Tab C3 - Provincial and territorial relationships

On this page

• Purpose
• Provincial and territorial responsibilities
• Aquaculture management in Canada
• The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) is the Minister’s primary forum for multilateral engagement with provinces and territories
• Other multilateral fora are available and can be convened as needed
• Provincial and territorial governments, premiers and ministers from CCFAM
• Provincial and territorial interests

Purpose

1. Outline provincial and territorial responsibilities
2. Outline the Minister’s membership on the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) and other multilateral fora
3. Highlight key 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.
• The Government of Canada has worked to devolve power to the territories, with devolution occurring in Yukon (2003), the Northwest Territories (2014), and Nunavut (2024).

Aquaculture management in Canada

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

The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) is the Minister’s primary forum for multilateral engagement with provinces and territories

CCFAM provides a structured, regular mechanism for federal, provincial, and territorial ministers to 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
• The current PT co-chair is Nunavut

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 governments, premiers and ministers from CCFAM

Political Party Types:

• Provincial Liberal parties
• Conservative-oriented parties
• Coalition avenir Quebec
• Provincial NDP party
• No party system

Yukon (Provincial Liberal parties)

• YK CCFAM Minister: Nils Clarke, Minister of Environment
• Premier: Ranj Pillai (Yukon Liberal Party – elected November 7, 2016)

Northwest Territories (No party system)

• NT CCFAM Minister: Jay Macdonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• Premier: R.J. Simpson (No party system –elected November 14, 2023)

Nunavut (No party system)

• NU CCFAM Minister: David Akeeagok, Minister of Community Services
• Premier: P.J. Akeeagok (No party system – Announced April 1, 2022)

Quebec (Coalition avenir Quebec)

• QC CCFAM Minister: André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• Premier: François Legault (Coalition avenir Quebec party –appointed October 18, 2018)

Newfoundland and Labrador (Provincial Liberal parties)

• NL CCFAM Minister: Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
• Premier: Andrew Furey (NL Liberal Party – appointed August 3, 2020). [Note: He announced his resignation on February 25, 2025. Election for new leader on May 3, 2025]

Prince Edward Island (Conservative-oriented parties)

• PE CCFAM Minister: Zack Bell, Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture
• Premier: Rob Lantz (PEI Progressive Conservative Party – appointed February 21, 2025)

Nova Scotia (Conservative-oriented parties)

• NS CCFAM Minister: Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Premier: Tim Houston (NS Progressive Conservatives – appointed on August 31, 2021)

New Brunswick (Provincial Liberal parties)

• NB CCFAM Minister: Pat Finnigan, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Premier: Susan Holt (NB Liberal Party – sworn in November 2, 2024)

Ontario (Conservative-oriented parties)

• ON CCFAM Minister: Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources
• Premier: Doug Ford (ON Progressive Conservative Party – appointed June 29, 2018)

Manitoba (Provincial NDP party)

• MB CCFAM Minister: Ian Bushie, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures
• Premier: Wab Kinew (MB New Democratic Party – sworn in October 18, 2023)

Saskatchewan (Conservative-oriented parties)

• SK CCFAM Minister: Travis Keisig, Minister of Environment
• Premier: Scott Moe (Saskatchewan Party –appointed February 2, 2018 )

Alberta (Conservative-oriented parties)

• AB CCFAM Minister: Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
• Premier: Danielle Smith (United Conservative Party – assumed office October 11, 2022)

British Columbia (Provincial NDP party)

• BC CCFAM Minister: Randene Neill, Minister of Land, Water, and Resource Stewardship
• Premier: David Eby (BC NDP Party – elected July 18, 2017)

Provincial and territorial interests

Yukon

• Aquatic invasive species
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Impacts of Natural Resource Projects

Northwest Territories

• Great Slave Lake Fishery and Hay River Fish Plant revitalization
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation(FFMC) transformation
• Aquatic invasive species
• Climate change
• Data sharing and use of Indigenous Knowledge

Nunavut

• Domestic product marketing and consumption
• EU Seal ban/Market Access
• Nunavut Fishery Regulations

British Columbia

• Aquatic invasive species
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Salmon aquaculture
• Protection of wild salmon
• Species at risk (whales, steelhead)
• Fisheries Treaty negotiations with the US

Alberta

• Aquatic invasive species
• SAR: trout
• Fisheries Act
• Impacts of drought

Saskatchewan

• Aquatic invasive species
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation(FFMC) transformation
• Fisheries Act

Manitoba

• Aquatic invasive species
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation(FFMC) transformation
• Sustainable fisheries and eco-certification

Ontario

• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Freshwater fisheries
• Labour
• Aquaculture

Quebec

• Fisheries Fund renewal
• Financial support for harvesters
• Gulf Shrimp fishery
• Importance of domestic market
• Sustainable fisheries and eco-certification
• Species at Risk
• Aquaculture

New Brunswick

• Support for aquaculture industry
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Gulf Shrimp fishery
• Importance of domestic market
• Sustainable fisheries and eco-certification
• Fisheries Fund renewal
• Climate change
• Illegal fishing, unreported landings, and cash sales/elvers
• Rights Implementation / Moderate Livelihood
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation
• Rights Implementation

Nova Scotia

• Fisheries Fund renewal
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Illegal fishing, unreported landings, and cash sales
• Climate change
• Rights Implementation / Moderate Livelihood
• Aquaculture leg. reforms
• Unit 1 Redfish Fishery

Prince Edward Island

• MSX / Dermo in oysters
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Climate Change
• Aquaculture
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Fisheries Fund renewal
• US Tariffs/reducing domestic trade barriers
• Joint Fisheries Management
• Balancing ocean protection and economic objectives
• Aquaculture sustainable growth
• Atlantic salmon and devolution of inland fisheries management 
• Independence of inshore/owner operator and fleet separation