Fisheries Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2007

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

Can you make that available to the committee?

[Michaela Huard]

We can.

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

For the sake of transparency, the travel and staff expenses as well.

This is more toward the east coast. Seven hundred and forty-four thousand dollars were transferred from National Defence for investments in search and rescue. In view of the recent accidents at sea--and I speak of two notably, studies and reports have been published on both of them--how much of this $744,000 is allocated to enhance S and R capabilities?

[Commissioner George Da Pont, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

That was funding transferred to the coast guard from the National SAR Secretariat and it supports three specific projects, or two specific projects and one exercise. The two projects it supports are research work on improving our current monitoring network and doing work on what's called ocean drift theory to help predict where vessels might drift in the course of a search and rescue operation. The final component was to support some search and rescue exercises between us, DND, and other partners.

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

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Four minutes and 13 seconds, sir.

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

I would like to turn this over to my colleague the Honourable Geoff Regan for the final four.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Very good.

Mr. Regan.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, thank you.

Let me ask you about what's happening with fuel costs. Obviously that's in a year, like other years, when we've seen the cost of petroleum go up dramatically. That's bound to have an impact on fisheries and coast guard vessels and the cost of operating them. What's happened there, and is there any money in these supplementary estimates to deal with that?

[Michelle d'Auray]

In terms of the specific question with regard to whether there are funds in the estimates to deal with that, currently, no. In terms of the work going forward, I would ask the commissioner to answer your question on that.

[Commr George Da Pont]

Yes, that's an excellent question, because not surprisingly, it has had some very significant impacts on the coast guard and, I think, the rest of the department. From the coast guard perspective, when the price goes up 1¢, it adds about $700,000 to our costs.

In 2003 we received an adjustment to our fuel budget from Treasury Board. We have not had an adjustment since, so in the interim we've had to redirect about $14 million to cover increased fuel costs, and we are working with Treasury Board now on options on how to deal with that issue.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Let me ask you about the Pacific integrated commercial fisheries initiative. Can you tell us about what that initiative is doing and what the $16.7 million is for? How will it be used?

[Michelle d'Auray]

The complete initiative is for $175 million, which was announced earlier this year. The first component of the funds attributed to the department will be going towards the consultations and establishing the various working activities and working groups. We've actually begun a series of pretty in-depth technical consultations with a number of first nations and non-first nations fishers.

In terms of the components, I would turn to my colleague Mr. Bevan to walk you through the specifics.

[David Bevan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

We're developing with the stakeholders, first nations, and commercial fleets, etc., the means by which we'll achieve the outcome being sought, to integrate first nations fishers into commercial fishing under the same conservation framework, and with the same rules generally applying to all people participating in that fishery. To do that, there will be a need to seek the means by which we can retire some licences and then move access to first nations and to enhance monitoring, control and surveillance, and reporting of catches, etc., in all fishing—not just first nation, but also commercial and recreational. Those deliberations are taking place with the people involved so that we will make those improvements and find the best means by which we can get the best value for the money in terms of retiring commercial licences and moving that access to first nations.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

One of the concerns I've heard over the course of this year from groups has been about the oceans action plan, which doesn't seem to have been funded as it needs to be. I'd like to know what the status is of the oceans action plan.

[Michelle d'Auray]

We have received additional funds for the oceans action plan, and we are moving ahead on a number of large ocean management areas—I'm still familiarizing myself with the acronyms of LOMAs—and marine protected areas. In fact, we are increasing the number we will be able to do during this fiscal year and the next years.

There is probably a fair amount of work to be done, even just on getting those structured and organized. I met, for example, with one of the first stakeholder advisory councils of the eastern Scotian Shelf LOMA; and the next group being constituted is for Placentia Bay-Grand Banks. There is a lot of work and effort needing to be undertaken, but which is under way, to bring these stakeholders together. It is taking time and effort.

As for the marine protected areas, we are looking at establishing a national network. We're even looking at doing it from a regional perspective, such as the integrated view on the Pacific coast, as well.

So while I think expectations were high with regard to the funding, I'm quite satisfied that the funding we currently have will enable us to do a fair amount of work. In fact, it is stretching our capacity right now to achieve even the goals we currently have.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you very much, madame.

Now we'll move on to Monsieur Lévesque from the Bloc Québécois, pour sept minutes or seven minutes.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

A total of $8.8 million is requested for the Ice Compensation Program to help fishers in specified regions of Newfoundland and Quebec unable to fish due to severe ice.

Could you give us some details on that subject?

[Michelle d'Auray]

Certainly. That program was created last spring because the ice did not melt as quickly as expected. Funding has already been granted to qualifying fishers. I don't think we've spent the total amount. Ms. Huard could give you the figures on that subject. The amounts that have not been allocated to fishers will be returned to the fiscal framework.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

So it isn't a recurring program?

[Michelle d'Auray]

No, it was established to address the exceptional situation that prevailed until June. The ice really prevented fishers from engaging in fishing activities.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

All

[Michaela Huard]

I'll just add that these figures were based on our worst-case scenario estimates. This program had to be put up very quickly. We weren't sure how many people would qualify. I know full well that actually less than half of this money was actually spent. I think there may still just be, literally, a handful of cases that may not have been decided yet. I myself don't have the final figures with me today, but the vast majority of the money was spent in June and July. The last ones have just been dealt with now.

Most of the people we thought might be applying turned out to have been able to get fishing at the last minute. It was something that was put up very quickly, and a lot of people were able to get out.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Almost $6 million is required to improve the performance of the regulatory system for major natural resource projects that are subject to a comprehensive study, a panel review or a multi-jurisdictional screening under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Is this funding related to the establishment of the Major Projects Management Office announced last month?

[Michelle d'Auray]

That's the portion of funding that is allocated to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans so that it can contribute to the management of major projects and to the formation of teams within the department that will help accelerate project evaluation in the context of the establishment of the Major Projects Management Office.