Fisheries Committee on June 5th, 2018

[Catherine Blewett]

Correct. That's one of the things we're working through.

Actually, at the end of last year, I had the opportunity to go to a scientific conference that was in Canada for the first time ever. Many American and I would say international cetacean experts were there. They talked about the ability for that coexistence. The scientists were working on those same prototypes to let that kind of interaction happen. They strongly encouraged governments to look at and understand that technology.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

I want to go back to a question on your fishery aquaculture program.

Aquaculture is a big business in my part of the country, in Prince Edward Island, especially in the lucrative oyster aquaculture fishery and mussel aquaculture. Could you briefly explain what resources you're putting in that area to ensure that it's sustainable and environmentally sustainable?

[Catherine Blewett]

We're working quite hard. I was going to pass this to Philippe Morel, who could tell you an awful lot about it, but in 10 seconds, absolutely, the program that we have two years' funding for is looking at making sure, honestly, that the environmental premise around operations is supported and reinforced.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernadette Jordan]

Thank you, Ms. Blewett.

Mr. Doherty, you have five minutes, please.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Ms. Blewett, are you aware of the amount of money or funding from the Canadian government that has been delivered to the Elsipogtog First Nation between February and this date?

[Catherine Blewett]

I'm sorry; I'm not aware.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

If you don't have the information today, could you table at your earliest convenience, preferably by the end of this week, the amount of money that the department spent prosecuting this expression of interest specifically in relation to engaging first nations in this proposal?

[Catherine Blewett]

I will undertake to get you the information that we have.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Ms. Blewett, last October the minister wrote to my colleagues, MP Arnold and MP Albas, and stated that no DFO resources would be available for aquatic invasive species prevention in British Columbia. On March 20, the minister appeared before this committee and suggested that some of the $7.2 million that was allocated for the aquatic invasive species in budget 2010 could be applied to B.C.

Has your department provided new resources for aquatic invasive species in B.C. and, if so, what are the new resources?

[Catherine Blewett]

I will check to get you the specific breakdown. I should tell you that we're looking at support to aquatic invasive species in British Columbia and are in very active discussions with Alberta, but we'll get you the breakdown.

Kevin, do you have anything to add?

[Kevin Stringer]

There are new funds for aquatic invasive species that were received in last year's budget, and it's in this year's main estimates as new funds. It builds on the Asian carp program that we've had for the previous five years. It expands the Asian carp program to $4 million ongoing. It enhances what we also have now on sea lamprey in the Great Lakes, an extra $2.5 million a year, and there was, for the first time ever, a national core component for aquatic invasive species, so we have a small national program that is about $3 million a year. It's a fairly small amount, but it is new, and it is allowing us to take a national perspective with respect to—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Again, how much is allocated for British Columbia?

[Kevin Stringer]

I don't know exactly. We can get that. I don't know if it's even divided by province, but in any case, we can get you the breakdown of funding.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I believe my colleagues have asked for that a few times, so if you can do that by the end of the week, Mr. Stringer, thank you.

I'm going to go back to surf clam and part of the big criteria, because a lot of talk the last couple of months has been about a vessel. Indeed, my colleagues have mentioned why you would have a boat if you don't have a licence. Well, part of the critical bid criteria was the description of the vessel that would be used to prosecute this fishery in a time frame at which the vessel would be on licence. Did Five Nations submit that?

[Catherine Blewett]

As you would know, all of the documentation is quite public. I don't have it with me at the moment, because it would be in another binder.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

They did, but it was a foreign vessel. It was based out of Massachusetts, and the owner of the vessel, who was photographed in the bid proposal, was not even aware that his vessel was being used in this bid. Were you aware of that?

[Catherine Blewett]

I was not aware.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernadette Jordan]

Thank you.

Mr. Donnelly, you have the final five minutes, please.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Budget 2018 committed $21 million in funding to protect Canada's nature parks and wild spaces. Will this funding be invested in Canada's commitment to protect 10% of its oceans and coastlines by 2020?

[Catherine Blewett]

I will turn to Philippe, who can give you more of that breakdown.

[Philippe Morel]

The announcement in the budget to meet the conservation target is not related to marine conservation targets, although there are some resources for national marine conservation areas under Parks Canada to be created in the Great Lakes, but they're not under DFO jurisdiction. All the money to achieve the 10% target was already approved by budget 2016 and by budget 2017, and we're confident that we have the necessary resources to meet the target by 2020.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

That sounds like a no, and the $21 million won't be used; you already have enough money.

[Philippe Morel]

I'm not aware that $21 million is dedicated to DFO, and it's not for that resource, no. It's for Parks Canada.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Yes, thank you.

Going back to the OPP, will the oceans protection plan funding be divided between plan partners: DFO, Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Natural Resources Canada? If that's a yes, could you break that down?