Good morning, and thank you.
Mr. Chair, I would like to start by thanking you and the members of the committee for inviting us to appear before you this morning. It is always a pleasure to answer questions about the important work that Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Coast Guard dofor our three oceans and in Canadian communities.
As you said, Mr. Chair, I will take a moment to introduce the team members from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard who are with me today.
First of all, I'd like to introduce Ms. Leslie MacLean, DFO's new associate deputy minister. Leslie joined DFO last week and comes to us most recently from the Treasury Board Secretariat. Leslie has had a long and successful career in the public service and, Mr. Chair, after a week I can say we are very happy to have Leslie with us as well.
Long-time committee members will know that Leslie replaces Mr. David Bevan, who retired from the public service last May after 38 years of public service, all at DFO. That was, on a personal and a professional level, quite a loss for us.
Marc Grégoire, the Canadian Coast Guard commissioner, is with me today. Unfortunately, Mr. Grégoire will be retiring from the public service in a few weeks after 31 years of loyal service. The members of this committee know that Mr. Grégoire has been running the Canadian Coast Guard for over four years and that he was an important member of the DFO management team during that time.
I am pleased to inform you that Jody Thomas, who was already the deputy commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, will assume the responsibilities of commissioner on January 2, 2015.
The senior assistant deputy minister, ecosystems and fisheries management, Kevin Stringer, is with us as well. Some members will know that Kevin recently replaced David Balfour, who retired this past September after 35 years of service, 33 of them at DFO.
Our new assistant deputy minister, not unknown to the committee, from ecosystems and oceans science, Trevor Swerdfager, is here. Trevor replaces David Gillis, the former ADM science, who retired just last week after a long period at DFO. For those of you keeping track that is three Davids retiring.
Tom Rosser, the senior ADM, policy, is here as well. Tom joined us last year and has had a couple of opportunities to appear before the committee.
Finally, I would introduce Marty Muldoon, our CFO.
Michel Vermette is also here, deputy commissioner from the Canadian Coast Guard, to answer any questions on where we are on fleet renewal with the coast guard.
As you are aware, Mr. Chair, we were last here in March to outline the department's 2014-15 main estimates, which totalled $1.68 billion. DFO did not submit any items as part of supplementary estimates (A), so today we will talk about items under supplementary estimates (B).
Our supplementary estimates (B) include 25 items representing $178.2 million, including adjustments, net transfers, and statutory increases. To break that down, the majority of the increase is represented by an additional $123.3 million in capital spending. There are also increases of $33.1 million to the grants and contributions programs, and a $20.5-million increase to the DFO operating budget. In total, and if approved, these estimates will increase our departmental spending this year to $1.86 billion.
Key items of our supplementary estimates (B) that the CFO will cover in a minute or two include $32.2 million for the renewal of both the Pacific and the Atlantic integrated commercial fisheries initiatives, $17.8 million for repair and maintenance work under the DFO small craft harbours program, and $5 million to extend the recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program.
Mr. Chair, the government continues to invest as well in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and is proposing another $78.8 million to move us forward toward that objective. In addition to spending on fleet renewal there is $20.6 million in the supplementary estimates (B) related to the new light-lift helicopters for the coast guard.
I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members, for your time and attention this morning. As we've agreed with the committee clerk, I believe, and if there are no questions on this part, I'll turn it over to our CFO, Marty Muldoon, who will provide a very short presentation on the supplementary (B)s.