I would have to look.
Evidence of meeting #141 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 mussels.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #141 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 mussels.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Prof. Hugh MacIsaac
I would have to look.
5:25 p.m.
Prof. Hugh MacIsaac
No.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I just thought I'd check.
Ms. Hooper, you haven't had a chance to say a lot. I've seen you nod a few times over there in eastern B.C. I have a few things.
The environment commissioner's report noted that DFO had done risk assessments for 14% of the 174 invasive species it had identified. There was a socio-economic risk for 5% of the species. Does that statistic reflect the inaction you're seeing on the ground there?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
Yes, I believe so.
It's been great listening to the other comments. As you see, I've been nodding in response. We're really not seeing a lot on the ground here.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Okay.
Can you break down the costs? We've talked about the cost of programs to eradicate the species in an area once it has set in and has taken hold—Mr. Calkins raised it as well—compared to the costs of preventive measures. Do you want to talk a bit about that?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
With invasive mussels, there are no eradication possibilities at this time, so we're dealing with annual management costs. In Ontario alone it costs nearly $100 million annually to manage invasive mussels. We really don't know how much it could cost, given the impacts to our region. As Anna Warwick Sears said, the region of Okanagan Shuswap is so important to the water systems that we have, so the cost is astronomical and eradication is not possible.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Did you want to add any words in the little bit of time you have left? I saw you nodding, and I want to make sure you get a chance to add something.
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
Thank you, yes.
I'd reiterate and summarize how important prevention is, closing these high-risk pathways, and in particular, looking to the west in terms of what resources we have that we could use and what we can do to contain species that are already out east. As many other groups have said, we need collaboration with the provincial level as well as regional groups on the ground. In the Okanagan and our region, we've spent a lot of funds doing work on the ground with little provincial and federal support.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Johns.
That clues up this presentation with regard to our witnesses and questioning. We will stay for a couple of minutes once we've cleared the room.
In closing, to our witnesses who appeared in person and by video conference, thank you for your patience, and of course, for your informative testimony to the committee today.
[Proceedings continue in camera]