Duncan Stephen

Negotiations of an agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada addressing fishing rights, fisheries management, and funding for fisheries management activities.

Negotiation of an agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada addressing fishing rights, fisheries management and funding for fisheries management activities.

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, with respect to identifying projects, programs, and activities that would benefit from directed support. Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plans, with respect to reducing obstacles to harvest opportunities for the seine fleet. Conservation and Protection, with respect to need for clarity and enforcement alongside changes to governance. Representation of the commercial salmon seine sector with respect to existing and novel co-governance frameworks.

Advocacy to design and fund a summer food program in Canada Updating Canadian regulations for flooding, wildfires and more including insurance for natural disasters Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 66, with respect to equitable funding and implementation. The renewal of the Canada Water Act legislation, including the practice of co-governance and co-creation with Indigenous Governments The prioritization of British Columbia River Basins for investments through the Freshwater Action Plan The need for the Federal government to invest $1Billion in the Freshwater Action Plan Seeking strengthening of fish habitat protections and implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy and Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI). Regulatory development for the implementation of the modernized Fisheries Act, including the creation of Ecologically Significant Areas and rebuilding plans Regulation of genetically engineered organisms including regulatory guidance on novel foods and which plants are subject to Part 5 of the Seeds Regulations. Policies relating to the use of genetically engineered organisms in food and agriculture, in particular environment health and human safety, and public transparency. Increased support for expanding birthwork (e.g., midwifery, doula, and abortion) services in the Northwest Territories Discussing government decisions around the release of the Athabasca oil sands tailing ponds into the Athabasca River (Alberta, Northwest Territories and Federal governments) Discussing financial investment by the federal government through economic stimulus in watershed projects in British Columbia and beyond as opportunity for economic recovery and employment generation. Discussing engaging pension fund beneficiaries and supporting pension fund managers to be a part of the transition to a low-carbon economy to achieve the inextricably linked goals of pension wealth and planet health. Sharing research and discussing new laws and programs that various states and governments have been passing related to this area. Creating guidelines/adaptation strategies/resilience strategies for wildfires, droughts, flooding and climate-related disasters Advocating for Canada-USA international waters relationships and problem-solving, notably in BC, Alberta and the Great Lakes regions. Advocating establishment of a Canada Water Agency before 2023, and working with government to create a successful, meaningful Agency both at its headquarters in Winnipeg and other branches (Montreal, Burlington) Advocacy for a Federal government investment in the BC Watershed Security Fund. Advance robust policy and law reform to end Canada’s public finance for the fossil fuel sector, including by providing analysis on, the Export Development Act, Bill S-243 (An Act to enact the Climate-Aligned Finance Act and to make related amendments to other Acts), the Guidelines for Canada’s International Support for the Clean Energy Transition, and the Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Government of Canada Guidelines. Advance robust policy and law reform to address human rights and environmental abuse in Canadian business activity abroad, including by providing analysis on, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, the Customs Tariff, Bill C-262 (An Act respecting the corporate responsibility to prevent, address and remedy adverse impacts on human rights occurring in relation to business activities conducted abroad), Bill C-263 (An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and to make consequential amendments to other Acts), and the Responsible Business Conduct Abroad strategy (2022-2027).