Fisheries Committee on May 6th, 2019

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our regularly scheduled FOPO committee meeting.

Mr. Donnelly.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to issue a notice of motion, and I'll read that into the minutes:

That the Committee hold a meeting for the clause by clause review of Bill S-238 as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Before we get started with our witnesses, I want to recognize Mrs. Kelly Block the member from Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, who is here today as a Conservative member. Welcome to the committee, it's good to see you.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), we are studying aquatic invasive species.

Today, we have a number of witnesses for an extended meeting. From 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., we have the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association and Margo Jarvis Redelback by video conference. From the Canadian Council on Invasive Species, we have Bob McLean, strategic partnerships. From the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, we have Matt DeMille, manager of fish and wildlife services, and Sophie Monfette, coordinator, invading species awareness program. From the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, we have Raymond Orb, president, by video conference. From the Shuswap Watershed Council, we have Paul Demenok, chair, and Erin Vieira, program manager.

Welcome to all our witnesses.

We'll start off with our presentations, which will be seven minutes or less. We'll start off with the video conference people and Margo Jarvis Redelback.

[Margo Jarvis Redelback, Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association]

Good afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to speak to the committee today. My name is Margo Jarvis Redelback. I am the executive director of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association. The association has represented the interests of Alberta's 13 irrigation districts since 1946.

My presentation today will focus on the threat and impact of aquatic invasive species to irrigated agriculture, specifically focusing on invasive mussel species. The Alberta irrigation industry has been involved in AIS prevention, eradication efforts and treatment option research for many years. Though these efforts have achieved some positive results, the risk of AIS to the irrigated region in Alberta is still great.

Municipal development and economic growth of this region are closely tied to the presence of the irrigation infrastructure. That infrastructure delivers water to about 1.4 million acres of agricultural land for food production. This is approximately 72% of Canada's irrigated land base. The infrastructure also conveys water to support the needs of 50 rural communities; industries, including value-added processing facilities; water-based recreation; wetlands; and wildlife habitat in this dry area of Alberta. The infrastructure is essentially critical infrastructure to this region.

The industry annually contributes $3.6 billion to Alberta's GDP and generates $1.26 billion in annual revenue to the governments of Canada and Alberta. It creates 56,000 full-time equivalent job positions across the entire province of Alberta. This is possible because of almost 8,000 kilometres of conveyance canals and buried water pipelines that, in combination with 57 storage reservoirs, reliably distribute water throughout the region.

To support increased water use efficiencies and to reduce water loss, 53% of this distribution system has been converted from above ground canals to underground pipelines, and 73% of the irrigated land base is now being irrigated by low-pressure drop tube pivot systems on the farm. This infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Should mussels become established in the irrigation infrastructure, we expect disruption of water conveyance through our pipelines as well as significant ecological degradation of our irrigation reservoirs.

Currently, our industry has no approved chemical treatment options for invasive mussels. Potash appears to be the best candidate for chemical treatment, and the product is currently undergoing the lengthy approval process. We hope it will be approved but understand this could still be 12 to 18 months from occurring. It is our hope we will have this product available for use as a potential management option in case zebra and quagga mussels establish in our infrastructure. However, the product does not come without expense. Annual treatment costs of treating all irrigation district pipeline infrastructure with potash is estimated to be about $1.1 million. This value does not include the potential costs to treat irrigation reservoirs.

The most significant pathway of invasive mussel introduction into irrigation infrastructure is the transportation of contaminated watercraft across international and provincial borders into Alberta water bodies. Alberta irrigation has been collaborating with numerous organizations on AIS initiatives, including education and outreach campaigns, inspection and enforcement, monitoring activities and investigation of potential treatment options.

To date, the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association has contributed financial and in-kind resources of more than $250,000 toward AIS initiatives. Individual irrigation districts have also contributed significant financial and in-kind resources to AIS prevention activities over and above that delivered through the association. No federal funds have been received to support AIS prevention work in the irrigated region of Alberta. This is concerning as greater and more strategic activities are required to limit the spread of aquatic invasive species into and across Canada.

Suggestions on additional AIS efforts include more stringent and coordinated inspection and enforcement of trailered watercraft at the international boundary with inspection and decontamination activities conducted on site; mandatory decontamination of watercraft leaving Canadian water bodies infested with invasive mussels; additional funding programs and opportunities to maintain and grow current monitoring activities by assisting organizations in carrying out the field portion of monitoring; additional funding sources lending assistance to organizations to examine, develop and implement AIS management strategies; and, of course, streamlining the registration process for chemical treatment options to ensure more products are available if this type of treatment is necessary.

