FFHP: Wave 3

About Wave 3

Background

In the summer of 2023, NWAC began the engagement process to implement the new phase of the FFHP Program in line with WAVE 3 engagement for issue areas identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, DFO under the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection provision of the Fisheries Act of Canada and Species at Risk Act.

Wave 3 engagement is intended to help NWAC to understand from the perspectives of Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ (WG2STGD+) People in Canada, issues related to fish habitat restoration focusing on the new proposed changes identified under the fish habitat protection provision of the Canadian Fisheries act and the relevant provisions of the Species at Risk Act.

Wave 3 engagements will follow-up on the work in Wave 1 by focusing on

Offsetting and Habitat Banking Policy; and
Codes of Practice – Interim and New

Wave 3 engagement also represents a follow-up on the work in Wave 2 focusing on

Framework for Aquatic Species at Risk Conservation.

Linking Waves 1 and 2:

In 2022 to 2023, NWAC successfully participated in Wave 2 of the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection, FFHP, program. Wave 2 was a continuation of the previous engagements undertaken in Wave 1.

Wave 1 engagements focussed on four key areas:

Guidance on the Consideration of Cumulative Effects on Fish and Fish Habitat.
Prescribed Works and Water Regulation.
Offsetting and Habitat Banking Policy; and
Codes of Practice – Interim and New

Wave 2 focused broadly on the five issue areas below. However, NWAC’s engagement activities focused more directly on issue area 5 below:

Death of Fish Position Statement
Existing Facilities and Structures Position Statement
Ecologically Significant Areas; and
Framework for Aquatic Species at Risk Conservation.
Conversations on identifying priorities for the restoration of fish and fish habitat.

During Wave 2, three roundtables, 18 one-on-interviews and one survey were completed focusing on Fish and Fish Habitat Restoration priorities. Three reports were also completed.

Purpose of the engagement:

The engagements under WAVE 3 are designed to create opportunities for Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ (WG2STGD+) People in Canada to share their perspectives on matters related to fish and fish habitat protection in two ways:

Firstly, through the FFHP portal, NWAC will act as a convener to ensure that its partners keep up to date with changes to the DFO’s policies and programs related to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection provisions of the Fisheries Act, and the relevant provisions of the Species at Risk Act.
Secondly, using methods such as roundtables and surveys, NWAC will ensure that the ideas and ideals of Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ (WG2STGD+) People in Canada inform any proposed changes to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection provisions of the Fisheries Act and the relevant provisions of the Species at Risk Act.
The information collected using the different engagement methods will be used to prepare What-we-Herd reports which will be shared with the DFO. The reports will also be posted on this FFHP portal.
Wave 3 engagements ensure that regulations, policies, guidelines, or codes of practice proposed by the DFO include in a meaningful way the perspectives of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA persons.