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.
6:10 p.m.
Senior Environmental Specialist, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Electricity Association
It may be. Copper alloys are slightly toxic, which is why they don't attach.
I don't know. We would have to talk to one of our engineering staff to do that. We haven't used it, and we haven't retrofitted our stations with those alloys.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Based on what we've heard so far, I think the consensus seems to be that the most effective thing that the federal government could do is to adequately fund an education campaign to get boaters to make sure that they do the right things with their crafts, especially if they are coming from one water system to the next. Another thing, of course, is to help out with some of the cleanup when these things do get established.
It would be really useful, I think, if you could all collaborate somehow and come up with a number that you think would either work specifically in your province, or something that you would recommend for across the country. That is something we could wave at the fisheries minister and say that he should do this.
Mr. Kemmere, are the border crossings with Montana staffed and operated with inspectors 24 hours a day?
6:10 p.m.
President, Rural Municipalities of Alberta
I don't believe all of them would be because not all of the border crossings are open 24 hours a day. I think that would be one of the limiting factors.
As to the ones that are open 24 hours a day, I am not 100% certain as to the adequacy of staffing personnel. I don't have that information to provide to you.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I think there would be a similar concern in southern British Columbia and coming up into the Kootenays. That would be information that I think we can actually look for, just to get a better lay of the land.
I think that's all I need, Mr. Chair.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Hardie.
Now we will go to Mr. Arnold for five minutes or less, please. I understand you may share your time.
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I may share some time with Mr. Calkins beside me.
There was some discussion over the record on DFO and aquatic invasive species. The previous provincial government actually ratified commitments under the Aichi biodiversity targets in 2010 for the 23 targets, to prevent, control and eradicate invasive species.
We also introduced a rapid response plan framework for aquatic invasive species in 2011 and the aquatic invasive species regulations in 2015. In contrast, the current government has largely been silent on Canada's AIS commitments within the Aichi and UN frameworks, while the CESD found that the 2015 aquatic invasive species regulations were not adequately enforced. In examining the 2011 rapid response framework, the CESD found that DFO was not ready to act in any timely manner when new aquatic invasive species were detected.
I think this became really evident when the infestation was discovered in Lake Winnipeg. I believe it took well over six months for any sort of response plan to be developed.
To each of the witnesses, do you see that as a major threat—that we do not have rapid response plans in place?
6:15 p.m.
President, Miramichi Salmon Association Inc.
That's exactly as mentioned earlier. The best time to combat an invasive species is when you first detect it, so you have to have a rapid response. Without that, the game is lost.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:15 p.m.
Director, Government Relations, Canadian Electricity Association
We've talked a lot about costs. What this speaks to is that there are real costs to our sector for aquatic invasive species to the point where our members invest in prevention. As Dave was saying, once it's there it can't be undone.
Our sector has a really good working relationship with the folks at DFO on a scientist-to-scientist basis. Because we have responsibilities for monitoring the environment in which we operate, there is room for collaboration. This is also outside the scope of what our primary job is, which is to make electricity for people. These costs have a real impact on consumers.
Dave, do you want to add anything to that?
6:15 p.m.
Senior Environmental Specialist, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Electricity Association
As a fisheries scientist, I would say that a rapid response may not be effective for all species. It might be good for fishes such as Asian carp and goby, but I think it would be less effective for zebra mussels. After working with mussels for years and seeing what they do.... It's really difficult to get them under control.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Bells are ringing. We'll continue on and I'll cut it off when I think we're getting close.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you.
I believe, Mr. Stanley, that you mentioned the risks to fire systems. Water is often left standing in fire hydrants, fire suppression lines, sprinkler lines and so on. Are any of those at risk from this, or would they be downstream of water treatment plants?
6:15 p.m.
Senior Environmental Specialist, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Electricity Association
All users.... The smaller the pipe, the bigger the risk of clogging. We close off our smaller piping system for a period of time, treat it with Zequanox or chlorine, and then flush it through to make sure there are no live zebra mussels in the system. We do that annually. We have six stations where we have to do that, as well as the nuclear stations.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Do they actually detach and float out of the system once they're treated with chlorine?
6:15 p.m.
Senior Environmental Specialist, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Electricity Association
Yes.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Kemmere, what about the municipal infrastructure? Do you know if the zebra and quagga mussels would survive through municipal water treatment plants into downstream systems, or would they be captured within the water treatment system?
6:15 p.m.
President, Rural Municipalities of Alberta
The primary knowledge I've been given is that the intakes are our biggest concerns. It's no longer raw water through the water treatment plants. Those plants, if designed properly, should be able to limit or completely control the transmission in through the distribution systems.
That information has been shared with me, but I'm not an expert. I'm here to voice concerns about the long-term impacts.
6:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you.
You've used up your full five minutes, including the minute-long interruption I gave you.
I'll say thank you to our witnesses, both by teleconference and video, and those here in person. Unfortunately, we have to rush away—
6:20 p.m.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Chair, last time I asked for the extra hour today, and it would be unreasonable for me to ask for more time, but I'm wondering if we can ask our staff here at the committee to maybe reach out.... There's one more element of this that I think we need to think through.
Some fisheries-enhancement hatcheries across Canada will rely on groundwater for their source to run their hatcheries, but many actually depend on natural water sources. If you take a look at the intricacies of hatcheries, and all the things they do, from germination to the rearing ponds, and so on, if they were to actually have to deal with quagga mussels.... Many are community-based hatcheries and wouldn't have the wherewithal or resources to even continue.
This would be a direct threat to salmonid enhancement and other fisheries enhancement. Could we reach out to some of these hatcheries, hatchery organizations or even the department, to talk about what DFO's plans are in its hatcheries, as well as DFO-funded, sponsored or partnership hatcheries, to see the effect of quagga or zebra mussels, or any other aquatic invasive species that might infiltrate the hatchery program? We have millions of dollars of infrastructure set up in hatcheries and we produce millions of fish every year, and this could also be at risk.
I don't think the committee has adequately heard from these organizations as to what the impact might be.
6:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
The clerk has made a note, and we'll see what we can do in that regard.
Thank you, everyone. The meeting is adjourned.