Fisheries Committee on March 10th, 2016

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Okay, so that can happen in any other centre. It could be human nature. Someone could just walk by and pull a plug. That can happen, right?

[Scott Hodge]

Yes. That can happen anywhere.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Again, it has nothing to do with the new technology.

[Scott Hodge]

Right.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Okay.

Regarding the audio we listened to, this was in 2012, you said. What happened to the boat that tried to call the centre? Was it able to reach the centre? Did it sink? What happened to this particular boat that tried to reach the centre?

[Scott Hodge]

That was a Coast Guard boat doing radio checks with Iqaluit at the time. From what I recall, they actually called the centre and talked to each other. It was when they were setting up the new equipment.

As the Coast Guard stated earlier, they said that the new equipment wouldn't be released until these problems were solved. Well, the recording shows that it was released before the problems were solved. That's when they first noticed them.

The problems are still occurring in Prince Rupert, and when Comox is moved to Victoria, they're concerned that they'll have the same problems because of landlines.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you, Mr. Cormier.

Mr. Gross and Mr. Hodge, thank you for coming.

We had some great exchanges today, by the way. I appreciate that and your generosity in many cases.

Let's go straight into committee business. As we take a look at the schedule, the immediate thing is March 24. We left it up in the air as to whether we were having a meeting. We have nothing scheduled. We left it open in case the minister was able to arrive. He is unable to come at that time, so it is open at this point. It is the day before Good Friday, March 24.

How do we feel about that now?

Go ahead, Mr. Donnelly.

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

Could I get an update from the clerk about the witnesses and the number of responses? I don't think we knew on Tuesday, but maybe today we have more knowledge of who said yes and who's available.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

While the clerk is looking for that, just to be judicious with our time, can I go on to another point?

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

You bet.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Here's what the other point concerns. I know that we'll get to the cod report, but on April 12 and 14 we're talking about Comox again.

Oh, the clerk has the information already. That was quick.

We have potentially two who could not come at this time but are interested in coming on April 12 as Comox witnesses. We have more to invite, of course, because of this list. This is just a quick update.

Is there anything further, then, Mr. Donnelly?

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

Are we able to accommodate that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I believe we are.

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

Thank you. That's good to know.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I said “I believe”; I wouldn't say it's a certainty.

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

I believe in your belief.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I'm sorry. I misspoke. It's not all of them. No. There are a lot of witnesses here, Mr. Donnelly, for that particular day. I apologize. I didn't mean to mislead you. We have a lot left on this list.

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

When are they coming?

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Well, we have the one day. We have the 12th.

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

They are all coming on one day?

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

It will be whoever is available until we can fill the slots and put them in. Does that make sense?

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

How many slots have we had and how many have we missed?

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

We have...how many slots in total? For that particular day, we'll have eight, obviously, and that's the other thing. We have to give them 10 minutes each, so that's potentially eight right there, unless you want to trim down how long their opening statements are. I'm assuming that you want all of them.

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

Well, ideally, and if you're going to put eight in one meeting, it obviously means that we're going to be just listening to witnesses for one meeting with no opportunity to ask questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

That is correct. Are you asking for a motion to have another day of witnesses?