The ongoing efforts of the irrigation industry in Alberta and its collaborating partners have achieved some positive results here. Recognizing the risk of AIS establishment to its industry, particularly the establishment of invasive mussel species, the Alberta irrigation industry has taken a lead in prevention efforts. However, our province and our region require additional partnerships, most notably with the Government of Canada, to continue to strengthen attempts to prevent AIS establishment.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that.

We'll now go to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.

Mr. Orb, you have seven minutes or less, please.

[Raymond Orb, President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities]

I'd like to thank the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans for this opportunity to comment on the committee's study of aquatic invasive species.

My name is Ray Orb. I am president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities—known as SARM. Incorporated in 1905, SARM has been the voice of rural Saskatchewan for over 100 years. We represent all 296 rural municipalities and our RMs cover 53% of the province's land mass.

SARM has long been concerned about the threat of aquatic invasive species. We participate on a provincial aquatic invasive species task force and maintain contact with Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment on the file.

SARM members are particularly concerned with invasive mussels, which attach themselves to hard surfaces such as boats, docks, motors, anchors, intake pipes and irrigation systems. Once invasive mussels are introduce to a water body, they are virtually impossible to eradicate. Prevention is the best defence against aquatic invasive species, but unfortunately invasive zebra and quagga mussels have been found in Ontario, Manitoba and in several neighbouring states in the United States. Saskatchewan is at serious risk of aquatic invasive species due to the natural connectively of water systems with neighbouring provinces and states, not to mention the influx of out-of-province boats that we see each summer as tourists, anglers, water skiers and wakeboarders flock to the pristine lakes in Saskatchewan.

Last year, the provincial Ministry of Environment conducted inspections on 2,922 watercraft entering or already travelling in the province. Fifty of these boats required decontamination and five had visible adult mussels on them. Without immediate action, it's only a matter of time before invasive mussels are established in Saskatchewan.

Not only do invasive mussels disrupt ecosystems, they also have a significant economic impact. Sandy beaches can be overtaken by sharp mussel shells and drinking water and hydro power infrastructure can become clogged as mussels attach and breed on any hard surface. Fisheries, aquaculture and tourism can all be damaged by the spread of AIS.

SaskPower has identified seven power generation facilities that are at high risk of damage from the introduction of AIS. These facilities account for 64% of SaskPower's generation capacity, which means that the introduction of invasive mussels would impact a significant portion of Saskatchewan residents and businesses. The cost implication is in the millions of dollars.

A special concern is the Lake Diefenbaker system and the Gardiner Dam power generation plant. The Lake Diefenbaker system provides clean drinking water to approximately 60% of the province's municipalities, currently provides water for 100,000 acres of irrigation that produces food crops, and generates enough electricity to power at least 100,000 homes. AIS in Lake Diefenbaker would be devastating and more needs to be done to prevent this from happening.

In Ontario, dealing with invasive mussels costs almost $100 million annually. Recognizing the implications of AIS, SARM members adopted two resolutions in calling on the provincial and federal government to lead the fight to prevent the spread of invasive mussels throughout our provincial water bodies by establishing checkpoints at all border crossings and decontaminating infested boats. This spring, the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development released a report on aquatic invasive species. The commissioner reported that it costs far less to prevent an AIS from entering an area than to control it afterwards. SARM wholeheartedly agrees.

We also understand that Fisheries and Oceans Canada leads the aquatic invasive species science program and aquatic invasive species national core program. These programs are intended to prevent the introduction of AIS, respond rapidly when they are detected, manage the spread of established species and work with other jurisdictions to ensure national consistency and collaboration on the issues related to managing AIS.

The commissioner's report found that both the DFO and the Canada Border Services Agency have not taken the appropriate steps required to prevent the spread of AIS, including zebra and quagga mussels. In addition, DFO has yet to determine which species and pathways pose the greatest threats or determine which species are the most important to regulate.

SARM believes that the federal government can do more to uphold its commitments under these programs. Too many Canadians remain unaware of the risks and of how they may be inadvertently contributing to the spread of AIS.

