Evidence of meeting #143 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Margo Jarvis Redelback  Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association
Raymond Orb  President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
Paul Demenok  Chair, Shuswap Watershed Council
Bob McLean  Strategic Partnerships, Canadian Council on Invasive Species
Matt DeMille  Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Sophie Monfette  Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Erin Vieira  Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
Erin Bates  Executive Director, Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
Paula Noel  Volunteer Member, New Brunswick Invasive Species Council
Al Kemmere  President, Rural Municipalities of Alberta
Michael Powell  Director, Government Relations, Canadian Electricity Association
David Stanley  Senior Environmental Specialist, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Electricity Association
Mark Hambrook  President, Miramichi Salmon Association Inc.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Are you getting zero funding?

4:40 p.m.

Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association

Margo Jarvis Redelback

Yes, we get zero funding. Everything that we have—

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I need to move on because I'm running out of time.

For the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, are you getting any funding from the...?

4:40 p.m.

President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Raymond Orb

Not that I know of at this time, but we do have potash available in this province.

4:40 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

That's very well understood. Scott Moe and Brad Wall have made that abundantly clear.

Shuswap Watershed Council, are you getting any funding from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans?

4:40 p.m.

Erin Vieira Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council

We have zero funding from the department.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I'll move on to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

Mr. DeMille, can you give us any indication of what the risks are for natural vectors, such as migratory birds, pelicans or anything like that? Has there been any assessment done of whether or not they, as natural vectors, could be a problem with moving things around?

4:40 p.m.

Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Matt DeMille

Do you mean for a particular species, or just in general?

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I mean in general.

4:40 p.m.

Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Matt DeMille

Sophie, do you have anything?

4:40 p.m.

Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

Sophie Monfette

There is nothing I could speak to. I'm not certain at this time.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Okay. Does anybody believe that Transport Canada, as the registrar of boating or watercraft, bears any responsibility in helping assist with the aquatic invasive program? Has anybody given any thought to that?

Go ahead, SARM.

4:40 p.m.

President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Raymond Orb

I think we would have some interest in that. We think Transport Canada should have responsibility. It was mentioned earlier on that float planes are under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada as well. There should be some responsibility. We have a lot of fly-in fishing camps. The implications for AIS on the tourism aspect of the angling industry is a very high impact.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I also have Mr. McLean and Ms. Jarvis Redelback who want to discuss this.

Mr. McLean.

4:40 p.m.

Strategic Partnerships, Canadian Council on Invasive Species

Bob McLean

I think Transport Canada could play a role with respect to awareness. When people are getting a licence, they could indicate that there is a risk and indicate where to go to get information to manage that risk. I think there is a role.

4:40 p.m.

Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association

Margo Jarvis Redelback

I would just add that there may be an opportunity to generate funds through the licensing system of watercraft through Transport Canada as well, in order to assist with funding the various programs associated with aquatic invasive species in the future.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Mr. Chair, I know I'm out of time, but just for the edification of the committee members, not every watercraft in Canada needs to be registered with Transport Canada. It requires a certain horsepower of motor in order for it to be. There's an opportunity there but it's not a fulsome opportunity, and I think it's something the committee should explore.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Thank you, Mr. Calkins.

Now we will go to Mr. Morrissey, for five minutes or less, please.

May 6th, 2019 / 4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE

I would like to follow up on the questioning to the watershed groups in relation to funding from DFO. Did you ever get funding from DFO?

4:40 p.m.

Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE

In the past 10 years, you never got funding to assist you in the work you're doing?

4:40 p.m.

Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council

Erin Vieira

The Shuswap Watershed Council was formed in 2014 and it is fully funded by local government.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE

You started in 2014 and you've had no funding since then.

4:40 p.m.

Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council

Erin Vieira

That's correct.