Fisheries Committee on June 16th, 2020

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I might even be able to keep it shorter than that.

To the witnesses, we've seen other countries provide support right away. Australia provided access and transportation for their fish market, their high-value markets, to get the product to market and to keep the fisheries active and working. Would it have helped if Canada had done the same thing, if the government had done the same thing to get products to market? Would there be fewer payments going out in the way of relief if that had happened?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Is anybody going to take that one from Mr. Arnold?

[Chief Terrance Paul]

Yes, it certainly would help, for sure. I would give a thumbs-up on that question.

Yes, we certainly can use the help. Like I said, we're different and we're not eligible, and it seems like we're not eligible because of who we are. We're not thought of. I know when decisions are made about funding, for example, that industry, the fishing industry, whatever program you come up with doesn't extend to our being eligible like anyone else.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Chief Paul.

Mr. Morrissey for 30 seconds, please.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you, Chair.

I want to go Ms. Sonnenberg, whom I've known for a while.

You made the reference that we must support science in DFO and that you see science as the way forward if this ever happens again. Could you comment briefly on our government's commitment in the science area over the last number of years in building the science capacity at DFO?

[Melanie Sonnenberg]

Certainly, we've seen an increase in the interest and the support that's been given to science.

As far as COVID goes, I think what's important for the committee to understand—and I'll try to do this briefly—is that our fisheries management plans depend on good science. We make decisions based on good science. When we lose the ability to get out and collect some of that critical data that we plug into our fisheries management plans, it's devastating, and there will be an economic hardship as a result of it. I cannot stress enough to the committee how important it is that science is just as essential as the actual industry it supports.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

Madam Gill, you have 30 seconds or less, please.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I would have liked to talk about something completely different, that is, seals. We are talking about research and development and market diversification.

Could sealing be an avenue of interest to the sector?

[Duane Boudreau]

It's definitely an untapped market. It's rare that you'll ever get fishermen to agree on anything, but they would absolutely agree to participate in a seal fishery.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

Mr. Johns, be very brief, please.

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

This is a question for Ms. Sonnenberg around the Canada food purchase plan.

Can you tell me what needs to be in that plan to help support fishers? We know that in the U.S., including Alaska, they've done very well at supporting their fishers at times when prices are low. Can you speak about what the government's doing right now and what needs to be in that?

[Melanie Sonnenberg]

Again, I go back to the issue of having a dedicated table. I would emphasize the diversity in the fishery. It makes it really difficult to just give a simple, straightforward answer when we look at the diversity of the species that are being harvested in our country. How we get those out and get the kind of support we need is going to be on a case-by-case basis.

That table, with different parties representing different species and with some experts on how to put that product out there, is what's needed. Right now, we have not spent time there. We've spent more time on trying to find financial solutions so that we have people who can bring species to shore, and then we can get them to market.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Again, thank you, everyone, and a special thank you, of course, to our guests.

If there's anything you didn't have a chance to say or any point you didn't get a chance to make today, please send in a written submission. We'll make sure it's included in the report and in the testimony that's reviewed in the creation of a report later.

Thank you for an insightful day. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.