Finance Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2018

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I have questions for all the witnesses.

I'll start with Mr. Hierlihy.

Mr. Hierlihy, I would like to ask you a question about airports. I think Ms. Alleslev asked some very relevant questions about how to deal with the financial issue. My questions are about safety standards, which your second recommendation addresses.

You recommended that standards be created. My question is not about the funding mechanism. Instead, I am looking at how we can ensure that the same standards apply to all airports. I am sure that many members who have had the privilege of travelling in this country have seen, as I have, that what is acceptable in Saint John is not necessarily acceptable in Charlottetown or Winnipeg. Why are there no standards that apply to all airports across the country?

[Greg Hierlihy]

That's a very good question, and I've experienced the same issue. I really don't have an answer for you about why that is, but I can certainly take it away and try to come back with—

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Will your recommendations lead not only to funding standards, but also to standards for users, who are the target group for those activities?

[Greg Hierlihy]

We'll come back with additional information on that.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

That's great.

Mr. Bishop, Mr. Chase, thank you very much.

Yesterday, we had the privilege of meeting in Charlottetown with one of your colleagues, I believe, Mike Durand, who made almost the same recommendations as your organization.

I think your first recommendation goes without saying. The third proposes that, instead of creating new mechanisms for funding Atlantic salmon conservation projects, the government contribute to programs already in place.

Are you comfortable with the idea of being able to avoid duplication? In addition, are you able to manage those programs?

Can you elaborate on your third recommendation?

[Stephen Chase]

Thank you, Mr. Fergus.

Yes, I'm happy to respond to that. We have a program that puts money in the hands of community groups, first nations, university researchers and others. It works very effectively and efficiently, pursuant to the terms of the Treasury Board agreement; we take that very seriously.

Over the years, since 2007, when we opened our doors, we've seen two or three programs come up through Fisheries and Oceans Canada that have provided funding to just the same groups. It has been almost precisely an overlap and duplication of the kind of work we do, essentially dealing with the same groups that we provide funding to.

I find it ineffective on the part of the government, especially when there is a mechanism that the government has created. It's out there doing good work, and it has a good reputation for rigour and facilitating. When the government introduces a program that overlaps that, I think it's something that really should be avoided.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you.

The next question is for Dr. Beerman and Mr. White.

Gentlemen, I represent a riding with about 20% of the population from cultural communities. The majority of those people are newcomers. The demographic profile of my riding has changed significantly over the past 10 years, and I have had the opportunity to get to know the people in those communities and the challenges they face when they arrive in Canada.

One of your recommendations is that the federal government put in place a program that truly targets those people. However, is this recommendation based on your experience in the field? In my own experience, it seems that newcomers are often very busy looking for work, and making sure their children adjust to their new reality and integrate well into school. However, if those people do not speak French or English, they must also take language training.

Given that busy schedule, when could they take the time for drowning prevention courses? Based on your own experience, can you explain that recommendation to the committee members?

[Robert White]

In terms of drowning prevention courses, I think your riding is still very well served by the Société de sauvetage du Québec, which does a very good job on that.

We believe that we still need a comprehensive strategy across Canada. The World Health Organization suggests that we adopt a strategy like that.

For you specifically, there is a program called swim to survive. This program is offered in schools in Quebec, which is probably one of the most progressive provinces. In the vast majority of schools, programs are provided for all children, starting in grade 3 of elementary school.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

May I ask for some clarification?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Go ahead. You're out of time, but we're well over.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

The swim to survive program targets young people, but what about adults?

[Robert White]

We also have an adult program offered on evenings and weekends I think. I can send you more information on that.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Can you send it to the clerk of the committee?

[Robert White]

Certainly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you.

We'll go to Peter Julian next, but first I have a question for the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation. We learned yesterday that if an application goes into the EcoAction plan with Environment Canada, the application-in to application-out and approval can be anywhere between five and eight months.

In terms of the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation, what's the length of the application in terms of pages? Can you give me the process—when it goes in, when the board makes a decision, and when the approval is granted?

[Robert Bishop]

The application form is about four pages. The organizations that are applying have the opportunity to add supplementary information if they wish, but the actual application form is four pages.

The deadline for applications is late December, before Christmas. The provincial and scientific advisory committees usually meet in January. In March, we hold a full board meeting, and the provincial advisory committees present their recommendations at that point. They are either approved or disapproved in March.

The successful applicants are contacted immediately. We actually put in place a funding agreement with each successful applicant. The funds tend to flow generally by May each year, at the latest, because we know very well that the work season is the summer season for these projects.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

That's good information to have. We'll draft a comparison with the government sector versus your sector.

Mr. Julian, go ahead.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Matier, on your project itself, what is the overall capital investment that's required to actually bring this to fruition?

[Stephen Matier]

That comes based on my experience in other spaceports that I've worked on before. The overall price tag to build the launch facility itself is $210 million. We have quite a number of people who are interested in the larger debt portion later on, and in some equity portions in the middle, but it's that kick-off part that we're really having trouble getting people on board with. We have a large amount of seed funding that we've put in to get this thing kicked off. It's that next part, call it series A, that is really trying to get a hold.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

So it's $210 million, and currently you have investments lined up for....

[Stephen Matier]

We have investments for probably three-quarters of it, but they're for when the risk is a little lower later on. It's how the investment community works. They're happy to get involved from a debt or venture capital perspective when they see the risk is less. We have almost $5 million into it so far, which we've invested as a group with some Canadian companies that have joined us. We're looking at that next 10% or so, to really push it over the top into that realm where everybody feels that this is really a done deal, that we have that investment and that government support, and now the rest will fall into place.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Is there any provincial, municipal or regional economic funding?

[Stephen Matier]

No, we have not received any. We do have almost half a billion dollars in letters of intent from satellite clients, though.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Sorry, is that half a billion dollars?

[Stephen Matier]

We have half a billion dollars in what are called letters of intent. They're soft contracts, basically, that are geared toward the firm contracts that will come later on. Those expressions of interest from the satellite community are part of what our investors are looking at. We're building more of those all the time, and we expect to have more of them in the coming weeks.