We are also concerned to hear that the aquatic invasive species regulations are not adequately enforced. More needs to be done to ensure that both DFO and CBSA officials are properly equipped to prevent AIS from entering Canada. It's also critical that these government agencies clearly understand their responsibilities as they pertain to AIS.

We understand that environmental protection and sustainability is an important priority for the federal government and we believe that protecting Canada's pristine water bodies against the threat of AIS needs to be considered an important piece of that puzzle. The environmental, social and economic impact of aquatic invasive species can be in the range of billions of dollars.

All levels of government have a role to play, but leadership from the federal government is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that we work together to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering our water systems.

On behalf of SARM, we thank the standing committee for the opportunity to lend our voice to this important conversation.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that.

We'll now go to the Shuswap Watershed Council.

I don't know whether you're both speaking or just one of you, but you have seven minutes or less, please, when you're ready.

[Paul Demenok, Chair, Shuswap Watershed Council]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the standing committee.

My name is Paul Demenok. I'm chair of the Shuswap Watershed Council, and with me is Erin Vieira, who is our program manager.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide our input to this program. We have some very significant concerns about potential new introductions of aquatic invasive species. Our concern is with two species in particular, namely zebra and quagga mussels.

Since our formation as a watershed council in 2014, we've been concerned about the threat that these mussels pose and the risks to our aquatic ecosystems and our regional economy. Preventing an invasion of these mussels in our area is of the utmost importance.

Zebra and quagga mussels have not been detected in British Columbia, but our waters are at great risk because of our proximity to infested waterways, the high volume of boat traffic and recreational tourism in and out of our watershed, and our water-quality conditions, which are ideal for zebra and quagga mussels to establish and thrive.

There is very much at stake. The Shuswap watershed has been described as the most socially, economically and ecologically important large-lake aquatic ecosystem in British Columbia. It is the drinking water source for tens of thousands of people. It's the centre of a thriving tourism community and an expanding residential and commercial property market, and it provides migration, spawning and juvenile rearing habitat for four species of Pacific salmon, including the world famous Adams River sockeye salmon. The Shuswap watershed is a tributary to the Fraser, a watershed that is also well known and of great significance.

The zebra mussel, in particular, is thought to be the most destructive aquatic invasive species ever to have invaded North American fresh water, and its impacts are well known. Costs associated with the maintenance requirements that would be imposed by an invasion in British Columbia are estimated to be $43 million per year. Additionally, the impacts suffered by Pacific salmon in the Shuswap watershed, and potentially downstream in the Fraser watershed, are not well understood or as yet estimated in these totals.

We are very gravely concerned about the risk of an invasion of these mussels to the Shuswap and to all of British Columbia, and are very dissatisfied by the measures taken to date to prevent new invasions in Canada. In light of our concern, last year our council spent $43,000 on invasive mussel prevention in the Shuswap watershed, derived from local tax revenues. This year, we will spend close to $46,000.

In 2017, DFO budgeted $43.8 million over five years to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species. Of that, 86% is allocated to just two species in Ontario, neither of which are invasive mussels. In August 2018, Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced an additional $400,000, spread out over three years, for zebra and quagga mussel research, education and outreach. We believe that these are grossly disproportionate funding allocations, both geographically and by priority.

We feel very strongly that the department should invest much more to prevent further spread of invasive mussels. Federal funding ought to go toward collaboratively supporting the following three prevention strategies in British Columbia.

First is a contribution to the province's watercraft inspection program to enable the establishment of more inspection stations around B.C.'s perimeter and longer operating seasons and hours for the stations. B.C.'s borders ought to be better guarded from potentially contaminated incoming watercraft from both the United States and the rest of Canada.

We also need more robust measures to ensure that aircraft, such as float planes, coming into B.C. aren't contaminated with invasive mussels. To our knowledge, so far nothing has been done in this regard at all.

A contribution to the early detection monitoring programs to enable more water bodies to be regularly tested for invasive mussels is a third step.

In addition to supporting a stronger partnership with the Province of B.C. in preventing an invasion, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans needs to take more action on containing mussel infestations and to fully enact the aquatic invasive species regulations of the federal Fisheries Act. One such measure ought to be that all watercraft leaving invasive mussel-infested jurisdictions be inspected and decontaminated as necessary, thereby closing primary pathways for new invasions.

