Evidence of meeting #13 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was money.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
He didn't...[Inaudible--Editor]
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
He was in Brussels last week.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm wondering how much is going to be spent annually for salmon enhancement in British Columbia.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Their budget has not changed for 2010-11.
Chief Financial Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The total budget, as we said, was $266 million, but I don't have the number for salmon enhancement. I can try to find it for you.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We'll have to get you the exact numbers. It's in the vicinity of $25 million or $27 million.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Okay. It was $26 million last year, so it's about the same...?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I believe there was discussion in the past about having a halibut summit. I'm wondering if there's funding for a halibut summit on the west coast.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
On the west coast? Again, I don't have that information. We will have to get back to you on that. Obviously we have a lot of discussions regarding halibut. There's work done scientifically and there's the International Pacific Halibut Commission, etc.
The way we run our budgets is that they're not activity-based budgets but are based on salaries, etc., and I'll have to look into whether or not there's going to be participation in a meeting under the name of “halibut summit”.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Okay. Thank you.
I don't know if staffed lighthouses came up earlier in the meeting, but I'm wondering if there are plans to maintain the current level of funding for currently staffed lighthouses in the country.
Director General, Major Crown Projects, Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Canadian Coast Guard
The budgets for staffed lighthouses have not changed this year. They remain substantially the same. We can take out the numbers, but substantially there has been no change there.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Do we foresee that continuing into the short-term future of three to four years?
Director General, Major Crown Projects, Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Canadian Coast Guard
I couldn't speak to the short-term future. As you know, that issue is being looked at by the Senate committee.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you.
In terms of habitat and enforcement, I'm wondering if there's been any change in the level of funding from last year to this year.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
No, nothing substantial. There might be some minor changes, but nothing substantial.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
In terms of the aboriginal inland habitat program, is there any comment on the stated goals and whether they have been achieved?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I don't believe there has been. We had an evaluation on the Atlantic programs, not the inland habitat, which did indicate we were meeting our objectives. There has been no evaluation of that program recently. Of course, we believe we are meeting our goals as program managers, but I think you'd be looking for something independent to verify that.
NDP
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Thank you, Chair.
It's difficult to ask a question that Mr. Stoffer didn't already ask, but I'll try to do that.
