Evidence of meeting #49 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vessels.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes. The minister has used the same number, as has Mr. Hegge. That's our estimate to the committee—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Thank you very much.
Mr. Hearn, can you respond to that? It seems to me we have $89.2 million, plus your $20 million under “Moving toward sustainability and getting infrastructure right”, which seems to me a bit of a Hail Mary, given that it wasn't in the main estimates. It does fall short by $15 million on the vote that we had in the House, which was brought forward by my honourable colleague, Mr. MacAulay.
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Actually, Mr. Chair, it falls short by $4 million, because there is another $11 million added to the base permanently also, so we have $31 million more than we had. I think the resolution in the House was $35 million, which, as we have said, is not enough if we're going to bring all our wharves up to standard. We always run into damage every year.
You can't predict what you're going to do next year, because an ice storm or heavy ice, as we had this year, could do considerable damage and rearrange priorities tremendously, particularly in areas like yours.
Liberal
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Yes, it is; the $31 million is permanent.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
But if you look at the planned expenditures for 2007-08, you have $89.2 million. What's odd is that in the year following, it goes down to $84 million. You've actually reduced the A-base budget, so if you're saying that you're looking for more money where you can, you've already reduced it beyond next year in the A-base budget.
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
When I read my introductory remarks, I mentioned that if you look at any one set of numbers among the several sets that lead up to budgets—at what you spend, at what you didn't spend, at what's moved forward—you'll see numbers do strange things, as we're learning in Newfoundland these days.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
They do strange things, yes, by maybe $1 billion, but—
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Mr. Hegge might clarify for you exactly what is happening here—where the $20 million is and where it'll fit in, etc.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
As you said, the $20 million came to us outside the budget cycle itself. It wasn't reflected in the budget, but this was an initiative before the budget—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Mr. Hegge, who made the decision to bring that back in, then? Are you aware?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The submission was made to cabinet.
Liberal
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It was by Fisheries.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
It was made to cabinet by Fisheries, and then cabinet approved it, I'm certain—$20 million.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Did they approve it as a permanent fixture?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Okay.
Let us go to the other issue about the coast guard again. In the situation we have now with the sealers off the coast of Newfoundland, is having this breaker in Argentia going to benefit that, even though it's on the south coast?
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
It certainly wouldn't hurt it. You're as familiar with the geography of Newfoundland as I am. The Terry Fox is presently—in fact, the one that's going to be stationed in St. John's is presently in the area where the boats are, trying to help, because it's a much heavier icebreaker—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Does it matter, then, if the boat is near the dangerous situation? Does it matter?
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Well, it certainly does. You get an extra day's—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Well, if that's the case, we have an idle facility in Botwood in Notre Dame Bay, which is far closer to the front than anywhere else. Wouldn't you think Botwood would be a better place?
Conservative
Loyola Hearn Conservative St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Well, it depends on the infrastructure; it depends on the ability to support a boat there. It's not just a matter of whether there is a harbour suitable for a boat to enter. We don't have a coast guard establishment there, and you do need your backup services, your support services, as well as the ability to dock.
Mr. Da Pont certainly would be much more versed in the services than I, but—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Mr. Da Pont is returning to committee, is that correct?