A recently released audit report on AIS, from the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, is consistent with our concerns about the lack of urgency and intervention by DFO. The audit found that DFO lacked a strategic approach to prevent AIS from entering and spreading within Canada. lt was also found that DFO and the Canada Border Services Agency did not adequately enforce the AIS regulations. It also found that DFO did not respond rapidly to known threats.

Our belief that the investment and actions by the federal government on invasive mussels have been inadequate and disproportionate, combined with recent findings of the audit report, leads us to conclude that the national aquatic invasive species program is not effective in protecting ecosystems in B.C., nor is it serving the socio-economic interests and values of British Columbians.

British Columbia, the home province of lake ecosystems of significant ecological and economic importance, is at risk of being invaded by the most impactful and devastating aquatic invasive species. When one considers all that is at risk in the Shuswap watershed and the rest of B.C., and the current likelihood of an invasion due to gaps in the preventative measures, one wonders why more is not being done. Prevention is a more sensible and responsible, and less costly, approach than trying to control it afterward. The old expression is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

We are asking today that a larger proportion of federal investment and effort be directed to protect British Columbia from zebra and quagga mussels immediately.

Thank you very much for your consideration of our input. We hope that your committee can determine a more effective and prioritized method of distributing federal funds in an effort to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that.

We'll now go to the Canadian Council on Invasive Species with Mr. McLean for seven minutes or less please.

[Bob McLean, Strategic Partnerships, Canadian Council on Invasive Species]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, committee, for the opportunity to be with you this afternoon as you study the issue of aquatic invasive species.

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species is a nationally registered non-governmental organization that works collaboratively across jurisdictional boundaries to share information and support actions to prevent the introduction of invasive species and to help reduce the threats and impacts from them. Our work is guided by a four-chamber board of directors whose members come from federal, provincial and territorial governments, indigenous organizations, and industry and invasive species organizations. We collaborate closely with the seven invasive species chapters across Canada. These are the provincial and territorial non-profit organizations that have a similar core mandate to the council's of helping to reduce the spread and impacts of invasive species.

The council's key focus is on prevention and, therefore, on closing the pathways that introduce and spread invasive species. We work to bridge government, industry and not-for-profit organizations, indigenous organizations and invasive species councils to take actions that address invasive species, both terrestrial and aquatic, actions such as the development and implementation of national campaigns that aim to change behaviour so as to prevent the spread of invasive species.

We would very much like to thank the standing committee for your study on aquatic invasive species. Your study is timely, as others have noted, in light of the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development's April 2 report on aquatic invasive species. In this regard, the council is pleased to see DFO's commitment to implement the commissioner's recommendations. It is important to recognize that there are many demands and potentially competing priorities with respect to aquatic invasive species, and the continued leadership of DFO is needed if we are to successfully address this issue in Canada.

I would also commend DFO on its work to date, such as its response to the threat of Asian carp introduction into the Great Lakes and on its efforts to work in partnership on aquatic invasive species initiatives, as success will not be achieved by any one organization acting alone.

You've already heard from a number of witnesses and there's much information with respect to the risk aquatic invasive species pose to our environment, our economy and social and cultural concerns. I won't provide additional information in that regard. Rather, I'll move directly to recommendations that the council has for your consideration.

First, we encourage collaborative Canada-wide prioritization and planning based on sound risk assessment and risk management strategies. This strategic planning is needed to ensure that all of Canada's waters are protected. DFO needs to—is encouraged to—implement a partnership-based approach to planning to identify the high-priority pathways and the most appropriate prevention tools.

As we have heard, preventing the introduction into Canada is going to be achieved by closing the pathways of introduction. Most success is going to be achieved by focusing on those pathways. We encourage DFO to complete a risk-based analysis of current and new high-risk pathways that provide entry of aquatic invasives into Canada. We believe this can be done quickly as we already know many if not most of those pathways. We believe a focus on high-risk pathways is a faster and potentially less costly approach to preventing arrivals into the country than a species-by-species assessment approach. We believe that the priority pathways approach needs to include risk management strategies and measures needed to close those pathways.

The third area of recommendations relates to early detection and rapid response. Recognizing and reporting invasive species when they first arrive and before they are established is the key to prevent establishment. Some witnesses have already spoken in this regard. Early detection depends on monitoring and detection systems, and it's important to recognize the role and contribution that citizen science can play.

