That's correct.
Evidence of meeting #29 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was herring.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #29 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was herring.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
As you know, my riding is the largest hub for the coast guard in all of Canada. Those are things that are certainly of interest to me and the area I represent.
Are there decreases in here that are going to impact the local hub of the coast guard?
4:10 p.m.
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
No. There's nothing in the main estimates that affects the coast guard based in Sarnia at all, or their work in the Great Lakes area.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
When you were doing the presentation you talked about significant increases, including $5.1 million to help Canadians adapt to the impacts of climate change under the clean air agenda. I think that's a staggering amount, and maybe some of it could be better used for invasive species and some of the things that are quite pertinent, I think, to the protection of our waters.
4:10 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
If I may, we will not be dealing with the clean air component of that. We will be dealing with any potential impacts of climate change. That could be aquatic invasive species. It could be damage to small craft harbours. It could be a whole series of things.
We will not be dealing with the clean air. Exactly how you describe it is where—
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
When will those things be rolled out? When will we know that?
4:10 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Currently we are looking at priorities within DFO in terms of research, monitoring, surveillance, etc. That funding is being looked at on a priority basis—a list of priorities for DFO and what research would be required under this particular funding envelope. It also includes freshwater issues; it's not just limited to climate change as a whole.
So there will be some funding going toward some of those issues that you mentioned.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to all.
For 2010 through to 2011, what was the small craft harbour budget? Was that the largest over the last number of years?
4:10 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I don't have the exact numbers in front of me for 2010-11—it's two years ago—but the fact is that it's true, in 2010-11 the number was higher as a result of the economic action plan money.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
4:10 p.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It was probably around $100 million higher.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
So it was $100 million higher; and there are still a few wharves that could stand a few dollars.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Okay. Thank you.
The amount for the Atlantic lobster sustainability measures was reduced from $21 million to $8 million—a $13-million decrease. What was the reason for that? Was it because it did not take capacity out of the fishery, or is it possible that there's another program that would be coming into play that would help remove the capacity in the fishery?
4:10 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It's not a reduction in the program itself; it's a matter of how the cashflow was distributed over the five years.
You may know that this was a proposal-driven program. When we described the main estimates, we described what last year's cashflow or spending would have been. This year's is lower because we're reaching the end of the program.
So it's simply a matter of how the money was distributed over time.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
I thank you very much.
What was the total amount allocated to that program?
4:10 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It will be spent when the time is up.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Thank you very much.
The big concern is the loss of $12 million in science. Do you see this as having a major impact on the scientific information that's provided by the department?
