Fisheries Committee on May 1st, 2008

[George Da Pont]

I think the minister has indicated that he will try to make a decision prior to the start of the shipping season in June, and there is still a bit of time yet before then.

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

Okay. If you're speaking to the minister, you can remind them that there was a motion passed out of this committee and out of the House of Commons to remove those fees.

The second question I have for you is on the Larocque decision. Prior to the Larocque decision, how much money did DFO estimate was being received by various groups and associations across the country in that regard? Do you have a ballpark figure?

[Michelle d'Auray]

I'll ask Ms. Huard to respond to that.

[Michaela Huard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

I couldn't give you the total. We figured that there was potentially $23 million worth of projects. That included our amount, and that included the amount that companies were putting into it. That's roughly what it was.

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

Are some of the estimates of that money--the new money that's coming in--to cover the Larocque decision?

[Michaela Huard]

We received $10 million last year. We'll have $12 million this year. That's instead of the $10 million. So it's an addition of $2 million, but we have gone through all of the projects, and we believe we will have enough money to cover the projects that need to continue. There are only two projects that won't be continuing, but we have found other ways to deal with them. A lot of them didn't require financial solutions.

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

So is it fair to say then that DFO is adhering to the letter of the law when it comes to Larocque?

[Michaela Huard]

I sure hope we are. I believe we are. We have gone through all 206 projects, and I believe we are, absolutely.

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

All right. Thank you.

Madame, there was a question of a report being done or a study being done on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. I'm wondering if you could tell us if that report is complete, and if it is, whether it is possible to get a copy, or if it is still ongoing.

[Michelle d'Auray]

The report is complete. We wanted to be able to share it with the members of the board, and the provinces that have an interest in this--which we are about to do--and afterwards it will be made public.

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

Do you know approximately when that may happen?

[Michelle d'Auray]

I'm not sure of the timeframe, but it wouldn't take very long. It's maybe a question of a month or so, at the utmost.

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

Thank you.

The other concern is, as you know, CPAWS was on the Hill the other day, concerned about marine parks and some of the delays, especially on the west coast. Near Haida, there is one project that has been on the books for almost twenty years, and they were rather concerned that twenty years is a long time to take to designate something as a park.

I know it's not just DFO. You also have to deal with Parks Canada, Transport Canada, and all kinds of issues, and of course with provincial and aboriginal concerns as well. But can you please tell me--if Sabine were here she'd ask the question--how soon will that get done, so we don't have to have another King Neptune with his trident showing up on the Hill again?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Thank you for the question. I'm not going to preclude CPAWS's ability to bring Mr. Neptune back onto the Hill, but I would say--I believe you're referring to the PNCIMA area--it is very complex, and there are many intervenors, many stakeholders. We do have a fairly good working group. We have a number of agreements now with first nations about how to proceed in the discussions and the integrated approach, but it is taking a fair amount of time, and I believe it will take us some time yet to come to a conclusion.

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

As you know, a few years ago on the Georges Bank there was a moratorium placed on oil and gas exploration until 2012, I believe. Lately we've been hearing rumours--speculative, of course--that this may be reviewed to be lifted. I'm wondering if you could elaborate. Are there any decisions or discussions within DFO about lifting the moratorium, or will it stay until 2012?

[Michelle d'Auray]

There is no expectation or intention to change the existing date. As part of the process, though, before the timeframe or as the time comes to an end, there is a requirement to review. That is a normal part of the process.

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

Okay, but there's no intention--

[Michelle d'Auray]

But there's no intention to review before the timeframe.

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

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Mr. Calkins.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I certainly appreciate the witnesses being here today to go through the estimates.

My first question is one that piqued my curiosity as the committee travelled throughout Atlantic Canada a couple of weeks ago on our study of small craft harbours. While it's not perhaps directly related to anything in the estimates, and I'll get on to that after this first question, I've had a couple of opportunities to talk to people.

I think in Georgetown, as an example, there was a Transport Canada facility and there was a small craft harbour. I know that when we went to Gaspé--and I apologize, I don't recall the name, but we could go back through the transcripts and look for it--there was someone there who brought up the fact that there was a Transport Canada wharf in very good working condition and small craft harbour facilities that were basically in derelict condition and they were unable to tie up to the Transport Canada wharf. I'm wondering why the government can't put two and two together and maybe let the fishermen use the Transport Canada harbour, which was basically slated for divestiture.

I'm wondering if anything like that has happened in the past, if the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has taken over a Transport Canada facility that's in better working condition to facilitate the more effective use of government resources for our fishermen. If it has happened, I'd be curious to know what the process is and how that would come about.

[Michelle d'Auray]

I'll ask Mr. Hegge to respond to that.

[Cal Hegge]

I'm not familiar with the one you're referring to specifically, but I guess an answer to your question is yes, it can happen. I think the Digby harbour is one I would put forward as an example of that. It's still not resolved, but that was originally a Transport Canada harbour and could very well come back to the department. There's a lot of negotiation still under way. So it can happen, depending on the circumstances.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

All right, good.

I have some questions with regard to the budget increases that happened for aquaculture and for science. Can you highlight to the committee any new investments? Whether it's through the aquaculture spending or whether it's through the science spending, is there going to be any more done insofar as looking at the effects of sea lice?

[Michelle d'Auray]

In terms of aquaculture, in the most recent budget the government did announce additional investments in aquaculture, and the reasons for those investments are actually to improve or enhance, if you will, our regulatory science.

We have to make the request through the supplementary estimate process for the funds to be allocated, but predicated on that approval, some of the funds would be directed toward improving the regulatory framework around, for example, sea lice and to enhance the science capacity.

Some of the funds are also going to be directed to work with industry in terms of technology innovation in order to be able to promote and enhance the capacity of the industry as well.