Canadians watch. They're in nature. They can see and report on newly arrived species. Monitoring and citizen science programs need to be complemented by a common data platform, the means for Canadians to actually report on new invasive species or even current ones. We encourage DFO and others to address the issue and the need for a common data platform.

Part of early detection and rapid response needs to include those response strategies and the capacities needed to respond quickly. Those strategies need to outline the roles and responsibilities of different organizations whether they're federal, provincial and perhaps even non-government organizations.

The fourth area is with respect to containing and stopping the spread of established aquatic invasive species, and we've already heard many interventions, even this afternoon, with respect to the need to address the issue of invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Canadians care, and we believe it will help to prevent introduction if they're provided with the appropriate tools and resources. There is a need to increase education and awareness campaigns to change the behaviour of those target audiences, those folks who may actually move invasive species into new areas of the country.

The Canadian council is working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on a pilot program, “Clean Drain Dry”, based in British Columbia. This campaign focuses on changing behaviours and social marketing to influence those involved in boating and angling to take steps to clean their equipment to prevent spread.

The council is active in a number of similar other programs and is working with partners and industry involved in other key pathways. We're working with the pet industry and the Canadian Horticultural Council, for example.

The fifth area relates to strengthened collaboration. As I mentioned already, DFO alone cannot prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species. Those best placed to act need to act. It is critical that DFO work with its federal partners, particularly the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, to close those ports of entry in the country. We also encourage DFO to work with Environment and Climate Change Canada on initiatives such as data platforms. Clearly, we are encouraging DFO to work with provincial and territorial governments and indigenous governments and organizations with respect to clear roles and responsibilities and priorities.

Finally, there is a need to increase collaboration with industry and other non-governmental organizations to bring more support for increased awareness and local action. An advantage of strengthened collaboration is that it not only builds the implementation partnership that's needed if we're going to effectively address aquatic invasive species, it can also help build what I would characterize as the funding partnership to ensure that the needed resources are in place to take those actions.

This leads to my sixth and final point. It relates to strategic investments. Addressing the challenge of aquatic invasive species will require not just ongoing, dedicated DFO resourcing but increased investment and collaboration. The magnitude of the challenge is great, and increased and strategic investments are what is needed. Shifting current resources among programs is likely to simply shift the problems and risks from one part of the country to another.

In closing, the council encourages continued, strong federal and national leadership on the part of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, if we are to protect our waters from aquatic invasive species. We encourage DFO to continue to build closer collaboration amongst government and non-government organizations on priorities, roles and responsibilities, and coordinated actions. The Canadian Council on Invasive Species, as a national voice on invasive species with a strong track record of building partnerships, is keen to support and partner with DFO and others to address aquatic invasive species.

Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to your study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

Now we'll go to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

Matt, you're going to speak for seven minutes or less, please.

[Matt DeMille, Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters]

Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.

Thank you for the invitation to participate in this very important discussion. We are pleased to be here today to highlight the threats that aquatic invasive species, or AIS, continue to pose to Canada's environment, economy and society, as well as to recommend ways to better address this threat.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the largest conservation-based organization in Ontario, representing 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 740 affiliated conservation clubs. Our members enjoy various outdoor pursuits but share a common, passionate interest in sustaining our natural resources and the quality of life that healthy resources make possible.

Recognizing the impacts of invasive species and the role of outdoor enthusiasts in their introduction and spread, the OFAH initiated the invading species awareness program, or ISAP, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. After 27 years, ISAP has grown into a large-scale, multi-faceted program with hundreds of partnerships, reaching 88 million people a year.

For over a decade, we have also worked in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to increase knowledge and awareness of AIS. Our current partnership with DFO is focused on supporting two of the four pillars of their Asian carp program. That is prevention via education and outreach and early warning via our provincial reporting tools: the invading species hotline, and the early detection and distribution mapping system, or EDDMapS Ontario.

This committee is studying whether DFO has the resources required to be effective in preventing and eliminating AIS, and whether resources are equitably and consistently distributed across Canada. These two issues are interconnected. The answer to the first question is no. Canada is not investing enough into the AIS program. Budget 2017 allocated $43.8 million over five years to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS, which was significantly less than DFO's identified needs.

The answer to the second question is sort of. DFO is attempting to target high-priority AIS with the limited budget they have. By necessity, DFO has been forced into making risk-based decisions regarding resource allocations, resulting in unequal distribution. While allocations may be unequal across the country, the investments could be considered equitable because they focus the limited available funding on Asian carp and sea lamprey, programs that require investment due to the significant level of risk these species pose to our environment, economy and society.

