Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
It's a great privilege for me to be here today and have the opportunity to speak with you. I always enjoy coming to the committee because I know the people around the table have a great interest in fisheries, and I certainly want to welcome everyone's comments.
Before I get started I'd like to introduce the officials I have with me today: Deputy Minister Claire Dansereau; Assistant Deputy Minister David Bevan; the department's chief financial officer, Roch Huppé; Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner George Da Pont; and Michaela Huard, who is the ADM for human resources and corporate services. I have several other officials in the room as well.
This afternoon I want to talk to you a bit about the forward agenda for our department, beginning with the main estimates.
Jobs and growth are a top priority as our government completes implementation of our economic action plan while also charting the course ahead to restrain growth in spending.
With regard to my department's main estimates, you will note an overall increase of $326.2 million over 2009-10. This increased funding is primarily in continued support of our economic stimulus projects announced in the economic action plan budgets of 2009-10. These projects, totalling approximately $217 million, include improvements to small craft harbours, modernization of Canadian Coast Guard infrastructure, modernization of our laboratory and science facilities, and the reclamation of contaminated sites.
Using past and present funding as a vantage point, I'd like to talk to you about how Fisheries and Oceans Canada is well positioned to deliver on the government's priorities as they relate to our fishing industry. Since this government came into office in 2006, up to and including budget 2010, this government has committed nearly $2.5 billion in new funding and an additional $190 million in ongoing annual funding for initiatives related to fleet renewal, fisheries science research, and small craft harbours, along with a number of other projects. This funding includes significant investments in the Canadian Coast Guard to purchase new ships and repair our existing fleet.
Significant investments have also been made towards construction and repairs of small craft harbours to ensure safe, accessible, and sound harbour facilities for the commercial fishing industry and the communities they support. At this time, there are 263 projects either completed, under way, in the engineering phase, or in the tendering process. These projects are in addition to the construction of a small craft harbour at Pangnirtung, Nunavut, and the necessary supporting infrastructure. Our government understands that the Nunavut fishery is unique and gaining in importance. Providing harbour infrastructure in Pangnirtung is an important contribution to our government's northern strategy. It will drive economic development and lead to spin-off benefits for the entire community.
In addition to the harbour itself, we are also providing aids to navigation, scientific and fisheries resource management support, and new regulations to ensure a strong sustainable fishery for years to come. Additionally, we have been delivering on the economic action plan by taking steps to modernize federal laboratories. So far construction is under way or completed at 69 sites.
As you know, science is fundamental to the work we do. The knowledge, products, services, and advice provided by our scientists impact the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Canadians on the water who harvest our fisheries resources. It is vital to ensure this capability is accurate and well equipped to do the job. That's why we have made considerable effort to augment our science research capacity in areas that strategically support sustainable fisheries and trade into the future.
Our science program operates 15 institutes, laboratories, and experimental centres in six operational regions, with an annual budget of approximately $230 million. Under our economic action plan, my department received $30 million to enhance the efficiency of these operations. Over a four-year period, we are also allocating nearly $14 million to complete mapping in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and the collection of data for Canada's submission to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As you know, fisheries science in the north is crucial, and we're investing a further $9.7 million over five years to increase the science capacity in the central and Arctic region. This funding will support resources, decision-making, and emerging commercial fisheries opportunities in the north.
Internationally, we're allocating $4 million annually for fisheries and habitat research supporting market access issues such as improved fishing practices in the high seas and research on transboundary fish populations.
Through our economic action plan, the Government of Canada has also taken steps to help the fishing industry weather the global economic challenges of the last year. As we all know, the lobster industry was hit particularly hard by the economic downturn. Atlantic lobster is Canada's most lucrative fishery, employing 39,000 Canadians and constituting 24% of all Canadian seafood exports. That is why last year I announced the government's total investment of $75 million to support the lobster fishery.
The bulk of this spending, $50 million, was earmarked to help the industry restructure and improve its sustainability, to encourage self-rationalization measures, to meet eco-certification requirements, and to facilitate access to capital for lobster fishers. This funding will help the industry to better meet the changing demands of the market, including growing demands for proof that seafood products come from sustainable fisheries, while ensuring conservation objectives are met. In that regard, my Atlantic colleagues and I have agreed to work closely to ensure coordination among governments on programs to assist the lobster industry.
