Joyce Murray

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I have seen the science around acidification and deoxygenation, as well as warming impacts, so we have a triple whammy. It is one of the reasons that it is so important that we now think about climate change as we do our marine protected area planning, because the resilience of the healthy seabed floor is important for the resilience of the whole ecology. We need to build that resilience as we face these changes under climate change, and we do monitor the pH levels of all of our oceans.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I am always willing to look at new science. I am always willing to adjust our measures to reflect what we have learned, and the southern resident killer whales are a key species for us to protect. There is a review every year, and we will take a look at the enforcement concerns that the member is raising.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, this analysis and development of regulations is being done by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It is not a partnership with DFO, but I take the member's point that it is very important that polystyrene be regulated so that it is not in the ocean in the same volume that it has been, because it is very deleterious to fish.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, we do have a process, the CSAS process, which provides the opportunity for peer review of science. I understand what the member is saying when she says that there has been some recent research that has come out since the CSAS report that determined minimal risk. At a certain point, when there is a body of work that has not been reviewed, I will be requesting that another peer review process take place through CSAS so that we can update our analysis of the risk to wild salmon.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I absolutely share the concern that it is not just the effects of the flooding, slides and fires, but how we rebuild from them. I mentioned earlier that I am part of the emergency committee of provincial and federal ministers, and each of my and DFO's interventions has been to make sure the other ministers understand the importance of having fish-friendly rebuilding. We are going to continue to press that point.

Our government provided $5 billion to the province to help rebuild from the flooding in November. That rebuilding has to be done in a way that is fish friendly, so I am going to be asking for a report on what we are doing to ensure that.

I thank the member for her concern.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for Cape Breton—Canso for his very deep engagement with his community and for championing the issues, including small craft harbours in Cape Breton.

Our government and I fully understand the important role that small craft harbours play in our country. These government-owned harbours are located throughout Canada and provide commercial fish harvesters and other small craft harbour users with safe and accessible facilities. Some 90% of Canadian fishing vessels are using small craft harbours, and fish harvesters depend on these facilities to support their livelihoods.

As the parliamentary secretary mentioned, our government provided $300 million over two years to repair, renew and replace small craft harbours. With this new funding, our government has now announced that $784 million in new funding for a small craft harbours program has been allocated since 2016, so we understand how important these harbours are to communities. In these estimates that we are discussing today, $149.5 million in new funding is being provided for the small craft harbours program.

We understand how important the fish and seafood industry is. It is my job and commitment to grow that industry. For that we need harbours that can support the fishers who use them, and we are working to do just that.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, the bottom line is I sign off on the department's budget.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, it is an opportunity to point out the incredible importance of reducing the invasive species growth across the country.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, I would say that it would be less than 50%.

[Business of Supply, May 30th, 2022]

Mr. Chair, it is approximately $10 million.