Fisheries Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2007

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Stephen Knowles]

The chair and the two vice-chairs are away today. Therefore, the committee does not have an acting chair. I'm therefore authorized to invite the committee to elect an acting chair. Are there any nominations for acting chair?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I nominate Peter Stoffer.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved that Mr. Stoffer take the chair. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Clerk]

Mr. Stoffer.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Welcome, everyone. Bienvenue.

A special greeting to our new Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Michelle d'Auray. Welcome to the committee, ma'am, and to your colleagues as well.

Pursuant to the decision of the committee of November 14, 2007, we are beginning our study of the supplementary estimates of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

By order of the House of October 30, 2007, pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), the supplementary estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, were deemed referred to several standing committees of the House as follows: to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries and Oceans votes 1a, 5a, and 10a.

I now call vote 1a.

Now, madame, we welcome you to speak. You can start off with a 10-minute presentation, and if any of your colleagues wish to take part of that, by all means they may.

Would you like to formally introduce your colleagues who are with you? Again, on behalf of all of my colleagues on the committee, I welcome you sincerely to the committee. You're among friends here, I can assure you. Questions will be asked in order as we go, after you're done.

Thank you.

[Michelle d'Auray, Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good afternoon. Bonjour.

I'm pleased to be here. It's my first chance to appear before this committee in my new role as Deputy Minister of Fisheries of Oceans. Before I go any further, I'd like to introduce my colleagues, most of whom are probably more familiar to you.

With me today are George Da Pont, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard; David Bevan, who is assistant deputy minister, fisheries and aquaculture management; Cal Hegge, who is the assistant deputy minister, human resources and corporate services; and Michaela Huard, who is the assistant deputy minister of policy.

My presentation and my remarks will be extremely brief, because I would like to ask Mr. Hegge to take us through the components of the supplementary estimates.

I'm sorry I was unable to attend your hearings on December 3. Although my departmental colleagues answered your questions on small craft harbours that day and subsequently, we are prepared to continue the discussion in that area if you wish.

I have been in my position since August 6, almost four months to the day. It's a department with a large number of activities and initiatives. As you know better than I, it covers the entire country and deals with the concerns of a large number of communities, fishers and businesses.

So without any further ado, I will ask Mr. Hegge to walk us through our presentation on the supplementary estimates, which I believe was provided to the committee, and then we will welcome your questions and comments.

[Cal Hegge, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Deputy.

I hope everybody has a copy of the presentation. It is very short and I'll be very brief in addressing the highlights.

Basically we are here to present the supplementary estimates, which as you know increase the spending authority for the department and address items that have come forward since the tabling of the main estimates, which was done earlier. There are also supplementary (B) estimates, which will be tabled in the winter.

On the next slide you will see the increase of $133 million that we requested through the supplementary estimates. You can see how that portions out across the vote structure of the department. I should add that this does not include the carry forward from last year, which is another $41 million, so basically you can add that figure to the total, which would essentially give us our spending authority for the year.

On the last slide, which is rather busy, we have categorized the increases that make up that figure of $133 million. I want to go through all these; we'll certainly address any questions if there are any.

I would just highlight the first item, which is the funding for the small craft harbours program, which I know is of interest to this committee. That essentially establishes the $20 million as an ongoing addition to our A-base for that particular program.

That's really all I intended to say, Mr. Chair. We'd be prepared to answer any questions, if there are any.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Madam d'Auray, we do have about six minutes if any of your other colleagues wish to participate in the discussion at all.

[Michelle d'Auray]

My understanding was that the committee liked very brief opening remarks so that you could get to the questioning. You have our full collaboration and cooperation to that end.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you very much.

Okay, we'll start the questioning for 10 minutes with the member from Newfoundland, Mr. Scott Simms.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Thank you, sir.

Congratulations on your new appointment. As you can see, everyone is in agreement, or perhaps not--much like yourselves.

I would like to start on voted appropriations. I've a question here.

On the first item under the category of funding of about $19.9 million to continue the current level of repair and maintenance activity at core commercial fishing harbours, that's the replacement of the funding for infrastructure programs that were sunset in March of last year. Why has the government ignored the unanimous vote in the House of Commons on June 15, 2006, to allocate $35 million to the small craft harbours program, and not just $20 million? The program, in my opinion, would still be about $15 million short of the will of Parliament.

[Michelle d'Auray]

Mr. Chair, I think what we have is in fact a confirmation on the understanding of the necessity to make the additional or temporary funding now permanent, and we are working on the business case with regard to increasing the funding overall.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Does anybody else wish to comment?

[Cal Hegge]

It's been a matter of record, the funding challenges of this particular program. This is good in that it does keep the $20 million, which as you point out, we're about to lose. As the deputy said, we are continuing to work on other aspects of the funding shortfall.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

It certainly is well short of what we've been discussing thus far. I'm sure you'll agree, as you discussed earlier.

I'll stay with the small craft harbours for now. There was $48,000 for contributions to support organizations associated with research, development, management, and the promotion of Fisheries and Oceans related issues. It does not appear to be that transparent, so can you explain to the committee what this is for and where the $48,000 was spent?

[Cal Hegge]

Can I ask where you're getting that figure?

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

It's on grants and programs. You have the main supplements there? Do you have it? It's page 156. I wanted to know about the programs. Where would that money be going to promote the activities? It's a question of transparency more than anything else.

[Cal Hegge]

I don't know right off the top of my head, Mr. Simms. I could possibly come back before the end of this meeting today. But in any event, we'll get you an answer for that.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Okay.

A total of $275,000 was transferred to Foreign Affairs and International Trade for operating costs related to the international fisheries and governance strategy. What exactly is the money spent on? Is it primarily for the new office created for the fisheries ambassador? Am I correct in saying that?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Yes, it is primarily with regard to that.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Have there been any additional expenses in that regard with the fisheries or fisheries ambassador?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Perhaps Ms. Huard can respond to that.

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

The expenses for the fisheries ambassador were jointly funded between the Department of Foreign Affairs and us, and our portion of the part we paid was transferred to them, I believe. I could--

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

How many staff does he have? I'm sorry to interrupt.

[Michaela Huard]

He has one staff that is provided for here and himself, but there are travel expenses as well. I'd have to get back to you with respect to detail, but there are--