Evidence of meeting #40 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was anglers.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Greg Farrant  Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Gerald Kristianson  Chair, Sport Fishing Advisory Board
Owen Bird  Executive Director, Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia

11:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

I call this meeting to order.

Mr. Farrant, I'd like to thank you for appearing before our committee today. As you are no doubt aware, we're discussing the recreational fishery in Canada. We usually allow 10 minutes for our opening presentations, so I'll ask you to try to keep as close to that as possible. I'm just watching the television here because we expect there could be a vote coming. Hopefully we'll try to get your presentation in beforehand.

Any time you're ready, Mr. Farrant, please proceed.

March 31st, 2015 / 11:10 a.m.

Greg Farrant Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

I appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Members of the committee, good morning.

On behalf of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, one of the largest and oldest conservation-based organizations in the country, with 100,000 members, supporters, and subscribers, and 725 member clubs across the province of Ontario, thank you for the courtesy of inviting me to appear here today.

More than 87 years ago our federation was founded by an alliance of community-based fishing groups concerned about conservation of the resource. Since 1928 the OFAH has participated in all things related to fish and fisheries in Ontario, from restoring its species and their habitats, to advocating on behalf of recreational anglers. Recreational fishing, along with hunting and trapping, are heritage activities and recognized as such in Canada through pieces of federal, provincial, and territorial legislation.

At its beginning, Canada was a staples economy based on fishing, hunting, trapping, and forestry. Participating in these activities defined the country, and it continues to make a critical contribution to the ecological, social, cultural, and economic fabric of our country today. Participation in these activities continues to grow, and the opportunity for future growth is unparalleled.

According to the 2012 Canadian Nature Survey, roughly 21%—or 7.5 million—of Canadians fish, which is more than those who play golf and hockey combined. The number does not include those under 18 and over 65, who in jurisdictions like Ontario do not have to purchase a licence. Almost 300,000 more Canadians bought a fishing licence in 2010 than they did in 2005, an increase of 11.3%. In 2014-15, for Ontario alone, the number of recreational fishing licences purchased by Canadians was just shy of one million.

According to the most recent figures published by DFO, recreational fishing by itself contributes $8.3 billion annually to the economy. To put this into context, angler expenditures in 2010 were almost one and a half times the total sales for Tim Hortons in Canada. Angler expenditures consistently rival the amount spent on beer across this country, and in 2010, spending by recreational anglers was one and a half times the GDP of Prince Edward Island.

Fishing, hunting, and trapping generate economic prosperity. The purchase of goods and services associated with these activities impact on many sectors of the economy. This has prompted major retailers like Canadian Tire to invest over $10 million in expanding their fishing and hunting sections in 170 stores across the country.

For many communities this economic contribution keeps them afloat in hard times. In most jurisdictions the millions of dollars generated by licence and permit sales support conservation programs and projects either through vehicles such as the habitat conservation fund in B.C.; the fish and wildlife development fund in Saskatchewan; or through mechanisms like the special purpose account in Ontario, where licence sales contribute over $70 million annually, which is two-thirds of the entire fish and wildlife budget for the province.

Recreational fishing also has an enormous upside in terms of tourism-related opportunities. In a 2012 study entitled “Sport Fishing and Game Hunting in Canada”, by the Canadian Tourism Commission, they examined the recreational activities and travel habits of Americans. Recreational fishing and hunting tourism alone injects over $1 billion annually into the economy, provides job opportunities, and supports hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses from coast to coast to coast.

Not surprisingly, it turns out that U.S. tourists have a huge upside when it comes to recreational fishing. For the period 2004-05, 32.1 million Americans took extended fishing trips, with almost six million of them coming to this country, where they also participated in a number of other outdoor activities. In Ontario alone, this translated into the purchase of 432,947 recreational fishing licences. Clearly, Americans recognize what we already know, that this country is home to some of the best outdoor opportunities available anywhere.

This in turn opens the door for significant revenue generation and employment opportunities for a wide range of businesses and communities across the country that cater to the outdoor community, if marketed and supported properly.

Recreational anglers are among the leaders in conserving our natural resources. In fact, they, along with hunters and trappers, were among the first recognized conservationists in North America. At a time when commercialization of fish and wildlife was destroying species at an unprecedented rate in the late 1800s, anglers and their outdoor partners demanded that governments take action. They threw their support behind leaders like Laurier and Roosevelt who viewed conservation not only as a matter of national concern, but as a matter of national relevance.

Anglers, hunters, and trappers sought to improve the worth of the two countries and recognized that prudent, wise use of natural resources and the conservation of fish and wildlife were signatures of progressive leadership. Their initiatives formed the basis for conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources in North America, and resulted in the creation of government fish and wildlife management standards, creel and bag limits, professional academic training, and public ownership of natural resources. It also led to the creation of the North American model for wildlife conservation that continues to govern the management of our resources to this day.

Organizations that represent recreational anglers and others are at the forefront of conservation in Canada. Take, for instance, my own organization. Over the last 20 years, the OFAH has been engaged in the restoration of several species, including Atlantic salmon. Our invasive species program is the largest non-governmental program of its kind in Canada, and works with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, DFO, and Environment Canada to prevent or control the spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.

Our classroom hatchery program, which is in 125 schools across southern Ontario, including five at the Toronto Zoo, teaches kids about fish habitat and how important it is to preserve and protect our resources. Our community hatchery program, which we deliver on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources, provides funding for 41 of 50 volunteer hatcheries, involving 900 volunteers who spent 70,000 person hours in 2014 stocking 9.5 million fish into Ontario's public waters. Similar restoration programs are undertaken by every one of our affiliates and other organizations across the country.