Even with more funding, Ontario and the Great Lakes must continue to be a focus of DFO's AIS program. Generally, Ontario has a higher risk of new invasive species entering and becoming established, compared with other regions in Canada. For example, Ontario is home to the most non-native freshwater fish, with 26 known species. This is 50% to 100% more than other provinces. Once established in Ontario, AIS pose a threat to the rest of Canada.

Even without being fully funded, the Asian carp program is an excellent example of how we can invest in prevention to mitigate risk and impacts. To date, we seem to be getting this one right. And I say “we” because DFO has facilitated a significant amount of collaboration with stakeholders like the OFAH to leverage the resources, decades of experience and considerable networks we have available to deliver the Asian carp program. Even modest investments can go a lot further when using these types of partnerships.

Preventing harmful introductions before they occur is the most effective means to avoid or minimize risk, and strong investment in education and outreach is required. Should prevention fail, early detection is recognized as a critical pillar of Canada's strategy to prevent the spread and establishment of AIS in our waters.

The timing of detection is vital to the overall cost and success of any efforts to control or eradicate a new introduction. This is why reporting and real-time tracking tools are so important. The independent auditor's report recommended DFO develop or coordinate a national database or platform that would allow DFO and stakeholders to track and share information about species detections and spread. There is currently no coordinated national effort for this.

However, there is existing capacity in Ontario that can be used to help deliver on this recommendation. Right now, Ontario has the capacity for early detection and rapid response through the delivery of the invading species hotline and EDDMapS Ontario, and it works very well. For example, a grass carp was reported through the invading species hotline in 2016, resulting in DFO staff capturing 10 grass carp in Lake Gibson. That was the largest capture of any of the Asian carps in Canadian waters to date.

There is no need to create something new. We recommend that efforts be focused on expanding this existing capacity, as it will be the most timely and cost-effective way to achieve positive outcomes.

Invasive species know no boundaries. They are a complex issue, affecting every province and territory and crossing international boundaries. Each jurisdiction will have different perspectives and priorities for response, but there is consensus that AIS will continue to impact Canada's environment, economy and society in such a dramatic way that there is an immediate need to build Canada's capacity to respond.

What is missing is investment, investment on a scale that will make a difference for national AIS priorities, investment on a scale that enables partners to translate national leadership from DFO into effective provincial and territorial programs, and investment on a scale that does not compromise existing and successful programs like the Asian carp program.

There will always be finite resources to fight invasive species, so we need to ensure that our efforts are coordinated to minimize duplication and inefficiencies. Stakeholders like the OFAH and its members have a key role in the prevention, detection and management of invasive species, and we can leverage significant amounts of knowledge, experience and resources to help address national AIS priorities.

To summarize, we have four specific recommendations for the committee.

Additional funding is needed for DFO to be effective in preventing and eliminating AIS and to increase DFO's capacity to deliver on the recommendations made in the independent auditor's report.

Federal AIS programs must remain targeted on species, pathways and jurisdictions with the greatest risk, and allocation of new resources should be determined based on risk, not to meet regional equability targets. They can't be arbitrary.

With national leadership and investment from DFO, there is an opportunity for existing provincial or territorial programs to grow and connect to meet the needs of Canada as a whole.

Finally, stakeholders such as the OFAH with our unique connections, including fishing and hunting federations in each province and territory, and an audience of boaters, trail users, anglers and hunters, are partners committed to working with the Government of Canada to combat AIS.

Thank you for your time today. Sophie Monfette, the coordinator for the invading species awareness program, has joined me today. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about AIS, or how the OFAH is involved in the fight against invasive species.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that.

We'll now get into our rounds of questioning. I will remind members that if it's somebody on video conference to identify who you want the question to go to or the answer to come from.

To the people by video conference, if a question is asked and you want to add something to it, put up your hand or wave, and hopefully the person asking the question will see it and give you time to respond as well.

First is Mr. Rogers, for seven minutes or less, please.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome to all of our witnesses on video and here in the room today. That was quite a presentation from a lot of people. There are a number of questions I can ask each of you, but feel free to jump in if there's a question you want to comment on.

