Fisheries Committee on Feb. 10th, 2009

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am indeed from Ontario, and some might ask about the southern shore of Canada. My riding is the southernmost shore of Canada. We also have the largest freshwater fishing port in the world, in Wheatley, so I was quite pleased when I was asked to serve on this committee because it was amazing how many concerns were brought forward from that small fishing community.

The specific question I want to ask today is for Mr. Da Pont, as he is in charge of the coast guard.

We also have in that fishing harbour a substantial shipbuilder, and he's expressed some real frustration with the procurement that takes place. In the past he's built some hovercraft and some other vessels for the coast guard. Are you involved with that? I know there was a large gathering. The shipbuilders all came together. Are we working toward a solution there on your end?

[George Da Pont]

Thank you very much.

With regard to the question, we have begun discussions with the shipbuilding industry in general, particularly through our colleagues in Public Works, but we have focused more on how best to implement the various procurements that are under way.

I would say two things. All of our vessel procurements are within Canada's shipbuilding policy, which indicates that the vessels will be built in Canada. Secondly, all of the procurements are through competitive processes, so whether they are large vessels or small vessels, the same approach does apply. All shipbuilding companies do have access to bidding on contracts for the procurement of assets.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

I want to be sure you understand what I'm saying.

The frustration is just with some of the requirements. Are you aware of that?

[George Da Pont]

Yes, I am, and in fact I probably share some of the frustrations with aspects of the process. I'm sorry, I should have been clearer in my answer. Those are things on which we are in discussion with the Department of Public Works and Government Services, to try to find approaches and ways to make some of those procurement processes simpler and a little less onerous.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Thank you.

[Mike Allen, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. d'Auray, I have just a really quick follow-up to your comments when the minister was here. You were commenting about the study that was going to be done with respect to the impact of aquaculture on the wild stocks and you talked about leaving some of these fallow so that you could assess that. Is that going to be on the west coast or the east coast, or both?

[Michelle d'Auray]

The west coast.

[Mike Allen, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

The west coast only. Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much.

I'd like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the committee, to thank the department officials for coming today to meet with the committee. We really appreciate your time.

I really do appreciate all members cooperating with respect to time. It certainly makes my job a lot easier here as well.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

You're far better than the last chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

I'll reserve comment on that.

Now I have a couple of questions for the committee with respect to the supplementary estimates. There are three votes required on the supplementary estimates.

FISHERIES AND OCEANS

Ministry Summary

Vote 1b--Operating expenditures, and (a) Canada’s share of expenses of the International Fisheries Commissions, authority to provide free accommodation for the International Fisheries Commissions and authority to make recoverable advances in the amounts of the shares of the International Fisheries Commissions of joint cost projects; (b) authority to make recoverable advances for transportation, stevedoring and other shipping services performed on behalf of individuals, outside agencies and other governments in the course of, or arising out of, the exercise of jurisdiction in navigation, including aids to navigation and shipping; (c) authority to expend revenue received during the fiscal year in the course of, or arising from, the activities of the Canadian Coast Guard; and (d) the payment to each member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada who is a Minister without Portfolio or a Minister of State who does not preside over a Ministry of State of a salary not to exceed the salary paid to Ministers of State who preside over Ministries of State under the Salaries Act, as adjusted pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act and pro rata for any period of less than a year – To authorize the transfer of $1,546,173 from Fisheries and Oceans Vote 10, $1,305,000 from Transport Vote 1, $549,800 from Environment Vote 1, $42,500 from Canadian Heritage Vote 5, and $15,000 from National Defence Vote 5, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2008-2009 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$33,273,217

Vote 5b--Capital expenditures and authority to make payments to provinces, municipalities and local or private authorities as contributions towards construction done by those bodies and authority for the purchase and disposal of commercial fishing vessels..........$12,954,945

Vote 10b--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions – To authorize the transfer of $1,722,500 from Fisheries and Oceans Vote 1, and $34,000 from Canadian Heritage Vote 5, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2008-2009 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$4,843,100

(Votes 1b, 5b, and 10b agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

As chair of your committee, shall I report the supplementary estimates to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

All right. Thank you very much for your attention today. We'll meet again on Thursday at 11 o'clock.

The meeting is adjourned.