockovich, to learn more about her journey in water stewardship and why it's more important now than ever to fight for clean water. What is your philosophy? Why is the “truth” so important? Truth is the key ingredient in trust and without trust it’s impossible to know what is really going on. Truth builds trust and respect which enables progress.
When discussing climate change and our planet, why do you think it is important to discuss water? Water is the climate. Water is the lifeblood of the planet and our bodies. Water is the source of life.
How has your view on water changed since your fight for clean water began? My view on water hasn’t changed but my view on how careless we are with this vital, beautiful gift has become more and more worrisome. My father is the one who told me that during my lifetime water will become a precious commodity and it’s happening. We need to defend it like we’d defend our own children.
Joyce Murray Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
What is Canada doing to build partnerships with First Nations, Indigenous, and Inuit communities across Canadian coastlines? Our government is committed to advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across Canada. Increasing indigenous participation in the fisheries is an important part of this work. In-digenous peoples have long standing cultural, social, and economic ties to fish, and my department is working with Indigenous peoples to grow their participation in the fisheries according to their rights. We’re building strong partnerships with Indigenous peoples on ocean and marine conservation. Recently at IMPAC5, together with 17 First Nations, I announced the Northern Shelf Bioregion Network Action Plan in a vast area off of the Pacific Coast, to work in partnership with First Nations and the Province of BC to protect the ocean and waterways. I will continue working together with Indigenous peoples to protect Canada’s water and coasts.
With 2030 approaching, what steps is Canada taking to ensure the conservation of ocean and costal ecosystems? Since 2015, Canada has progressed from protecting just 1 per cent of our oceans, to almost 15 per cent. Our government’s Ocean Protection Plan is investing over $3 billion in federal funding to strengthen marine safety systems, increase protections for marine ecosystems, and engage with Indigenous peoples so they can have greater participation in how their coasts and waterways are protected. The world looks to us to lead on marine conservation, and recently Canada became a signatory to the United Nations “High Seas Treaty”, to work together with international partners to further protect global oceans and aquatic species. Canada is committed to reaching the target of protecting 30 per cent of our Read the full interview oceans by 2030, and we’re taking action to reach this with Joyce on innovatingcanada.ca. important goal.
What do you want readers to take away from your new book “Superman’s Not Coming”? You must be engaged. This idea that we can rely on the actions of a few is misguided. People need to be our own heroes. Communities need to come together and be the change they want to see. Tag… you’re it!
Check out what Erin's been up to, and learn more about her new book at brockovich.com.
What advice would you give to environmental activists who are fighting to make an impact? Stick-to-itiveness — you can’t quit. They are spending millions, we need to be fully dedicated and never, ever give up.
Kendra MacDonald CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
What inspired you to become a leader in ocean? I feel quite privileged to live on the doorstep of the North Atlantic where I can make memories with my children and also make a significant contribution to the sustainable, digital, and inclusive growth of Canada’s ocean economy. The role of CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster allows me to leverage a career in technology, innovation and global market development with the opportunity and personal connection to the ocean. Canada is an ocean nation, with the longest coastline in the world and some of the most innovative people on the planet with a transformational opportunity ahead of us. This opportunity is in solving global challenges through accelerated, made-in-Canada ocean innovation to sell to the world. It’s my honour to lead an incredible team and membership from coast-to-coast-to-coast who are collaborating to bring this potential to life in their work every day.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity in ocean? Canada, and the world, are in a race against time to combat climate change. This is a defining moment for our generation and it’s in ocean where critical solutions exist. Sustainable ocean growth is one of the greatest opportunities of our time — where with the decarbonization of our ocean sectors comes significant growth and the potential for tens of thousands of new jobs. With changing weather patterns, rising ocean temperatures, accelerated impacts in the Arctic including ice melt, and the quality of air we all breathe every day – our ability to do business differently in the ocean matters to every one of us whether you live by an ocean or not. For generations, ocean has been part of who we are as Canadians — providing a source of food, transport, energy, recreation, and a way of life for many. Now on the path to net-zero carbon emissions and a sustainable economy, the ocean, now more important than ever, plays a leading role. We have the opportunity to work Read more about Canada's Ocean Supercluster together in new ways across Canada to be able to on page 4. accelerate solutions and address opportunities.
Publisher: Chloe Zinn Business Development Manager: Sarah Ferreira Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Web Editor: Christina Morgan Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals Digital Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.