Fisheries Committee on May 2nd, 2013

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Very good. That's the kind of information I was hoping for.

I'll go off for a moment in another direction. One of the terms that I've heard used is “tradeable shares” or “quotas”. I am told there is a plan to extend tradeable shares and quotas where feasible. Being somewhat new to this committee, I have no idea what that means, and I would be grateful for your interpretation and for a little detail about how that is going to come about.

[David Balfour]

I have to be the first to admit that we don't necessarily have a standard set of definitions. What we do have is a continuum of categories of fisheries—what we call competitive fisheries—where there is an overall TAC established. Participants will catch as they can until the total limit is taken and then the fisheries close.

Then we have a series of fisheries that operate on individual quotas, where each fish harvester is assigned a share, in effect, and can then plan their harvest operations so that they can maximize the value potential of that share, plan properly for the fishery, and so on.

Then we have the ability to have a transfer of these individual quotas or shares in a number of fisheries. That has enabled, in many instances, a self-rationalization by the industry itself to be able to effectively balance the capacity of the catch with the ability for it to be sustained by the resource. Within a framework, the participants would be able to secure a prosperity in their operations and operate on business terms.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Is there a plan to extend that practice?

[David Balfour]

Our plans are to be working with fleets that are interested in introducing such mechanisms. Our plan is to pursue that where fleets are interested in establishing individual shares.

It takes different forms as well, where we have individual quotas. For example, with crab fishing off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, we have measures in place working with the industry that would allow for a fish harvester to combine the equivalent of three quotas within his enterprises and fish that. That's allowing for a self-rationalization of the fishery.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much. We're out of time.

Go ahead, Mr. Donnelly.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the officials and our witnesses for being here to talk about the report on plans and priorities for 2013-14.

I want to note that I'll be splitting my time with Mr. Toone.

I have three questions. Hopefully I can get through them quickly.

One is in regard to the coast guard. You've identified that you have closed the Kitsilano coast guard station and that you're closing the MCTS station in Vancouver, and I understand you're building a new facility in Stanley Park. I'm wondering what the overall cost savings of these moves will be in Vancouver.

[Jody Thomas]

The closure of the Kitsilano coast guard station has cost savings that have been announced, and they are, as stated, about $700,000. The cost of creating the small structure for the inshore rescue boat was part of the plan, and it was considered in the gross costs; therefore, the net savings are $700,000.

MCTS is being amalgamated into the MCTS centre in Sydney-Victoria. The overall cost savings for that project are about $7 million.

We've already moved the safety desk—that's the desk that monitors safety radio from Vancouver to Victoria—primarily because it is very difficult for us to get radio operators to live in Vancouver. That centre has always been short staffed because there's a high cost of living in Vancouver. We are better able to recruit people for Sydney. That work has already been taken over seamlessly. The rest of the amalgamation will occur in 2015 as planned, as the new technology is integrated into the Sydney centre.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you.

It's been about half a year since Commissioner Cohen presented his 75 recommendations on the Fraser River sockeye to the federal government. I'm wondering why none of the recommendations has yet been implemented and when you plan on acting on these recommendations.

[France Pégeot, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

The report has indeed been tabled. There were about 75 recommendations, and about 65 involved the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We are reviewing the report, which is exhaustive, and we thank the commission very much for the work they've done.

Through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' day to day work and in our current approach to managing domestic salmon, we're already addressing some of the report's recommendations, and we will continue to consider Commissioner Cohen's recommendations in our ongoing work, when and where applicable.

I could add that since 2006, between $16 million to $19 million was spent annually by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on Pacific salmon research alone. The recent budget also provided $57.5 million over five years to enhance regulatory certainty for the aquaculture sector.

We believe these are examples of investments that will allow the department to take into account and implement what Commissioner Cohen has indicated.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you.

Would it be possible to send a written progress report of what has been acted on to this committee as a follow-up?

[France Pégeot]

We can look into this.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you.

Another question is on the subject of importation of shark fins into Canada. During the last hour of debate, LaVar Payne announced that the government would be amending the regulations to CFIA regarding shark fin imports. I'm wondering if this has happened yet. If not, when will this happen?

[France Pégeot]

As you know, the Government of Canada has been prohibiting shark finning since 1994. We have certainly been promoting the full use of sharks harvested by Canadians in support of our country's shark fisheries. As well, we're promoting the protection of sharks in the various international organizations we belong to.

My understanding is that CFIA is in the process of doing the work they committed to do. CFIA would be in a better position than I to provide an update to you on this work.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

So we should request an update from CFIA then?

[France Pégeot]

That would be more appropriate, yes.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Okay, thank you.

I'll turn it over to my colleague.

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Thank you.

The small craft harbours program has some serious problems. A lot of small craft harbours are falling into the sea right now. I see we're cutting back significantly, and I'm wondering if those specific projects are very costly. What is the state of the divestiture? Is that still the priority?

Today in my riding we announced the closure of a wharf, a small craft harbour, in Percé, possibly one of the most iconic locations in all Quebec. Although it's a fisheries wharf, it's also used largely as a backdrop for tourism; Percé Rock is right behind it. A lot of people take their photos.

If not a lack of planning, this is certainly a catastrophe for the people who live in my riding. We're wondering what's going on with this program. What is the state of divestiture, or if not, what is the state of investments to bring this back into proper service?

[David Balfour]

I want to start by referring back to the presentation Roch Huppé provided and the reductions you would see to the small craft harbours program, which are the result of the sunsetting of temporary measures that had been established, such as the funding to provide for emergency repairs for significant storm damage to harbours in the Atlantic. Those projects have been carried out and the funding has sunset as planned.

In the same way, there was I think about $200 million that had been provided to the department under the economic action plan to enhance their ability to do repair and maintenance at harbour facilities. That funding has also sunset.

There had been an investment by this government enabling the department to move ahead with divestitures of harbours. We had $45 million over I believe three years—

[A voice]

Four years.

[David Balfour]

It was over four years, and that has also sunset.

What we're really looking at now, and what you see in the RPP document, is the core A-base funding of the small craft harbours program. There are no reductions to the program other than the phasing out of planned sunset programming.

The only adjustment you would see to the small craft harbours program in the year-over-year basis would be the $5 million in the 2013-14 estimates to complete a project at Digby Harbour. It was a total of $7.5 million over two years, and that's the only adjustment you would see. Looking forward, what you have is the ongoing regular budget for the program to carry out its work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Weston, please.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for joining us in such numbers and for giving such an in-depth review in such a succinct way.

I have questions that are also following up on what my colleague Mr. Woodworth was asking about in looking at the numbers you were discussing.

You've talked about consolidation of resources. That's certainly something that is welcome news in terms of following up on the whole government's approach of reducing expenditures. I'm wondering if you could give us a little more indication of how that's proceeding.

I'm particularly interested in the reduction in costs under coast guard expenditures and the related expenditures that are being consolidated. I don't know whether that's for you, Mr. Balfour, or for Mr. Swerdfager.

[David Balfour]

I think it's a question for Ms. Thomas.

[Jody Thomas]

Well, I'm not quite sure what you're asking.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

If you can elaborate.... You had to go so quickly in explaining those numbers, and it's something that comes up consistently, I think, certainly for British Columbians. If you can explain that in greater depth, that would be welcomed.