Fisheries Committee on May 1st, 2008

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

This is not an ACOA problem; it's a fisheries problem. It's my understanding that it's getting worse instead of better.

[Michelle d'Auray]

The activities that the industry--

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Is there enough money involved?

[Michelle d'Auray]

I'm sorry?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Have you got enough money to do what needs to be done to save this very important industry?

[Michelle d'Auray]

I think the premise and some of the science around this needs to be further developed, because all the tools and activities we have done to date have had an impact, up to a point. Now we have to look at additional and more innovative ways of dealing with this. I think the industry investments we are supporting with ACOA are in fact to help industry purchase and develop tools to cope with this invasive species, which is not easily eradicated.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

We will be back to you, Mr. MacAulay.

Mr. Blais.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to focus on the Coast Guard, in light of recent events.

What have you undertaken to do to deal with this tragedy? I have heard about all kinds of undertakings to date, but I would like to know what you intend to do?

[Michelle d'Auray]

The Commissioner and the Minister have ordered an investigation that will be conducted by an independent investigator. This will be a Coast Guard investigation. We have undertaken to review the incident and all of our procedures and to ask this independent investigator—and independence is important in this case—to determine if our policies and procedures need to be changed.

The Transportation Council, which is a regulatory body, is also conducting an investigation.

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

That is not what I wanted to know. I am not asking about the various investigations under way. I and everyone else is aware of these investigations. Certain government representatives made some promises. For example, Minister Lawrence Cannon promised at the church to get to the bottom of what happened. I want to know what you have undertaken to do.

[Michelle d'Auray]

We intend to make public the findings of the investigation now under way. Our investigator has already met with the victims' families and with some of the crew members. Mr. Da Pont will be able to tell you more about that. For obvious reasons, any observations and findings will be shared with the families before they are released to the public. This is what we and the government have undertaken to do.

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

Is there something more you would like to say, Mr. Da Pont?

[George Da Pont]

We are committed to doing the same thing. We want to find out what happened and why. Once the investigations have been completed, we will make the necessary changes.

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

The first thing the committee asked to see was the Safety and Security Manual. Right before the start of the meeting, I advised Mr. Da Pont that someone had removed several pages from one of the chapters of the Safety and Security Manual. The chapter should have 32 pages in all, but there were only 8 pages. A total of 24 pages were missing.

At this time, I would like you to promise that you will supply us with the missing pages so that we have a complete copy of the manual. Otherwise, we are not off to a very good start, from the standpoint of transparency.

[George Da Pont]

I completely agree with you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome the opportunity to find out what happened to these pages.

The manual contains several chapters, but the committee was only sent the one on towing. It was a mistake. Of course we can provide you with a complete copy of the manual.

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

I'm not saying that entire chapters are missing, only certain pages in one chapter.

[George Da Pont]

I will look into this and if it's true, than I am certain it is a mistake. Since this is a public document, the Safety and Security Manual is available on our website. If a few pages are missing, it's surely a mistake, one that we will rectify.

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

The mistake was intentional because written on the document is the following: “Intentionally omitted”.

From a financial perspective, you note that for the Coast Guard, security is of paramount importance. Let's look at one concrete example, namely the small craft harbours file. Security is of paramount importance, but money must be in short supply because safety problems at ports are increasing.

Are the financial means available to the Coast Guard for search and rescue operations...Sometimes, to save money, people cut corners and make more sacrifices. How does the Coast Guard operate?

[George Da Pont]

Right now, we have the funding we need to successfully carry out search and rescue operations. As I have stated several times to this committee, our search and rescue operations are among the best in the world. A few weeks ago, we concluded an analysis of search and rescue requirements and several recommendations were made. We are currently discussing these recommendations with our partners, in particular the Coast Guard Auxiliary and DND. If this analysis revealed that we need to improve our operations, then we will certainly take steps to do that.

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

I only have a few seconds left.

I'd like to discuss another matter that also concerns the Coast Guard, namely air cushion vehicles. Two such vehicles were based in Eastern Canada, and one of them recently broke down because of a problem of some kind.

What do you intend to do about this?

[George Da Pont]

Again, thank you for your question. I am happy to announce that we will be acquiring a new air cushion vehicle. Delivery is slated for this fall.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Thank you, Mr. Blais.

Mr. Stoffer.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Thanks, all of you, for appearing today.

My first question for you, Mr. Da Pont--and I'm sure you know this is coming--is on marine service fees.

The last time we spoke, you indicated that a decision or some kind of an answer would be made fairly soon. That was well over a month ago, and I'm just wondering if you can answer the question. Have those fees north of 60 now been eliminated?

[George Da Pont]

No, the fees north of 60 have not yet been eliminated.

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

May I ask why?