Fisheries Committee on April 16th, 2008

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for the message of sympathy you offered just before the meeting and now. Mr. Dickson, whom you know very well and who made it possible to save two sailors, is considered a hero in the Magdalen Islands. I know he is in the entire Maritime community as well. Thank you very much for that message of sympathy and solidarity.

As regards your file in particular, I think it very clearly illustrates the main challenges that we are facing and that are new. The size, length and width of boats have changed. As a result, the facilities we used to have and that we have now are inadequate. Sometimes we're forced to dock the boats in line in order to manage.

There are also climate changes. We know there are tides and waves, but, with climate change, storms are worse than they used to be. In view of your geographic situation, that can probably cause more problems. I don't think the solution—and I imagine you'll agree with me—is to move the wharf or infrastructure in question. The solution is obviously money.

I'd like to hear what you have to say about climate change, storms and boats. The boats are indeed much bigger and wider, and storms are much stronger than they used to be.

Have you noticed in recent years that your problems have become increasingly acute?

[Gérard Steele]

I know that storms come up a lot faster. I don't know how many thunderstorms I was caught in just this past year, during the summer, with not a lot of wind associated with them, but sometimes you do get a lot of wind associated with them. In the fall of the year we do get severe storms.

The lack of ice cover is becoming a problem for a lot of harbours too. The ice really protects the shore, but when you don't have ice and you have a lot of wind, especially if you have wet conditions.... On this island it's only a particle of soil and it's easily eroded, and the sand is easily moved. Without ice cover, these problems stand out a lot more. We seem to have less and less ice, although you wouldn't think so looking at it today, but it seems to come later in the year. Until this year, it's been going a lot earlier.

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

Your facilities date back to when? How long has the infrastructure been there?

[Lewis Miller]

I've been fishing since 1972, and the general infrastructure hasn't changed any. There's been some cosmetic work, like maybe a top being put on it or having it refaced in a couple of places, but the general structure hasn't changed since at least before 1972, for sure.

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

Are the silting problems much more serious than they used to be? If that's the case, since when have they been more serious?

[Lewis Miller]

It was always bad there, and the sand always has accumulated in the same place over the years. The only thing that's making it worse today is that our boats draw more water. Certainly when I started, perhaps with a foot and a half of water we could have sailed over the bar. Mind you, that's in good weather. It was always dangerous. There have been lives lost away back and in my time. But now we require more water--some people over three feet. We're towing boats off there all the time at different times of the year. It's common to be out fishing when the wind comes up, but even with no wind we're calling ahead--we now have the advantage of VHF radios and phones--wondering what the tide is there and who hit last going in. It's just common talk on the radio throughout the season now.

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

Your situation hasn't improved for several decades. Ultimately, one could say that it's shameful and that you'll have to manage as best you can. The boats are getting bigger and wind up getting damaged because they collide with the wharf. However, those are the two factors that enable you to arrive safely in port.

You must feel neglected, forgotten. How do you feel about that?

[Gérard Steele]

I guess everyone has an opinion, but who has a choice? All we can do is complain. Somebody has to do something. We've been given an opportunity to bring this to a committee that we hope can do something with it; otherwise, who are we going to talk to?

I believe, Lewis, this sand thing is worse. We used to be able to take sand off the beach, and now there are a lot of environmental concerns. We can't take as much sand as we used to be able to take. There are a lot of other players involved here. It's a beautiful beach. There is a mile of sand beach, and as Norman has pointed out, it's lovely to look at on a Sunday afternoon, but when your nephew is hanging off the side of his boat it's not so nice. We have to be able to see it from all sides.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Thank you, Mr. Blais.

Mr. Stoffer.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your presentations.

Have you had a chance to have a cost analysis of what this extension would cost?

[Lewis Miller]

We had a meeting with small craft harbours people--I believe it was last fall or through the winter sometime--and I asked what it would cost for an extension. The reply I got was $1,500 to $2,000 a foot. That was just somebody at small craft harbours. Now, as for whether it's a little more or less, I'm not an engineer, so I can't say.

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

Has there been an engineering feasibility study done on it in terms of all the various government departments that need to look into this? Has that all been done?

[Lewis Miller]

Not to my knowledge.

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

Okay. So obviously that would have to be done beforehand.

In your estimation, if this isn't done, what generally will happen besides the continuous dredging and everything else? Will safety be an even higher risk, in your view?

[Lewis Miller]

There's no question. You can never keep any industry 100% clear of having lives lost, but there's no question that there will be lives lost if it's not done. There may even be lives lost somewhere down the road if it is, but there's no question it'll be a lot fewer.

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

I assume it would be much cheaper than a breakwater system if you did this extension.

[Lewis Miller]

Absolutely.

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

In previous testimony, Mr. Peters indicated to us more or less that these harbour authorities were coming, and if you didn't do them, then possibly your harbour may not receive any consideration.

[Lewis Miller]

We were definitely told the same thing.

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

Were you ever told at any time that if you didn't take them over, then private interests might?

[Lewis Miller]

Yes, we were.

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

Obviously fishermen would have a fear of that.

[Lewis Miller]

We were fearful of it, yes.

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

But you never received anything in writing on that, did you?

[Lewis Miller]

Not to my knowledge.