Evidence of meeting #32 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 work.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

David Gillis  Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
David Burden  Acting Regional Director General, Central and Arctic Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Michelle Wheatley  Regional Director, Science, Central and Arctic Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

5:15 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT

You talked a bit about the international border crossing and the legislation around that. Would the interprovincial transport of live Asian carp be covered under sections of the Fisheries Act, then?

5:15 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

David Gillis

It could be. I think that was one of our examples for how the development of federal regulation could play a role in complementing the provincial legislation and the regulations that are in place.

In Ontario, for instance—Dave was covering some of this a second ago—where there are provincial regulations against the possession of Asian carp, it's an interesting situation. If the carp are coming live across the border, it's a federal CBSA person who maybe would observe, but then they have to call in OMNR as the enforcer to deal with it. Federal legislation might bring other options that could be brought into play at that point.

Similarly, where we would have movement of carp or any other listed species from one provincial jurisdiction to another, that's another area where federal powers might augment the tool kit in terms of management and enforcement.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT

You're saying “might”. Right now where you certainly do or—

5:15 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

David Gillis

Well, we're working on that—

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT

Okay.

WAPPRIITA doesn't cover anything to do with fisheries, right? It just covers wild animal and plant protection.

5:15 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

David Gillis

I'm sorry. I didn't hear the question.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT

That WAPPRIITA legislation—the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act—doesn't cover it?

5:15 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

David Gillis

I'm not familiar with that. It's not my field directly, so....

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

Thank you—

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT

What? Am I done now? Come on.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

You're done now.

5:15 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for taking the time to come and meet with our committee today. We really appreciate the information that you've been able to share with the committee. I'm sure the committee will have further questions as we proceed further within our study.

Thank you very much once again for taking the time.

5:15 p.m.

A witness

Thank you.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

Committee members, there being no further business, this meeting is adjourned.