Fisheries Committee on June 3rd, 2020

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. It's good to join my colleagues on this committee again.

I want to first of all follow up on a very important question that Mr. Johns asked. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role that the communist regime in China has played in that crisis. It has also highlighted how vulnerable we are in Canada to the loss of our economic sovereignty over our strategic assets and critical supplies. That concern applies equally to our commercial seafood harvesting and processing industry.

You said that the department hasn't taken a position on the foreign ownership of Canadian commercial fishing licences. I would like to suggest that you do. As you know, the industry committee is undertaking a study on foreign ownership by state-owned enterprises. I'm confident that Canadians have significant concerns about hostile foreign interests' acquiring interests in Canadian companies and strategic industries, including interests in our commercial fishing industry.

By the way, I'm glad you're doing some work on this issue. I kindly ask that you provide this committee with updates on what your research might reveal.

In any event, I'll go to my first question. To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic taken away from the work that DFO would otherwise be doing? As part of your answer, could you tell us how many, if any, DFO staff have been redeployed away from their normal duties in order to address COVID-19-related issues? You can use FTEs if you want.

[Jean-Guy Forgeron]

Dominic.

[Dominic Laporte, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Yes, thank you very much.

We've been able to deliver on most of our business line. In terms of staff being impacted by COVID-19, for the entire department we have a total of 10 staff members who have been impacted.

Our staff are still working. We also have staff in the field. Staff who are essential to our business line have been doing that. I would have to say that DFO has never been closed for business because of COVID.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I'm glad to hear that you've never been closed for business.

As you know, DFO.... Basically, our country has a number of pressing issues within its purview relating to our fisheries, not the least of which is the dramatic decline in Canada's wild Pacific salmon populations. Being from the west coast, I'm trying to get a sense of whether this work has been compromised or otherwise delayed by COVID-19. For example, the Big Bar landslide is an existential threat to the Fraser River wild salmon.

To what extent has the pandemic response negatively impacted progress on the Big Bar remediation project?

[Jean-Guy Forgeron]

Jen.

[Jen O'Donoughue, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

I can answer that, Mr. Chair.

In this case, the fact that the Big Bar location is so remote has actually worked in our favour, unlike other things that we've been trying to do out there. The actual project has been able to continue despite the pandemic. Kiewit has done an excellent job making sure that the health and safety of workers has been maintained throughout the process.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I just want to follow up on that.

The costs of that project have more than tripled over the original estimates.

Are you aware of whether the work of the contractor on the Big Bar slide has been compromised by the pandemic?

[Jen O'Donoughue]

In terms of the cost, as you know, we presented to the [Technical difficulty—Editor] back in March. We anticipated to spend approximately $45 million by the May time frame on Big Bar, and we've actually stayed very close to within that range.

The contractor [Technical difficulty—Editor] relate to safety and security at the site and our wanting to use the expertise of Kiewit to continue the work on some of the contingency measures that we've put in place.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Can you provide us with assurances that Peter Kiewit Sons is going to be able to do that work safely? As you know, it's subject to a criminal prosecution right now, and there has been a recent, smaller slide there, which could have injured workers on the site. Are you able to provide us with assurances that this work is going to be done safely?

[Jen O'Donoughue]

The project is monitored very closely by us and by some of our partners at PSPC. We continue to make sure that all of the safety measures are in place and to monitor it very closely.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

You're out of time, sir. You're a little bit over, actually.

Thank you to the people answering.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Before I go to the next questioner, I just want to ask the committee for permission to extend a bit for the time we lost. I'm estimating approximately half an hour because we do have a bit of committee business that we want to do.

If we could extend, we'll continue on with the questions for now.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

Now we'll go to Madam Gill for two and a half minutes or less, please.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question is twofold. At home, on the North Shore, I have noticed several communication issues—as Mr. Bragdon mentioned earlier— that have led to requests to delay the fishing season due to the COVID-19 fears. The requests came from very isolated communities, where a number of fishing vessels will be docked and where fishers will not have access to accommodation, given the physical distancing guidelines. The same is true for Indigenous communities.

Although the health guidelines and the delay in the fishing season are the responsibility of Quebec and the provinces, it was nonetheless extremely difficult, given the fishing areas for which workers come from Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and the North Shore. People move from place to place.

Has Fisheries and Oceans Canada thought about improvements to ensure that the communities in my region, which have already suffered enormous economic and social impacts, do not have to suffer them next time? Of course, I am thinking of the eastern Quebec First Nations and isolated communities, such as the members of the Coasters Association on the Lower North Shore.

[Jean-Guy Forgeron]

Sylvie.

[Sylvie Lapointe]

Thank you for your question.

To date, we have not implemented any new communication measures, but I must say you raise a good point.

We are acutely aware that, in isolated communities, particularly Indigenous communities, the risks and impacts of the pandemic are much higher. We are going to work on that.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Why have no communications or health guidelines been issued to help these communities?

[Sylvie Lapointe]

With respect to small craft harbours, we have worked with harbour authorities to provide signage and communications to ensure that access to these harbours is restricted to those authorized to enter.

With respect to Indigenous communities, we are in regular contact with them, not only to gather information related to their needs, but also to let them know which departments and information posts they can contact to obtain this information.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Do I have any time left, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I'm sorry. We've actually gone over time.

Thank you for that.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I have to intervene and apologize to one of my colleagues who I jumped over in the five-minute round. That would be Mr. Morrissey.

I've calculated the extended time to be half an hour, so we will stop at 7 p.m. my time, which would of course change all across the country. We will extend by half an hour.

Mr. Morrissey, I'll go back to you for your five minutes. I do apologize.

Whenever you're ready, you have five minutes or less.