Fisheries Committee on Oct. 17th, 2006

[George Da Pont]

We have conducted a study of marine service fees in the north. We shared it with the Government of Nunavut and with industry representatives in early September. When I was here a couple of weeks ago, this committee asked for a copy of it, which we will be forwarding.

In conveying that package, the minister indicated he was prepared to discuss all of the issues related to marine service fees in the north as part of a broader process that has been started with industry across the country. We're in the middle of discussions with the industry on how to deal with marine service fees across Canada, including the northern ones.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

The only point I would make on that is that all resource sectors have had cost recovery in service fees. It's straight across the board, from agriculture to forestry to natural resources. I'm not trying to get into provincial jurisdiction here, gentlemen, but it's certainly in every area. If we were to exclude marine service fees for north of 60, I suspect that would be a precedent that other jurisdictions in Canada would want to follow. I'm not certain that it's possible to do. That's a personal comment, and not a comment of the committee.

Thank you very much for coming today and spending the full two hours of our time.

I'll ask committee members to stay for a bit, if they can.

Before we deal with the motion, I have a question. Is it the intention of all of the committee to fly to St. John's, Newfoundland, and meet there on Sunday evening?

We'll get information out to all the committee members, but I just want to be very clear on the connections, particularly for our B.C. members, who will be getting into St. John's late Sunday evening. Instead of leaving Sunday evening from St. John's, we'd leave Monday morning. Is that okay with everyone?

We're going to leave St. John's Monday morning. Everyone will get an updated agenda, but I just want to make sure it's clear for everyone. This will give our west coast members time to get in, because their flight is quite late on Sunday evening.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

For clarification, Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, we're overnighting in St. Anthony, are we?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Yes, we are, on the night of November 6.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

And the other thing is, we're finishing up in Shelburne, are we? Then people can leave from Halifax to go back home. We're responsible to get home from Shelburne. Is that your point?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Yes.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

We have Remembrance Day after that, so we'll want to be home. Do you see what I'm saying? If we're in Shelburne, we need to go home afterward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

I think we're in Shelburne on Friday, or Thursday.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

So we're responsible for getting home from there. That's the point I wanted clarified.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Richard, go ahead.

[The Clerk of the Committee]

I'm just going to explain.

We are going to go from Shelburne to Yarmouth. The plane will take everybody, and we are going to stop in Halifax.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Perfect.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

After we finish the meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Shelburne to Yarmouth is 40 minutes, and it's an hour's flight from Yarmouth to Halifax. That will be Thursday evening. Everybody can plan their connections from there. We'll get an updated agenda to everyone ASAP.

The only other slight change is that we had put in for a budget of $109,000, and we're going to need an additional $26,000. I'll go to committee on Thursday and ask for that. I'm assuming we'll get it.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Or we will revolt.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Again, it's important to lobby all of our members on our committee.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Chair, on that point, apparently in domestic travel by committees there have been frequent occasions when members have actually not gone. I think on this committee everyone is participating, so in terms of your lobbying efforts, that's a key point.

I spoke to our House leader about it, and they actually asked the question of whether or not there would be full attendance, because it has been a problem in certain other committees. So that could be a point of assistance in increasing...because I do understand we're having full attendance on this thing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Actually, that is a very good intervention, Mr. Byrne. I will take that advice and make that point at committee.

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

There's just one other thing, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Simms is not a member of the committee, and Gander is in his riding. Since we're going to Gander, I think he would be interested in being there and being somehow accommodated with the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

It's been, I think, the tradition of the committee that when any members show up at committee when we're in their riding, the chair will recognize them and ask them to sit at the table if they care to. We'll continue that tradition.

Do you have a question? Go ahead.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

In regard to witnesses in Gander and St. Anthony, I know the clerk asked us a while ago if we'd lined up people there. Have we?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

I haven't had a chance to look at the witness list.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

Do we have a witness list for St. Anthony and Gander? Is that prepared yet?

[The Clerk]

Last week I contacted the offices of all the members involved, asking them to give me a list of suggested witnesses and site visits. I am still waiting for the information.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

If anyone has additional witnesses or hasn't sent their list in yet, let's get at it tout de suite.