Fisheries Committee on May 17th, 2007

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

The three acronyms refer to the three strategic outcomes of the department, so SFA is “sustainable fisheries and aquaculture”, HAPAE is “healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems”, and SAW is “safe and accessible waterways”. Science is broken out that way because science contributes to each of the strategic outcomes. It's not a neat contribution; each of our activities contributes in varying amounts to all of the strategic outcomes, but we have separated them for the sake of simplicity, one might say, although it's not that simple.

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

Okay.

With the budget item on the pie graph that we see here, we have $191 million, or 12%, under SFA; when we look at the breakdown there on page 11, it comes out to $134.3 million. Could you explain the discrepancy to us?

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

The difference is that the $134.3 million is the actual amount that comes to science. The $191 million has in addition what we call the program enablers. That would include corporate, policy, and all those sorts of things that are pro-rated across the department, but the $134.3 is what actually comes to science.

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

Okay.

Would that then be true of the other ones? For SAW, which is safe and accessible waterways, I think you have $48 million, and I see $36.5 later.

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

That's correct.

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

So the enablers would be communications, human resources, legal, strategic policy, corporate services, etc.

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

Correct.

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

Okay.

I see mention of investments the minister announced. For example, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and St. Andrews Biological Station are at $17 and $44.8 million respectively. In Nanaimo we have the Pacific Biological Station. Where would the budget for the biological station on the west coast be found? Which department would that be found under, and is that under science?

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

It would be under real property, within Mr. Hegge's shop.

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

I see. So that would be running the physical plant and so on. Can anybody inform me as to what has happened with the budget in the ensuing years with respect to the station there? Is it status quo, or are there increases planned for the biological station in Nanaimo?

[Larry Murray]

In terms of the numbers that were mentioned, those are for infrastructure improvements to those facilities. That's why they stand out. In terms of where we're at in that process in Nanaimo, I'll ask Wendy to answer that question and then ask Cal to talk about numbers.

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

In terms of the Pacific Biological Station, we do have a long-term capital plan within the department, which Mr. Hegge may wish to speak to. We have been investing in the Pacific Biological Station over the last couple of years. I don't have the actual numbers. I actually haven't looked recently at the long-term capital plan, but we have been doing ongoing infrastructure improvements to PBS.

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

I'm glad to hear that, because it was one of the world's premier biological research stations and it had that reputation for many years. And we certainly hope to see that maintained. We appreciate the good work that's come out of the institute, and indeed from all our scientific institutes. I think we're going to have a need for a lot more information on what's going on in the oceans and ocean ecosystems.

Does Mr. Hegge have something to contribute?

[Cal Hegge]

I just want to say a few words about the long-term capital plan. As you've seen in the documents you've alluded to, we have a fairly significant capital budget, which we manage through several centres of expertise--it's basically for major modifications or additions or new facilities, for example--of over $1 million. In addition, we have an ongoing maintenance budget that is part of real property. I don't have the detailed figures for any specific facility, but if you're interested in the one you mentioned, or in any others, we could pull that together for you.

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

Thank you. Yes, I'd appreciate an update on that if you are able to provide that.

Thank you very much.

[Larry Murray]

It might be worthwhile to the committee, Mr. Chair, if we actually gave an overview of all the science facilities, which would then give you the ability to see what's happening nationwide in the various facilities, as opposed to a snapshot of PBS. I think that would give the whole committee a better understanding of the 13 or whatever number of institutes we have from coast to coast. We could easily do that.

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

Thank you, Mr. Murray. I think that would be very helpful and appropriate.

I have one last little question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

And thank you, Mr. Lunney.

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

That's very helpful and appropriate too.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

We'll go to Mr. Cuzner.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here again today. After we finish with the estimates, I'm going to sort of miss you guys. You seem to be here as often as many committee members.

If I could, I'll look at a specific situation in my riding first, and then I'll get on with it.

I hold in the highest respect the ability and the integrity of the small craft harbours guys I deal with, both in the gulf and in eastern Nova Scotia. They are very professional, very capable people.

We've been battling a problem since 2005 in West Arichat Harbour, with two derelict vessels that are tied to the end of the wharf. There's a warrant on the part of DFO to get these gone. I would really appreciate, wherever it's getting jammed up, wherever it's getting bottled up.... They're a safety risk to the community. They're unsightly, and West Arichat is very much part of a tourist destination. I know the guys on the ground want to get it done, but it's getting bottlenecked, and we'd really appreciate whatever the senior officials could do to help us with that.

[Commissioner George Da Pont, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Thank you.

Maybe I can speak a bit to the issue of derelict vessels, because you've certainly identified an issue we're aware of.

The overall framework or responsibility for how to deal with derelict vessels rests with Transport Canada. We in the coast guard are working with them to try to find and improve, I guess, the legal framework for dealing with those types of issues.

Right now, from our perspective, we're limited in terms of what we can and can't do in some of these situations. Generally, for example, from the coast guard perspective, we remove fuel or oils that could be contaminants, given our environmental response capabilities. But in dealing with them beyond that, there are issues, and Transport Canada is in the process of putting together a clear framework for dealing with these types of issues.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

So then the framework is ongoing? It's been terribly frustrating for the community, and I'm sure you can appreciate that.

[Commr George Da Pont]

I understand that. It's actually a little frustrating for us as well, because it causes environmental response issues for us. We are working with Transport Canada on that. I know they're working on it, but I don't have the exact timeframe of when they anticipate having a framework to deal with it.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Could we get some kind of brief note back on that?