Fisheries Committee on April 19th, 2016

[Pat Finnigan, Liberal, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

I know we've been negotiating with Greenland on its harvest of salmon. Could you tell us where we are and whether there are going to be further negotiations in the coming year and whether we can get them onto this conservation trend, away from commercial harvests, as we moved to do several years ago?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

This is something that we'll continue to raise with Greenland: to work on trying to come to an agreement on this. We recognize that this is where the salmon go. We'll continue to negotiate with them to try to come up with a plan to deal with this, so that they recognize the concerns and the issue we're facing in Atlantic Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you.

Mr. Stetski, for three minutes, please.

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I have a quick follow-up on Mr. Hardie's question about restoring DFO. In 2002 we had four DFO staff in southeastern B.C. The organization chart showed 12, and today we have none. So, absolutely, we would like to see some restoration.

When do you hope to have changes to the Fisheries Act back to Parliament?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

As I said, hopefully, before too long we'll come out with a plan on how we feel would be the best way forward to do that review. It would depend on the consultations that take place and the feedback we get to input into it.

I can't really commit to any time. There's a lot that yet has to happen before a time frame can be nailed down.

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I'd certainly encourage you to make it sooner rather than later because it is an important piece of legislation.

The Cohen recommendations were touched on. When do you hope to have those fully implemented, and will you increase the budget so they can be implemented, if necessary?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

As I stated earlier, I hope to be in B.C. soon to put a little detail on the implementation and progress to date. I think with our reinvestment in science, there'll be some additional resources to help deal with some of the outstanding recommendations as well.

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

There are two aspects of the budget that have been reduced. There was a $30-million drop in aboriginal strategies. I'm wondering how that might impact the ability of first nations to participate in fisheries management.

The second one was that the climate change adaptation program funding expired and wasn't renewed. Given the risk climate change poses to fisheries, why wasn't that funding renewed?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

I think both of those programs, to my understanding, were on an annual...and they were sunsetting. But I think both have been announced in the budget, so they will be reinstated. Marty was saying earlier that they'll come back in supplementary estimates (A) or (B). This is where you'll see that funding getting put back in.

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Will you get a long-term plan in place nationally for derelict and abandoned vessels?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

I answered that one earlier by saying that we're working with Transport Canada to identify this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Thank you, Minister, I appreciate it.

You'll have a chance again, Mr. Stetski, in just a few moments.

We've exhausted round two. We're going back to round one once more, and we're going to start with Mr. Morrissey.

Go ahead, sir, seven minutes.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

One of the issues with small craft harbours from the maintenance perspective is the inadequacy of the maintenance budget. I hear that from harbour authorities that have been highly successful in co-managing these facilities.

Could you tell us if there will be any increase—we know the capital side—in the amount of dollars allocated towards the maintenance part of the budgets by regions and zones?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

This doesn't deal with the ongoing maintenance. I know it's a challenge. I've met with many harbour authorities that do express the need to be able to find additional funding for maintenance, but this is strictly a one-time capital investment and not—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes, I'm aware, but on maintenance, because I understand that the maintenance allocations have decreased over the past number of years. What's the department's position on that going forward, the amount allocated towards the maintenance?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

I know this is something I've had discussions with harbour authorities on.

I'll let Leslie take it from here.

[Leslie MacLean, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

I would just supplement the minister's comments by noting that in terms of ongoing funding, we recognize that, as you note, the fixed allocations have not been increased. We have not received increases to our departmental reference levels to enable us to do that. That is why the increased capital investment that the minister has spoken to is so critically important, because it enables us to go further down the priority list of fix-up projects.

I recognize that it doesn't go to your issue, which is the maintenance costs that harbour authorities have, but it does help us get at fundamental repair and rust-out issues earlier in the cycle, which we believe would help address the maintenance issues.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes, it will, because the harbour authorities have been extremely.... They were very opposed when they were introduced, but they have now become a critical part of the management resource.

About the fisheries protection program, what are your views on the adequacy of protection provided to the various species that your department manages, from an enforcement perspective? While we have made great strides in conservation in some particular areas, the fishers will say that the department's efforts in protection are not adequate or keeping pace. You can generalize. I am not looking at specifics.

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Are you talking more about the conservation and protection program?

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes, that is what I am talking about.

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

I think we have about 110 or 109 locations across the country carrying out compliance and monitoring to protect fisheries, fish habitat, species at risk, and aquaculture. This work is accomplished through the use of compliance and monitoring tools, including land and sea-based patrols, and aerial surveillance in some areas. Actually, I was invited to go on a surveillance this summer where they do the [Inaudible—Editor] and the offshore fisheries out there, out of Iqaluit, intelligence gathering and sometimes investigations. I think we have about 525 front-line fisheries officers, including I think about another 33 officer cadets who will graduate this year. These officers are also supported by approximately 200 contract and aboriginal fisheries guardians. Those are successful programs, both on the east and the west coast.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

You don't have the numbers now, but could I get access to, or could you provide me with how that level compares to, let's say, five years ago or 10 years ago? I know you wouldn't have it now.

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

No, but I'll give you a shout and let you know.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

One area that is always difficult to manage, and is certainly controversial—and I would like you to comment as a minister, not as an individual—is the whole area of quota allocation. What is your approach going to be, as the new Minister of Fisheries, in looking at quota allocations, particularly by district and by area? Could you comment on that as the minister?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

That was the second thing that everyone in the industry I met with had in common: they all felt that—