Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to outline the changes to the Fisheries Act that are proposed in the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act.
With regard to the broader Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, I am proud of the work that has been done to focus the government on better and more effective ways to contribute to our economic growth and job creation in a sustainable, responsible way, now and for future generations.
In today's economy, it's paramount to ensure that Canada's great natural resources, including the fisheries, are well managed. And with respect to fisheries, it's our intention to do precisely that. The proposed changes to the Fisheries Act do three things related to the protection of fisheries in Canada. First, it's about focusing our protection efforts where they are needed. Second, it's about regulatory clarity and efficiency. Third, it's about enabling partnerships with provinces and territories, aboriginal groups, conservation organizations, and others that care about fisheries protection.
I should note that the changes we have proposed do not change how section 36, the pollution provision, is applied at Environment Canada. Most of what I will speak to applies to fisheries protection other than pollution. The proposed changes enable us to focus our efforts on the protection of commercial, recreational, and aboriginal fisheries. This means moving away from the current rules where all fish and all habitats are subject to the same treatment. Under the Fisheries Act today, activities and impacts on an irrigation ditch on a farmer's field are subject to the same rules as a sensitive fish-rearing area on the Fraser River. The impacts on water bodies are subject to the same rules regardless of magnitude—from a dock at a lake, to a clear-span bridge, to a major industrial or resource development.
That is not a sustainable, not a common sense approach. Canadians expect us to focus our work on the protection of fisheries. The proposed changes will focus on recreational, commercial, and aboriginal fisheries. These changes will ensure that these fisheries are protected from a range of threats, including threats to habitat or non-authorized killing of fish in protection from aquatic invasive species.
The purpose section of the act clarifies that fisheries protection provisions are supposed to support the sustainability and ongoing productivity of the fishery. We are also providing enhanced tools for protection and compliance. The proposed changes include aligning the penalty provisions with the Environmental Enforcement Act. The changes would make the conditions of authorizations enforceable, so we can ensure that appropriate monitoring and reporting takes place. The changes enable the identification of ecologically significant areas that can provide enhanced protection in areas such as sensitive spawning grounds or where cumulative impacts are a concern.
Another objective of our government is to provide clear and transparent regulations, and we have proposed the regulatory tools to enable us to implement this effectively. One example is the identification of minor works. These are classes of works like cottage docks that would not require a permit. Another example is minor fisheries waters where we can identify classes of waters such as irrigation ditches that would no longer require a review of projects.
With these approaches, we can be clear about where the fisheries protection provisions do and do not apply. At the same time, we'll provide clarity about how the new provisions will apply. We have included a regulatory authority to establish standards for fisheries protection—for water flows or the passage of fish, or times of the year that projects can or cannot be undertaken to protect fish spawning or growing. Canadians expect us to be clear about the rules, where they apply and how they apply. We will also develop a regulation that clarifies for proponents what information we will require from them for a project review and how long it will take us to do the review for the purposes of issuing or denying a permit.
The proposed changes will provide new mechanisms to better coordinate with provinces and territories to address overlap and duplication. Where a provincial or territorial government has standards that meet or beat the federal standards, we can stand down and allow the provincial process to apply. We can even delegate the authority to make decisions if the appropriate mechanisms are in place.
As serious as we are about our focus on protecting recreational, commercial, and aboriginal fisheries, we are also serious about transparency, about clarity, and about efficiency. Canadians want to know what the rules are, how the rules will be applied, what is expected of them as proponents, and how long decisions will take. The proposed changes provide the tools to do this.
One of the changes that I am most excited about is enabling partnerships. I have already spoken about partnerships with provinces and territories to address overlap and duplication. But I am also talking about enabling partnerships with conservation groups and others who are passionate about protecting fisheries. We have good partnerships now with groups that represent the thousands upon thousands of Canadians who work with us to protect Canada's fisheries. But we know we can be better partners. So the proposed changes enable us to establish activities and programs and to enter into agreements with third parties to carry them out.
Conservation groups, angling groups, recreational fishing groups, and many others have told me about the important work they are doing to protect Canada's fisheries and about their ideas to develop new, innovative approaches to achieve this. It is innovative and exciting to hear from groups with such passion and on-the-ground expertise. The networks in those groups are extraordinary. We need to work better through them to reach the general public.
To summarize, the changes to the Fisheries Act represent three components: a focus on the significant impacts to Canada's commercial, recreational, and aboriginal fisheries; tools to enable regulatory clarity and efficiency; and tools that enable partnerships with those who care about protecting fisheries.
I am excited about the prospect of these proposed changes. They will get us focused where we need to be focused; they will get us out of the ditches and the fields, and they will get us better connected with Canadians who are already engaged in this important work. With these changes, I am confident we will have the direction, the tools, and the partnerships we need to ensure that Canada's recreational, commercial, and aboriginal fisheries thrive for future generations of Canadians to enjoy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to be here this morning.