In 2012, the OFAH, along with our colleagues at a number of the largest conservation-based organizations in both Canada and the U.S., hosted the National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Congress. It brought together 500 scientists; academics; federal, state, and provincial government representatives from major ministries and departments; conservation groups; and others who attended four days of seminars and presentations touching on every aspect of fish and wildlife conservation.

The results of that congress are still being acted upon today, including through the hunting and angling advisory panel, which was established shortly after. The panel includes the 25 largest conservation-based organizations in Canada and reports to the Minister of the Environment, who, along with her counterpart at Fisheries and Oceans, chairs the meeting. It acts as a sounding board for government policies and programs impacting upon fish and wildlife, and makes recommendations that focus on conservation and biodiversity, among other issues. Representatives of the HAAP also recently appeared before a meeting of the federal-provincial-territorial environmental ministers to speak on some of the issues before this committee.

I want to speak briefly about the role of science. The role of scientific research in fish and wildlife management is paramount. One of the major tenets of the North American model is the use of science as the basis of management decisions impacting on fish and wildlife. Policy-makers must integrate the best available scientific data with social and economic factors when developing policy. This requires collaboration between scientists and policy-makers like yourselves. Get the science right first then discuss the political and policy implications.

Governments at all levels, and of all political stripes, like to say that they are for science-based decision-making when it comes to natural resources, until the consensus leads to a politically inconvenient conclusion. Then governments resort to a backup plan based more upon popular opinion and emotion rather than science and facts. The management of natural resources is a highly dynamic and chaotic system, where science can provide the best possible basis for public policy.

For hundreds of years, Canada's fisheries have supported commercial and subsistence fisheries that were the building blocks of this country. For the large majority of anglers, we no longer fish to live, but still live to fish. For many, fishing may no longer be a matter of subsistence, but rather an escape from the busyness of life, enjoying time in the outdoors or spending time with family and friends. Whatever the reasons, recreational fishing improves the quality of life for millions of Canadians.

Like any industry, recreational fishing requires ongoing investment, support, and promotion to reach its potential. At the OFAH, we take this seriously and continue to invest in the future of fishing through our curriculum-based education programs: our “Get Outdoors” youth conservation and leadership initiatives, the OFAH-Ontario Power Generation tackle share program, classroom hatcheries, Ontario family fishing events, and new Canadian days where we seek to introduce new residents of Canada to the joys of fishing.

Fish and wildlife do not exist in a vacuum, nor do they occur and thrive by accident. The recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program is an excellent example of how the Government of Canada has invested in recreational fishing. We would like to see this program continue and expand. It is an investment in fisheries habitat, an investment in community groups and volunteers who champion local conservation initiatives, and evidence that the federal government recognizes the enormous value of recreational fishing in Canada.

The promotion of recreational fishing is an investment in our future and a recognition of what recreational fishing has meant in terms of our national identity, our cultural heritage, and our economic wealth.

Given the fact that anglers, like hunters and trappers, put their money where their mouth is when it comes to on-the-ground conservation of our resources, I'm pleased that this committee has taken the time to look at this important issue.

Once again, Mr. Chair, I wish to thank you and the members of the committee for inviting us to appear this morning. I look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Thank you.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

Thank you very much, Mr. Farrant. We appreciate your presentation and appreciate your delivery in a very timely fashion. Thank you.

We'll start with a 10-minute round, with Mr. Chisholm leading off with questions.

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Thank you very much to the witness for appearing and for your presentation. It's an important organization that does important work in the province of Ontario, there's no doubt about it.

Of your apparently—is it 100,000 members?

11:15 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

That's correct.

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

How many would be...or do you distinguish between hunters and anglers?

11:15 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

We don't distinguish, but if I were to take an educated guess, I would say that three-quarters of them are anglers first, hunters second.

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Are the anglers more concentrated around the Great Lakes?

11:15 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Not necessarily.

11:15 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

No, not necessarily at all. They are both urban, rural, north, south—they are all over the province.

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

What kind of budget does your organization have annually?

11:20 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

It's $12 million.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Where does that money come from?

11:20 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

Money comes from our membership. It comes also from funding for various programs from government and private sources, but primarily from membership.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

One thing happening in the province I'm from, for example, Nova Scotia—and I believe it happens elsewhere—is that DFO has the power to require offsetting for damage to fish habitat.

11:20 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

It used to be in the ratio of 3:1. It's now down to about, in some cases 1:1 and maybe as much as 2:1. It's seen as a really important avenue for conservation, for those groups that are involved in containing the damage from development of rivers and streams and lakes.

Is your organization experiencing the same kinds of issues, in terms of those offsets?

11:20 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

We have 17 biologists on staff for fish, wildlife, land use, etc., who are better able to speak to that. It's not an issue that comes up with us very often, to be quite frank.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Okay.

11:20 a.m.

Manager, Government Affairs and Policy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Greg Farrant

I would be more than happy, though, to get you more information on that by speaking to staff and I would certainly provide it to you after the fact.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

That would be great. I would be interested in it, because I know that in the past it has been an important source of revenue for organizations that are doing conservation work.

I was interested in the point you made in your presentation about science. “Governments at all levels, and of all political stripes, like to say that they are for science-based decision-making when it comes to”—

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

Mr. Chisholm, I have to interrupt you at this point in time. There has been a vote called in the House.

We'll suspend here now, and we'll return—

11:20 a.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

I'll come back at that one.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston

—after the vote.