Fisheries Committee on May 17th, 2007

[Larry Murray]

In terms of the specific West Arichat issue that's been raised, we will come back with a response to where it's at.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

I'd appreciate that.

The second thing is--and I'm going to try to get three in here, Mr. Chairman--that the committee had passed a motion put forward by Mr. Stoffer to not apply the marine service fees to Canadian commercial vessels shipping north of 60 degrees, and that was supposed to be done immediately because of the socio-economic impacts of those fees. I know you're proceeding with a framework, but are you not compelled to drop those fees as a requirement under the decision of Parliament?

[Commr George Da Pont]

We will be discussing this again with the minister. His staff has also met with some of the Arctic shippers and have indicated that they would look at it again before the start of the shipping season in June.

What I would say is that we have done an awful lot of work in this area. We prepared a detailed discussion paper on this issue, which has been shared with all concerned and which, I believe, was tabled with this committee as well.

We do collect about $100,000 in fees a season. That's the extent of the actual fees that we collect. We have a process under way to try to deal with this issue across the country. We do have some concerns about proceeding in a piecemeal fashion, dealing with one aspect and not the other. We have committed, and the minister will reconsider whether anything is done before the Arctic shipping season this year.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Thank you.

Finally, Mr. Stringer, could you comment again on what's being done for salmon enhancement in the Atlantic? What I know is that one of the few very active and healthy rivers is the Margaree. Acid rain has really had a terrible impact on some of the other rivers in Atlantic Canada.

You say that you're active. I know that the adopt-a-stream program was funded under ACOA. ACOA came in to play that role, seeing that the recreational fishery--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Relevance, Mr. Cuzner.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

It's just that the people in the Margaree River believe they're benefiting from SFA. It was a different SFA, I think.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I figured he'd do that.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

And that was for Stoffer's benefit.

[Kevin Stringer]

There are two things in particular that I'd point to--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Very quickly, Mr. Stringer. I know this is an important question, and we need an answer, but--

[Kevin Stringer]

I spoke on some of the framework, the policy we're working on, and all those types of things.

The Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund, which we established--there are now cheques being cut and provided to the group--should provide funds specifically for groups like that to be able to access. They've got a board and volunteers on that board from each of the five provinces, and they are going to be involved in dividing these moneys up. They expect to be able to ask for proposals this fall and start delivering programming next year. It should be in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million a year, because they're going to keep the capital of $30 million.

The second one is SALSEA. I've forgotten exactly what that stands for, but in any case, it's an international research program that the Atlantic Salmon Federation is involved in. We are contributing as well to NASCO, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, which looks at mortality at sea. We have a number of programs, including the gene bank.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

We're going to have to finish the programs at another time. I'm sure Mr. Cuzner will want to ask that question again.

Monsieur Gaudet.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

My question is for Mr. Da Pont, of the Canadian Coast Guard. Are you an independent organization? When you talk about boats, you resort to the Department of Transport. The Canadian Coast Guard has in the past intercepted fishing boats that were in our fishing zone. As the coast guard, what are your powers?

[Commr George Da Pont]

I am not sure I understood your question correctly, because I never appeared before the Standing Committee on Transport.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I agree with you, but earlier on, Mr. Cuzner asked a question about boats, and you answered that that concerned the Department of Transport. Do you always operate in silo or do you have an agreement?

[Commr George Da Pont]

I am sorry, I misunderstood the question.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

No problem.

[Commr George Da Pont]

As I stated, we have certain powers and responsibilities in order to deal with pollution. In a case like that of abandoned ships, we have the power to take steps in order to ensure that there is no pollution. That would be the limit of the powers of the Canadian Coast Guard in that kind of situation. We cannot take any other steps to dispose of the boats.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I would like to come back to the deputy minister. A little earlier on, we were discussing the seal issue, and the fact that we went on an European visit this year. I do not understand why there are not ongoing talks. When the sealing season begins, there are ads on television and Europeans come to meet with us. How is it we are unable to get some reaction? We must be proactive, and not wait for the opening of the sealing season. You seem to be unable to get along with Foreign Affairs Canada. I will ask the same question here. It seems as though everyone is working in silo, that no one is cooperating. How is it possible that all the departments—like Foreign Affairs Canada and yourselves—are not working together on a comprehensive plan? Currently, everyone is working in isolation and when the seal hunt begins, everyone mounts the barricades.

[Larry Murray]

I believe you are right as far as this worry is concerned, but I think that over the last two years, we truly have worked as a team with Foreign Affairs Canada and the other departments, as well as with the missions abroad, and the provincial and territorial representatives. I think that the participation of the Premier of Nunavut, this year, was very valuable. I believe that your idea of bringing pressure to bear year-round, and not just at the beginning of the seal hunt, is an excellent one. In fact, we are trying to do that currently. The support of this committee has been very significant. The minister agrees with the opinions you have expressed. That is largely why, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the position of Canadian ambassador for fisheries conservation was created, and that includes the very important issue of the seal hunt.

[Kevin Stringer]

I think that the silo issue is ours as well. Everyone has worked, but have we worked together? We thought about working more as a team last year probably. We created a task force bringing together three or four departments, that is to say the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well as two or three others. We held meetings with representatives from the province of Quebec, from Newfoundland and from Nunavut last fall. There were also meetings with sealers and with the Inuit on this issue. We asked what we should do about what is going on in Europe and in the United States. There was a meeting with this delegation two months ago—I think it was in March—and it was probably the first time that everyone was there. The embassy organized it all, and there were representatives from the provinces, from Nunavut, the hunters and the Inuit. Everyone worked together, and our friends at Foreign Affairs did foot the bill for it all. It was good news for us. Everyone participated.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Very quickly, please, Mr. Murray.

[Larry Murray]

I also believe that the pressures brought to bear by this committee and its impatience are very important and very encouraging for us.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I think we cannot be content to start one month before the seal hunt and finish a month after. It must be ongoing, in order to make it understood—

[Kevin Stringer]

That is right.