Evidence of meeting #4 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was authority.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
We had two, if you consider our rockweed enterprise to be aquaculture, which I think it is; I'm not sure.
We also had a salmon farm that was operating away from harbour authority waters, but they were using the facility. Unfortunately, it's no longer working. It basically had to do with access to the waterways. It was in a navigation path and it wasn't successful.
November 26th, 2007 / 5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Are you anticipating any growth in this? There seems to be a lot of interest in growth.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
It's up and coming. Aquaculture is up and coming. If we look at the downturn of the fisheries and changes in the fishery, then we're going to have to diversify, and aquaculture is the way to go.
I've worked a small amount with a researcher from Norway on lobster farming. I know that's something I would like to see happen.
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
On the infrastructure, we have a number of meetings and live testimony with respect to the amount of money it would take to grow. Considering the problems with respect to overcrowding and the necessity to expand, as well as some of the obstacles, have you done any estimates as to what kinds of dollars from major capital it would require?
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
Of course, I have, yes.
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
I'm not surprised.
Can you give us some idea of that, and of the length of a program you think it would take for you to get it done?
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
I have to see how much time we have.
Realistically, why lock into x number of dollars if in 10 years' time it's going to result in your being in the same type of situation? I would like to see about $10 million invested in planning and expanding, or creating, a facility that would be able to accommodate vessels and th at we'd be able to expand to accommodate tourism.
We could look at wharves that may be divested; we could take them. Let's look at wharves that maybe are not in the best places; we could take them in. Why are n't we looking at sinking some good money into creating a facility that's going to address all the issues out in the surrounding area, that will still be there and working and viable in 25 years or whatever?
Another thing is that I would like to see it made so that it's easily expandable. Let's sink in however much money we have to and then look at maybe bein g able to put in $2 million in 10 years' time to make it bigger, rather than another $7 million to build another one.
That's probably more than you wanted to know, isn't it?
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
No. I appreciate your candour, but I wouldn't have expected anything less.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
If you want to know about dollars and what I think about dollars, I'm going to tell you. We're looking at crib-structured wharves. They're all crib structures. None of them are new. So why aren't we looking at how we are going to maintain or improve upon or shore up existing crib structures before we build on them?
I think it's something that could happen. I really do. I think we should be looking at putting the money into how we are going to improve upon and/or guarantee the viability or usability of our existing crib structures and then build on them so that we have good, solid facilities in place and well-invested dollars.
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
At least in your area, do you see a lot of degradation of the wharves?
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
Yes, I do. I have to say that my three wharves are in pretty darned good shape. The crib structure is in good shape and our decks are in good shape, but I would like to see them stay that way.
What happens, as I said when I was talking about replacing a mooring pile, is sometimes you're putting good wood onto bad. Let's look at not doing that anymore, putting a band-aid on things. Let's look at how we can improve upon the condition of our existing crib structures and then build on them to make good, solid facilities.
Conservative
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
—and that's all I'm going to get anyway.
The question I have for you is this. Based on the dialogue we had here today and the questions you've had posed to you from this committee and the answers you've given back to us...have you had a similar dialogue with the small craft harbours people through DFO?
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
My local business manager and/or small craft harbours representatives, is that who you mean?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Can you describe to us how often that happens and what that dialogue—
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
Almost daily. And I mean that sincerely; I'm not being facetious.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of Woods Harbour
Good. I'm glad.
I have a really good relationship with my business manager. From the beginning we did that, with a “cards on the table, no holds barred” approach of saying, this is what I want, can you do it, and if not, then tell me why it won't work. Consequently, we trust each other now. We have a dynamite working relationship, and we're honest and open. I appreciate that tremendously, because I came into the job knowing very little. Because of that partnership, I've learned a lot, which brings me to another comment, if I have just one second.
A visible and equal partnership is what we should be looking at with harbour authorities and the small craft harbours program, and we do that. Just as one little, tiny example, we do the local exhibition—we actually have done two of them—where we rent the booth, we share the costs, and we present ourselves in a visible and equal partnership to the communities. And it's usually about 1,100 people who see us there. I think that's the way we should be going.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Fabian Manning
Thank you, members.
We're coming up on time. If I could beg your indulgence for one moment, Ms. Nickerson, I'd just advise the committee that on Wednesday we'll be receiving, by video conference, the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia, and it should run for about an hour or so. We'll also be hearing from a group from the Magdalen Islands and the North Lake, P.E.I., group. They'll be making their presentation together and we'll be giving them about 10 minutes each because they're travelling here to do that. That will pretty well only give us the time for one round of questions on those two groups, so prepare your questions over the next couple of days.
Mr. Stoffer, a quick question.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Chairman, I would like the committee to be aware that I would like to be able to propose, when possible, through teleconferencing, the ability of Arctic Bay, Resolute, and Grise Fiord to come in on a conference call to talk about their small craft and breakwater problems as well.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Fabian Manning
Thank you, Mr. Stoffer. The clerk is making note of that and he'll get back to you on that.
