Evidence of meeting #118 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was authorities.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
What would your agreement be with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans? The harbour authority is managing the small craft harbour, so what would your agreement be with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans? What would it pertain to?
Spokesperson, Wedgeport Harbour Authority
I think it is quite clear, and I think I was asked to touch on this, what small craft harbours dictates and what we dictate as a harbour authority. We have it written somewhere, but I don't have it here in front of me. Basically, we decide the operational day-to-day matters and they remain the proprietor.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
The reason I ask this is that I'm from an aviation background and went through the whole NAS airports Transport Canada divestiture program. Then our local airport authorities were responsible for the safe operation of our airports. I fully understand the limited scope of revenue generation and the challenges of maintaining an airport.
That's why my question is about what your management plan with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans entails. I imagine it would be the safe operation of that harbour.
Mr. Facey, is that correct?
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
Yes, that's correct. Basically, once we sign that lease, small craft harbours has a hands-off policy. Basically, our only commitment to them is to follow the lease and provide them with financial statements at the end of the year.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Okay. Then under that management plan, you are expected to make minor repairs to remain open. Is that correct? Safe and secure, I think—
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
We need to keep it safe and secure because it's also a public facility. We therefore need to keep it up to par to meet whatever small craft harbours considers to be needed for a public facility.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Facey, could you tell me what Digby Neck harbour's revenue was for 2017?
Conservative
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
We're probably looking at somewhere between $50 million to $60 million a year in revenue coming in for those three harbours.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. LeBlanc, do you have those numbers for Wedgeport?
Spokesperson, Wedgeport Harbour Authority
Yes. They're likely close to double that amount. I don't have the exact figures, but I know that two years ago they were about double that, and the fishery has only gotten better. We've been on a 10-year increase, basically, since the economic downturn in 2008. The lobster fishery in our area, which is the primary economic driver, has seen a significant increase.
Conservative
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I'll pass until the next round so that I can get in a full series of questions.
Mr. Ken McDonald (Avalon, Lib.)
There might not be a next round.
We'll proceed now to Mr. Donnelly, from the New Democratic Party.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, witnesses, for your testimony today. I appreciate it.
I'll start the first two questions with Mr. Facey and Monsieur LeBlanc.
Mr. Facey gave an excellent presentation to the committee with a great overview of the issues. One thing I was wondering about, and I think Mr. Fraser touched on it, was costs.
Do you have an estimate for what you think—or know, if you do know—the costs would be to bring your harbour up to the standard you would like to see it?
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
According to the engineers who presented the plan to us in February, it's a $30-million project. They did an extensive study in 2017. There were numerous meetings with the harbour authorities. What we felt was needed to not just bring the wharves up to speed but also to protect them from the sea was a $30-million project.
Actually, they are starting. The first part of that $30-million project is starting in November of this year, but as to where the rest of it goes, we don't know.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Then it's $30 million and it has started now. What's the estimate of how long it would take, at current funding, to finish that project?
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
As I said in my opening statement, if they had the money in their hands today, with all the studies and everything that has to be done, they're looking at a minimum of five years before completion.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Do you feel there are enough operating funds? We talked about moving it to more secure A-base funding, but what about the amount? Are the amounts adequate?
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
We don't know that. Basically, they started with a wharf in Little River being at $4.5 million. They figure now that by the time it's completed, it's going to be $7 million.
Chairman, Digby Neck Harbour Authority
One thing they found out in putting in the new breakwater in Centreville, for which the contract has already been set, is that although they thought they had the rock right there by the shore, because another project had been done there, they now find through environment that they can't use it, and so the rock has to be trucked in. The cost will thus go up again.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Monsieur LeBlanc, did you want to comment as well? Do you know the numbers for the cost of bringing your harbour to the standard you would like to see it?