Ernest Watson

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Ernest (Ernie) is honoured to represent Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on the IAMC. His experience with DFO began as a M.Sc. student at the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, after which he went on to gain over 25 years in technical, leadership and management positions.  His experience includes the areas of assessing and management of environmental risks associated with infrastructure and resource development projects pursuant to the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act, leading DFO participation in Environmental Assessment reviews pursuant to multiple environmental assessment processes, providing expert support to the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), leading regional fish habitat monitoring and compliance programs, and the management of AquaticSpecies at Risk under theSpecies at Risk Act. His current role is as the DFO TMX Team Leader, and is responsible for overseeing the DFO regulatory reviews for the TMX project, and overseeing the development and implementation of the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund, a TMX accommodation measure.

Ernie is a proud father of three children, and enjoys playing cards, fishing and travelling. He lives on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.