I'm going to start with Ms. Redelback. You talked about a number of things, but in particular, you talked about some of the partnerships and some of the things that are going on in terms of trying to deal with the major concerns you have to prevent the spread of the invasive mussels and the obstructions and problems it might cause for the irrigation group you represent.

Specifically, you talked about maybe having more support from the federal side, from the Government of Canada. Can you tell me specifically what needs to be addressed from the federal side to deal with the issue of invasive mussels in your region?

[Margo Jarvis Redelback]

The biggest threat to us is the transportation of mussels via trailered watercraft. More specifically, our international border is not really tight enough to those trailered watercraft that are coming in from states in the south that are infested with zebra and quagga mussels. Though the Government of Alberta has worked with Canadian border services to try to identify high-risk trailered watercraft crossing the border, the onus is still on the Government of Alberta to try to track down and hopefully see one of those high-risk trailered watercraft show up at a provincial inspection station.

We'd really like to see support from the Government of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency with regard to trailered watercraft crossing that international boundary so that inspection and decontamination, if necessary, happen right on site, and so that those boats that are high risk are not slipping through the cracks and then entering into Canada's water bodies.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Orb, you talked as well about the collaboration and co-operation of different levels of government, but the federal government could be doing more. From your perspective, what specifically would you like the federal government to do?

[Raymond Orb]

Thanks for the question, Mr. Rogers.

Of course, we believe an enhancement with the Canadian Border Services Agency would be a good start. We also believe that the federal government could perhaps be part of our more provincial aquatic invasive species task force. We could probably have some input from DFO on that committee. We have a committee right now where SARM is working with our provincial counterparts in the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and with the Ministry of Environment as well. I think we could take more input from the federal government.

We have many checkpoints set up on border crossings on either side of our province. I think just the education side of it would be appreciated as far as providing more funding into education and awareness.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you.

Mr. Demenok, you talked about disproportionate distribution of funds across the country and you said there should be more prioritization in terms of funding and where it should be spent. You also referenced DFO lacking a strategic approach. Do you have anything specific that you want to talk about in terms of what the federal government should be doing?

[Paul Demenok]

Thank you for that. I think that's a very good question.

I certainly would echo the comments of my colleague regarding the need for additional funding to support the border services. The primary method of transport is going to be through trailered boats. We need 24-7, 365-day coverage by Canada Border Services Agency to prevent boats from coming into B.C. from the United States. We know there are infestations in Montana and other western states. A number of boats are purchased there and imported into British Columbia. We should ensure that the Canada Border Services Agency is picking them up.

We also think the federal DFO could take more action with respect to boats that are being transported out of currently infested areas. The regulations should be such that if you're going to take a boat out of Ontario and into another province, it must be decontaminated before it leaves Ontario. I think that would solve a lot of problems. It would stop the problem where it originates, rather than trying to pick it up at all the points of entry all the way along. You might be much more effective on a dollar basis per expenditure by focusing on those areas where the infestations have already occurred.

Last, I think the other issue is float planes. We don't know how big that problem is. We have float planes regularly coming into B.C., as you know. We have a lot of access points. Zebra and quagga mussels can be carried and transmitted in those float planes as easily as anything. I don't believe there are any actions being required of pilots or of companies operating aircraft coming into British Columbia, to ensure they're not contaminated.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you.

Mr. DeMille, you talked as well of the uneven distribution of funds and resources to deal with this issue. Does your organization make submissions to DFO for funding or on funding issues, and do they pay attention to your requests?

[Matt DeMille]

Yes. We've had existing partnerships with DFO for a decade, for a number of different programs. We work with DFO to figure out how we can work within their priorities to help them partner to actually achieve some of their goals. We mostly focus on the initial steps, more on the prevention side—so education and outreach—but we're also looking at detection and monitoring through reporting, which can then be used in rapid response.

Right now we're working with them on Asian carp. We have a good working relationship with them on strategic priorities related to Asian carp.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Rogers, your time is up for that round of questioning.

We'll now go to Mr. Arnold for seven minutes or less, please.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank all of the witnesses today. We've heard a lot of testimony and time goes really quickly during this. Paul and Erin, it's good to see you positioned well in front of the Shuswap watershed map. It's right behind you on the wall and it shows how important the area is. It's good to see you.

Mr. McLean, you work with your organization in the area of strategic partnerships. Where is the council's head office located?

[Bob McLean]

The head office for the council is located in Williams Lake, British Columbia. It's a small national organization.