Evidence of meeting #31 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Matthew King  Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Marty Muldoon  Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Marc Grégoire  Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Kevin Stringer  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Trevor Swerdfager  Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Michel Vermette  Deputy Commissioner, Vessel Procurement, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Tom Rosser  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

9:50 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Kevin Stringer

I think there are two or three things we can highlight. The program we just discussed, the recreational fisheries partnership program—I think you actually asked where they are being done—they are, indeed, being done in all 10 provinces and at least one of the three territories, but certainly along the Great Lakes watershed.

That activity is being done on the Great Lakes watersheds as well. With respect to the Great Lakes waters—that's the agreement with U.S.—that's an Environment Canada lead and they deal mostly with water quality.

DFO's involvement includes aquatic invasive species, habitat work, so we have a number of initiatives and partnerships with the U.S. in those areas.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB

Drilling down, what kind of habitat work are you talking about, apart from the recreational fisheries program?

9:50 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Kevin Stringer

Studies in terms of what habitat in the various Great Lakes are, what we know about habitat, what we don't know about it, and research into different ways of improving those types of things.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB

One of the big issues with Lake Erie, for example, is the eutrophication that is happening in the west end. What's the potential fisheries impact if that's allowed to proceed?

9:50 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Kevin Stringer

The Great Lakes fishery, and particularly the Lake Erie fishery, is very significant. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission looks at that on an annual basis and it's the one, I think, that's in the best shape. There are a number of potential threats to that fishery. Certainly, eutrophication is one; Asian carp is another. It is something that we watch very carefully.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB

Given that most of the eutrophication comes from nonpoint source pollution, are you developing any programs to deal with nonpoint source pollution?

9:50 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Kevin Stringer

It's something that the Great Lakes Fishery Commission is looking at and we're part of that. In terms of section 36, the pollution issues, that would be an Environment Canada lead, specifically.

9:50 a.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB

Okay.

Could you describe the situation for Atlantic salmon, especially in the Miramichi area but in the Maritimes in general? What's going on with Atlantic salmon? We're hearing about some grave concerns. What's the path forward?

9:50 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Kevin Stringer

Atlantic salmon has been a concern for a number of years and continues to be. There was a commercial fishery for Atlantic salmon but that was stopped a number of years ago, many years ago. I think 1998 was the last year.

In some years we've seen some improvements, but most years it has been really challenging. It is an enormously important fishery for anglers, and it's an iconic fishery. It brings in literally billions of dollars to the Canadian economy, the recreational fishery unit in particular. There is a first nations and aboriginal food, social and ceremonial fishery as well.

COSEWIC has proposed that it be listed. They've looked at nine different populations. They are working their way through the system. Last year we had particularly troubling results in the Miramichi, southern New Brunswick, southern Nova Scotia. Some good results in Newfoundland and Labrador, but overall we saw a reduction.

We did take action. We reduced retention numbers. We moved some areas from retention to catch-and-release only. But I do think there's a sense that we're reaching a point where we need to look at something more substantive and we're actively considering that. We are concerned about the fishery.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB

Thank you.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

Thank you, Mr. Sopuck.

We'll move to the five-minute rounds and start off with Mr. Cleary.

December 2nd, 2014 / 9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the DFO crew for appearing before the committee today.

I echo Mr. Chisholm's concern; it's too bad the minister couldn't be here today. It's all about accountability.

Now, guys, you can consider this the speed round. I have five minutes and I have to get through a number of different subjects, so let's cut to the chase.

Let's start off with Mr. Grégoire and the coast guard and the Manolis L. The Manolis L is a paper carrier that went down off the northeast coast in 1986, as you're well aware, with 500 tonnes of oil aboard. It was still leaking as of October. What's the long-term solution? What can we do about it?

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Marc Grégoire

We are going there about twice a year now, and we were there in November. We put in a cofferdam and whenever there is oil, we remove this oil. There is no long-term solution for now. We are assessing it as we go forward. But we don't want to see any oil in the water, so we're taking this very seriously. In November, for instance, we sent an ROV down, and we inspected the whole ship. We're following this very closely.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

There is no long-term solution? You can't reuse the oil?

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Marc Grégoire

There's no other long-term solution at this point in time, no. But should there be a risk, then of course we would envisage another option. But for now, to go there twice a year to empty the cofferdam is considered a sufficient measure.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

I think the risk has already been well documented in terms of the oil that's spilled to date and continues to spill.

Moving on to the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, there is a proposal to move the pilot docking station 20 kilometres deeper into Placentia Bay. Does the coast guard have a concern about that? Placentia Bay has already been deemed one of the riskiest areas in Canada in terms of potential oil spills. Now with the boarding station 20 kilometres further in, do you have a concern about that?

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

Why?

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Marc Grégoire

You said, “cut to the chase”. No, I don't have any concern.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

Okay, now elaborate.

9:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Marc Grégoire

Okay, so now we can elaborate.

Every time there is a suggestion to make a change like this, we look at it very seriously, and in this case it was with the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and Transport Canada. The risks were assessed, and this situation of moving the station was accepted by all.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

In advance of a risk assessment being carried out—and that was the answer given to one of my questions in the House of Commons last week—you're saying that you're not concerned about a greater risk?

9:55 a.m.

Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Marc Grégoire

I'm not concerned at this point in time, but the pilotage authorities are under the authority of the Department of Transport. These are crown corporations regulated under the Pilotage Act, so your question would be more addressed through the Minister of Transport.

9:55 a.m.

NDP

Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

You're with the coast guard and the coast guard would respond to an oil spill, so I'm sure that's why your comments are relevant.