Fisheries Committee on May 13th, 2019

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I don't buy that for a minute. There has never been a single case of a non-native invasive harmful species ever eliminated by fishing.

Every smallmouth bass female, as you know, lays thousands and thousands of eggs. When the fry hatch, they're extremely small. They'll go through any fish fence. This is a time bomb waiting to happen, yet you're more than happy to use fish toxicants on the lamprey eel in the Great Lakes. You think it's a great idea to use a chemical to eliminate them.

The track record of rotenone goes back 50 to 60 years. It's been used countless times to manage fish communities. Again, I think your decision is completely wrong.

Frankly, what I find about your department is that the higher-ups in your department think your clients are the fish. They're not. Your clients are the people who use the fish. That should be your primary concern. The Atlantic salmon fishery in New Brunswick has been estimated to be worth $135 million and thousands of jobs.

Speaking of Atlantic salmon, our committee produced a unanimous report with 17 recommendations. None have been followed. Why is that?

[Timothy Sargent]

We certainly see the role of the ministry and department as being stewards of a natural resource that all Canadians can use and enjoy. In order to ensure that resource continues for the future, and for future generations as well, we have to think of how it impacts not just today, but down the line.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Don't lecture on sustainability, thank you.

[Timothy Sargent]

I just want to give you the context for decisions that we make.

What was the last part of your question?

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Why have you not implemented the 17 recommendations in the unanimously approved Atlantic salmon report from this committee?

[Timothy Sargent]

We can get back to you on the status of the implementation of those recommendations—

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

The minister did, with a letter. We had the words “restore” and “replenish” many times in that report, yet restoring Atlantic salmon was not even included in the minister's response. That's appalling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Sopuck.

Now to the government side. Mr. Rogers, you have five minutes or less, please.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Hutchinson, I want to focus on the lifeboat stations that you talked about, particularly because one of these is in my riding, in Old Perlican. I know there are designated spots like Twillingate and St. Anthony. I know some great progress has been made. Harvesters, mariners and people in the recreational sailing industry and commercial industry are really pleased to see this new facility and the security and the services it's going to provide for these mariners.

When do you anticipate that this lifeboat station will be completed and fully operational?

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

That's an excellent question. I normally have that date at the top of my brain, but I don't right at the moment. We're fully operational next season, is that correct?

[Mario Pelletier]

Yes, fully. It's going to ramp up. The station won't be ready until [Inaudible—Editor].

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

It will be fully operational next season. We'll have temporary resources in place in the meantime.

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

When you say next season, do you mean in the fall?

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

It's springtime next year.

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

Okay. I know that construction seems to be going really well. People in that community and along that coastline are excited about it.

What about the Twillingate site and St. Anthony? I understand that St. Anthony is just a renovation of and improvements to the current site. Twillingate is a new site as well.

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

It's on the same time frame. St. Anthony has already received its new offshore search and rescue vessel. I believe the renovations to the building will be done in the next 12 months.

This summer it will be fully operational.

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

Thank you very much for that.

Also, we haven't received any particular notification of the official opening of the St. John's rescue centre that was returned and restored to St. John's after it was closed by the previous government amid great disappointment and protest by harvesters, mariners and certain individuals like Merv Wiseman, who I can recall championing that cause. It was also a major issue during the last federal election.

Are you aware of when there might be some kind of official event or grand opening announcement for that particular facility, which is going to provide a crucially important service to the east coast, particularly to Newfoundland and Labrador?

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

My recollection is that we did have an event for the MRSC and I will get you the date that occurred. Then, with the new southside base that's opening.... My sister tweeted me the other night and told me it was all lit up and the construction is going very well. We're in the planning process now for a grand opening date for that.

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

Again, thank you for that. I'm just excited about the fact that it's going to be reopened, of course. I would love to have the opportunity to attend that kind of event.

Looking at the St. Anthony and Twillingate facilities, I think about the kind of service that you as Coast Guard provide in terms of icebreaking during the springtime. We've had major ice conditions again this spring. I'm assuming that's not going to be part of your duties, that the regular bigger boats, icebreakers like the Louis S. St-Laurent and others, will continue on with the schedule they're on nowadays.

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

The opening of the lifeboat stations and those assets will have no bearing. We will continue to deploy heavy assets for icebreaking, as needed, for the ferry routes and for the opening of the fisheries, as we have in the past.

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

Will these lifeboat stations be staffed 24-hour services or on call? How will those operate?

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

They'll have the same posture as our other lifeboat stations, which will give you effective 24-7 coverage, but it doesn't mean that we'll have people sitting at tables, up all night, all the time. You will have effective 24-7 coverage between people who are at the station and people who are on very short standby to return to the station if there's a call.

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

Is that with a very short response time?

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

Yes. We're away from the dock in 30 minutes in all cases.

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

Okay. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity.