Fisheries Committee on May 13th, 2019

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

They have the capacity to do 12 separate strains. Why is the department not funding any—

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

I am more than happy to discuss the science with you. I think I've answered that question, in terms of hatcheries. I am more than happy to talk about the science with you.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Well, then it would be a one-sided conversation, because I'm the guy with the science background, Minister.

I already know the science. I'm asking you why the funding is not there and why the department is not actually investing the money at that particular hatchery, which can do 12 strains, 12 different imprints on Chinook salmon, yet it's sitting there—

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

I think I've answered that question many times.

There are issues around the hatchery related to the dilution of wild stock, so you have to be thoughtful about how you use the tool. While you may have a zoology degree, within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, there are hundreds of marine biologists and zoologists who provide advice and work on this every day.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

—and they're telling me to ask you these questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Calkins.

Now we'll go back to the government side and Mr. Fraser, please, for five minutes or less.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thanks.

I'd like to turn, Minister, to the Atlantic fisheries fund. One of the components of the fund deals with partnering with industry on scientific research and it is so important to understanding what's going on in the oceans with our fish stock. I know that under the former government, there were cuts made to scientific research. There were research libraries closed that contained important data to understand the background so that plans could be made to ensure a healthy, thriving stock for future generations of fish harvesters.

I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about the Atlantic fisheries fund and the work being done to enable industry to work with government on collecting good data.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

It's an important tool. Certainly the reinvestment in science and the scientific capacity of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is extremely important. It was the department that was most thoroughly brutalized, with respect to scientific capacity, by the Harper government.

We have hired about 300 additional scientists to restore the capacity within the department. We have invested significant sums to ensure that the science on which we are making fisheries management decisions is sound.

However, it's also important that we are reaching out to ensure that we hear the priorities of fish harvesters and that we are able to utilize some of their expertise. Those are fish harvesters but they are also academic institutions and others. The Atlantic fisheries fund, through the pillar relating to science and science investments, allows us to do exactly that.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Right.

I'd like to turn for a moment to safety on the water. Fishermen obviously deserve to come home at the end of the day like anybody else. There have been far too many examples of tragedies on the waters. The Coast Guard does a good job patrolling our coast and working with industry to keep fishers safe. I know there have been investments made in the Coast Guard. I'm wondering if you can talk about the safety aspect and how that has been improved under our government.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

There are probably a number of elements to that, but certainly part of that relates to initiatives under the oceans protection plan that have allowed us to invest more in our response capacity. These include, for example, the reopening of a number of Coast Guard bases that were closed under the previous government. That includes the Kitsilano Coast Guard base in Vancouver but it also includes a number of facilities on the Atlantic coast.

The investments made to ensure that we are able to respond to fish harvesters' issues and incidents—to ensure that we can respond to pollution incidents that may happen in the waters—have been a significant focus of the oceans protection plan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Minister, do you have any minutes left? I was hoping to get to the NDP for a couple of minutes.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Okay, sure, if it's just two minutes.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

When can we expect a response from the government for the “West Coast Fisheries: Sharing Risks and Benefits” report? Do you have a timeline?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Maybe I can turn to my deputy.

[Timothy Sargent]

We don't have a timeline as yet. We're really taking the time that it needs to analyze the report. We are actively looking at it right now.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

You know that we oppose the so-called modernization of the MCTS centres. Closures in Comox, Ucluelet and Vancouver were meant to save money. My understanding is there's lots of overtime. Has it saved any money?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Maybe I should ask the commissioner.

[Jeffery Hutchinson]

I actually have the deputy commissioner of operations here. He could answer that question better than I could, Mr. Chair, if he were allowed to come to the table to speak to it.

[Mario Pelletier, Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Are you asking about money that was saved with the MCTS?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Has it saved money?

[Mario Pelletier]

Yes, it has.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

How much?

[Mario Pelletier]

The exact number we could provide later, but it's in the—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Could you get that to the committee? I'd like to get it.

[Mario Pelletier]

Yes. It's in the millions.