Fisheries Committee on May 13th, 2019

[Timothy Sargent]

We're always looking for opportunities for improvement. Our regional directors general and the area directors work very closely with the local communities to understand what their needs are. The needs can change from year to year. Of course, we have growth in industries like aquaculture, for instance, that are also putting strain on capacity in the small craft harbours.

It has to be very much a conversation with the local community to find out where the pressure points are, where the deterioration is happening, what the areas of high priority are. It's just an ongoing conversation.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Now we go to the Conservative side. Mr. Doherty, you have seven minutes or less, please.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you.

Mr. Sargent, will you table with the clerk by the end of the day Wednesday any and all briefing notes you reviewed since becoming the deputy related to the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, including but not limited to light icebreakers, medium icebreakers and heavy icebreakers?

[Timothy Sargent]

You're asking about information on the Canadian Coast Guard—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I'm asking if you'll table any documents that you reviewed since becoming deputy.

[Timothy Sargent]

The government releases a lot of information about the national shipbuilding strategy. Of course, this is something that we do with Public Services and Procurement Canada as well as the navy.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Is that a yes or no?

[Timothy Sargent]

Not all of those documents can be released to the public, but the government does release quite a lot of information. I think in some of the early conversations, as well, there's additional information.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thanks, Mr. Sargent.

[Timothy Sargent]

We'll provide—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Sargent, can you table with the clerk of the committee by the end of the day Wednesday any and all reports or briefing notes prepared by your department in the last five years relating to the Canadian Coast Guard using or integrating Arctic and offshore patrol ships?

[Timothy Sargent]

I think I'll give the same version of the answer that I just gave, which is that the government provides a lot of information about the national shipbuilding strategy. If there are specific areas where more information is required, I'm certainly interested to know what those would be.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I'll go on, then. Mr. Sargent, my time is short. Media reports indicate that the department is about to be given two AOPS.

Can you please provide by the end of the day Wednesday any and all published Canadian Coast Guard reports, department plans or departmental budgets indicating that the AOPS are part of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal plan, as no one on this committee has seen such a plan.

[Timothy Sargent]

Again, information on the national shipbuilding strategy is put out by Public Services and Procurement Canada. They are the department ultimately responsible for that.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thanks.

Mr. Sargent, can you table with the clerk by the end of the day Wednesday any briefing note or memo you have reviewed related to the total funds the department has set aside for the acquisition of the light icebreaker? When will this vessel be acquired by the Canadian Coast Guard?

[Timothy Sargent]

For questions on that specific vessel, I'll turn to the deputy commissioner.

[Andy Smith, Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Shipbuilding, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

The light icebreaker is subject to a request for information that recently closed. With respect to when that vessel will be delivered, we're envisioning that this will occur in the 2022 time frame.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Great. What I was asking for was if Mr. Sargent could table with the clerk by the end of the day any briefing note or memo that he has related to the total funds the department has set aside for the acquisition of the light icebreaker. We've answered part of it, when the vessel will be acquired by the Canadian Coast Guard. We want to know about the funds that have been allocated for this light icebreaker.

[Andy Smith]

I'd be happy to work with the committee clerk to provide that.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Smith.

Mr. Sargent, let's see if you can answer this one. Can you explain to the committee why there has been such a significant delay in the Canadian Coast Guard acquiring the offshore fisheries science vessels?

[Timothy Sargent]

Building a ship, especially a new ship, is a very complex undertaking. It's to be expected that schedules and budgets would have to be adjusted for the first class of ships built in a generation. Both shipbuilders in Canada renew their skills in estimating and costing.

The national shipbuilding strategy is a long-term commitment to the shipbuilding industry. It certainly is looking to continue assessing our progress.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Sargent. We've heard the talking points.

Mr. Sargent, can you or will you be able to table with the clerk by the end of Wednesday the total allocated budget broken down by each vessel the department has set aside for these acquisitions?

[Timothy Sargent]

I'll turn to the commissioner for that information.

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

We'd be happy to provide the budgets that have been published previously.