Fisheries Committee on March 10th, 2020

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

First of all, is the ultimate goal to return that section of the river to its preslide state, and if so, how long do you think that's going to take?

[Rebecca Reid]

That's a great question.

That is our goal, yes. We don't know exactly how long it will take. Our experience has shown it can take three years. In some cases you have to create some kind of an artificial passage to support fish. We're hoping to return the river to its natural state, and we're going to have to adapt and evaluate as we go.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

I believe Ms. Gill is giving her two and a half minutes to Mr. Johns again, so he'll have a total of five minutes.

When you're ready, Mr. Johns.

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

Thank you.

My biggest concern right now is the contingency piece that you're going to do in a step process. You already know you're not going to be able to make it in terms of flows, based on the blasting proposal.

Is it cost? Is that what's delaying your starting to already focus on contingencies one and two?

[Rebecca Reid]

No. Just to be clear, we are focusing on doing everything we can to put those contingencies in place right now. What's required right now is to create a berm, a pad, a place for the equipment to go, and to blast rock at the same time.

As the rock is being blasted they're creating the places for the equipment to be installed.

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

The fishway will be in place when it's—

[Rebecca Reid]

That is the plan, yes.

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

Okay.

The other question I have is around the hazing. Can you talk abut the stress and how to keep the fish away while you're blasting? Can you talk about what that looks like in terms of the impact that's going to have on those stocks?

[Rebecca Reid]

There are no fish in the area right now. We have a monitor in place and we haven't seen any fish.

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

Okay.

You talked about working with first nations. They wanted the government to declare it a state of emergency. We've heard them ask for an emergency package as well, which is the same thing the NDP has been calling for.

Can you talk a little about their emergency request?

[Rebecca Reid]

First nations have indicated their very strong concern about food security. They speak to this particular issue but to other issues around floods and fire that have impacted the terrestrial food as well, so it is a very significant concern for them.

In addition to that they've spoken about the economic impact of the low returns of sockeye and chinook. Those are the concerns they've identified from a food and economic perspective.

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

Clearly, with the numbers that we were going to see pre-Big Bar, we're going to have the lowest return in recorded history in the world's largest salmon-producing river. Given that, clearly there are not enough resources being distributed for restoration, habitat protection and climate adaptation. Is there a number you can give us that would bring us up to what is needed, or is it internal and you can't communicate that?

[Rebecca Reid]

I don't have a number.

I don't know, Jen, if you want to comment.

[Jen O'Donoughue]

I think we're still assessing it. We don't have a number at this point in time.

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

In hearing from organizations on the coast, they're looking for $500 million just in restoration alone over the next five years. On the $142 million from the BCSRIF, can you talk a bit about how much of that is rolled out in rounds one and two?

[Rebecca Reid]

Yes. The BCSRIF has $142 million dedicated to it. We have spent $55 million so far for approved projects. When the next batch of projects goes through, that will be about $13 million more, so we have some money remaining from the original $142 million.

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

H ave you been instructed by the minister to spend it right now, the $142 million that's built in, to get it out the door because there is this emergency when it comes to our salmon? It's a crisis that's clearly in place right now.

[Rebecca Reid]

The BCSRIF is proposal driven. We accept proposals, evaluate them and pick the best ones. We're not restricted—

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

There's a number of good projects that are getting rejected, though, right now.

[Rebecca Reid]

That's true, but I think it's because when we're looking at proposals we want to make best use of the money, so we're picking the ones that we think best accomplish the objectives that have been set for the program.

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

Can you explain why you wouldn't spend the money right now given that there are a lot of good projects getting turned away?

[Rebecca Reid]

We have an evaluation process with B.C. We're working with B.C. on it and we are looking at what the projects are. There is a capacity issue, I think. We need to evaluate each of the proposals, work with the proponents and undertake the agreement. It's just a matter of making sure that we pick the right projects and get them in place.

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

Is it mainly because they want to spread it out over five years? Is that the idea?

[Rebecca Reid]

We haven't been directed to hold back any amount, but it really is about picking the best projects going forward.

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

Okay. Thank you.