Fisheries Committee on May 30th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Thank you, Mr. Blais.

Mr. Stoffer, briefly, please.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Yes, sir. Thank you very much.

My question on Digby wasn't completely answered. What I was hoping was that you could provide us in writing with DFO's analysis of the Digby divestiture. By any account, it was a complete and utter failure, with millions of tax dollars going into people's hands, and the wharf is in a mess. The community itself certainly was up in arms for quite a while over this.

So could you please provide us with a complete analysis of DFO's Digby divestiture and what procedures are in place to make sure that something like Digby doesn't happen again in this country?

[Cal Hegge]

Yes, we'll do that.

[Robert Bergeron]

If I could just clarify, this Digby divestiture is a Transport Canada divestiture, not a DFO divestiture, because the port was owned by Transport Canada. DFO was never involved and was never close to this divestiture. So it would be difficult for us to provide the departmental point of view on that divestiture. I think the question should be directed to Transport Canada.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Lunney, very quickly, please.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

My question is again related to the west coast. You're talking about Transport Canada here briefly now, but I'm wondering about Tofino.

They have a main wharf there that recently went through the divestiture program. It's not used as much for fishing now, but it's a major transportation hub for first nations communities, coming and going from this little community, in transition from a large industrial fishing base at one time to more recreational and tourism.

We have communities such as Ahousat, an aboriginal community of 800 people, which uses this wharf as a main access point for the whole community, as well as others like Opetchesaht and Hesquiaht. So it's a transportation hub.

When this was divested recently, there was some discussion and we wrote to the previous minister about this. It was a fixed amount of money--I think it was maybe half a million dollars--but they had to spend it all within five years or give it back to the department.

Can you clarify the rationale for that? In these small communities, a lot of work is donated by local contractors, and so on. They could stretch that fund a heck of a lot further.

First of all, is there consideration for needs beyond fishing by DFO, for transportation needs, as we might have had more of a transportation corridor in a wharf like this one?

A second point I'd like to throw in is about eel grass and small craft harbours related to resorts. There is a rapid tidal flow at Tofino harbour and it silts in. Just to get permission to do any dredging, even if they're paying for it, is nearly impossible, because eel grass has grown and somebody in their wisdom has decided that of the hundreds and hundreds of hectares of eel grass out there, a little bit has grown and therefore they can't touch it without planting some more somewhere. That may not be your department, but it's a huge problem for small operators.

So those are two questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Very quickly, please, if you could, gentlemen.

[Robert Bergeron]

Concerning the situation in Tofino, I'm not too sure that you're referring to one of our facilities. We do have a facility in Tofino. I am not aware that it has been divested, but I'm going to look into that. Based on the way you're describing it, that the contribution fund is going to expire in five years, or whatever, it looks to me more like a Transport Canada one. But again, we'll check on that and answer you in writing.

With respect to eel grass, it is a situation we are running into. Each time we want to dredge or do any other work in our harbours, we have to be very careful not to affect the fish habitat, and sometimes in order to be able to do this we have to do work elsewhere to compensate for the destruction of fish habitat. It's getting very costly nowadays.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Just as a quick response to that--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

No, I'm sorry.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Please, Gerald, just a brief one.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

You got one interjection and you're already over time. We really do have to stay on schedule.

To our witnesses, thank you for appearing here today. A couple of points came out of the discussion. In response to Mr. Manning, you mentioned a DFO document for criteria for keeping small craft harbours open. We would appreciate it if you could present that documentation to the committee. You also mentioned other documentation in relation to the seven harbours that will be recommended in the Nunavut zone. You say that will be ready any day now, or in the very near future.

I would like to remind you, Mr. Hegge, that Mr. Murray appeared before the committee in May of 2005 and said exactly the same thing. We are still waiting on that report from him, so if we could have it a bit sooner from you, we'd appreciate it.

Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Before we move on to our next witness, we do have a motion. Just for the benefit of the committee, the motion is in order. You are able to put a motion forward without 48 hours' notice if it's dealing with the business of the committee.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Everybody at the committee clearly indicated that, far from needing a cut, small craft harbours funding is in desperate need. The motion I present to the committee is that the committee report to the House recommending that the government consider the advisability of increasing the current budget of $86.6 million to a minimum of $101.5 million, contained in the 2006-07 budget, by having an increase of a minimum of $15 million; also, that we have the small craft harbours study.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

I will mention to committee members that the motion is in order. We double-checked that.

We can certainly get sidetracked on committee if we bring a lot of motions before it. We do have other witnesses to hear. But the motion is on the table and it is up for discussion.

Any discussion?

Mr. Blais.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

There have been some preliminary discussions about this motion but I want to make sure I understand. I was expecting our committee to ask for a very substantial increase in next year's budget. It would be impossible to increase the budget this year. I would like to have an explanation for next year, that is to say 2007-08. If not, we would have to move an amendment to the Estimates in the House and you know what that would entail.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

No, no; a mistake.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Are you making that an amendment, Monsieur Blais?

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

I would like to move an amendment. I move that we request a budget increase from 2007-08. Then, I would like the committee to start a study relating to the situation of small craft harbours.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

The study is in the motion. I added it to the motion when I spoke.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

A question from Mr. Manning.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

Am I following correctly, Mr. MacAulay, that you're asking for a $15 million increase in next year's budget?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Yes--minimum.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

Okay. Because people from the department are talking about a $30 million to $35 million increase to meet the demands they have. So really, we're only asking for half of what the departmental officials are asking for.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

What you have is a $20 million decrease in next year's budget, in this paper that's been presented, and I'm adding a minimum of $15 million to that, which is the $35 million.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

Okay. I only wanted clarification.