A further $10 million was invested through the community adjustment fund to improve marketing, assist in innovation, and develop products and technologies. Our government recognizes that developing a strong and recognizable brand for Canadian lobster holds the key to the success of this important fishery. In February we invested $352,000 under the community adjustment fund for a comprehensive international lobster marketing strategy.
Ensuring that all of our fish and seafood products remain accessible to international markets is a top priority. Since more than 85% of Canada's fish and seafood is exported, we need to take new and emerging market requirements very seriously. Global markets are increasingly calling on governments and industry to demonstrate that fish and seafood products are not only safe, but also that they come from sustainable and legal fisheries. Traceability of fish and seafood products, from the harvesting activity to the consumer, is a key element of emerging market demands.
We are hard at work to ensure continued access to European markets. In December 2009 our government opened its new catch certification office to satisfy new European Union regulatory requirements for fish and seafood imports. In addition, we are working with representatives abroad, provincial and territorial governments, and industry stakeholders to address emerging market access requirements.
We are proud of Canadian fish and seafood products. The importance of this industry to our economy cannot be understated. In 2009 Canadian fish and seafood exports generated more than $3.6 billion in export revenues. We want to build on this by helping to expand our international markets.
We are also taking a strong stand in support of Canada's seal industry, which has been targeted by international animal rights activists through a calculated misinformation campaign. This campaign misled the European Union into adopting a ban on Canadian seal products. As you know, the ban is unacceptable, and threatens the rights of Canadians to make a decent living from an historic practice that is humane and lawful. The government is focused on jobs and growth, and we fully intend to defend the legitimate interests of Canada's sealers and their communities.
In December we held consultations with the European Union, the first step of many that we'll take in the World Trade Organization challenge process. We also take advantage of opportunities, such as international trade missions, to communicate the facts about the harvest while developing and stimulating demand for our products. This was a key reason for my visit to China in January. The goal of my visit was to promote both seal products and seafood to the world's largest consumer of fish and seafood. l also met with senior Chinese government officials and secured a commitment to work together towards lifting current restrictions on the import of seal products.
As you know, budget 2010 underlined the need to restore fiscal balance in our planning for economic recovery. My department will likely be a part of the 2010-11 strategic review process. Aligning with the priorities set out in the Speech from the Throne and budget 2010, our strategic review will aim to ensure that our programs and services are the ones Canadians really need and are delivered efficiently and effectively.
I can also say that year two of our economic action plan funding will sustain the momentum in fuelling the economic recovery, while also supporting fishing industries through the new money allocated in budget 2010. Toward this end, the budget provides two-year funding for the following initiatives: $7.2 million to support the catch certification office; $2.2 million to deliver navigational services in two newly-created Arctic navigational areas; and $8 million for programs related to research, risk assessment, prevention, and early detection and control of aquatic invasive species.
Just last month I spoke with U.S. officials in Washington to discuss a number of bilateral issues, including controlling the populations of Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species. This issue is of great importance as we work to protect valuable recreational fisheries that provide significant benefits to Canadians.
This budget also provides $27.3 million over five years for a new hovercraft for the Canadian Coast Guard's Sea Island home base in Richmond, British Columbia.
In the Speech from the Throne, the government also signalled its intention to introduce new legislation to reform Canada's fisheries management system. I am sure everyone here recognizes the importance of moving forward to reform legislation governing Canada's fisheries. Revitalizing the Fisheries Act will be a priority, and I look forward to the work I hope we can all do on this together. And I can tell you, from my conversations with a number of provinces over the last year, this is also a priority for them.
We'll continue to implement stabilization measures for fisheries across the Atlantic provinces. The decision to stabilize access to various species will enable all commercial fleets to better plan their fishing operations in the long term.
On the Pacific coast, the government is demonstrating its deep concern about low returns of sockeye salmon to the Fraser River in 2009 and the implications for the fishery. We recognize the importance of Fraser River sockeye salmon to first nations, commercial harvesters, the recreational sector, the British Columbia economy, and all Canadians. That's why our government has established the commission of inquiry into the decline of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River. I am very interested, as I'm sure the industry is, to learn from the commission's findings.
As you can see, the government has put in place a set of robust and effective programs to support our fisheries, protect Canadians and Canadian waterways, and continue to play a key role in Canada's recovery from this economic downturn.
My department is well positioned to deliver on the government's priorities of jobs and growth as they relate to Canada's fishing industry, and we are moving forward on all fronts to continue this very important work.
With the committee's permission I'd now like to ask my chief financial officer, Roch Huppé, to walk you through the highlights of the department's main estimates.
