Fisheries Committee on April 28th, 2021

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Burnaby North—Seymour, BC]

I'd like both reread. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. Mr. Arnold, could you read your amendment, please?

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

Certainly, Mr. Chair.

The amendment would be that the committee invite the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to appear for one two-hour meeting to discuss budget 2021, including the measures it contains for Pacific salmon.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay, we have heard the amendment.

Mr. Bragdon, would you read the original motion, please?

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

The original motion is that we request the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to appear before the committee regarding the Pacific salmon study and the budget pertaining to it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Bragdon.

Now we will go to the vote on the amendment, please.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We'll now have a look at continuing on.

I think we'll say that's enough with regard to the schedule. We have two things on our plate. As we go forward, we'll carve off a little time for committee business when we see where we're to at that particular time. We won't schedule anything beyond what we have done today.

Does anybody have any other committee business before we all rush away to the vote?

Ms. Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We have a number of studies, but I see some empty space in the calendar at the end of June. I would imagine that's because we're going to come back to the salmon report, right? Will it be possible to get the report done by the end of June? It's urgent; I'd like to make sure we can finish the salmon study before there are no more salmon to study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I think that's the intent of all the motions that have been made, including Mr. Battiste's motion and Mr. Bragdon's motion. I think it's fully the intent of the committee to make sure that we get this finished and the report done and presented in the House before the House rises, whenever that might be—if it's in June or if it's beyond that.

Mr. Arnold, you have your hand up again.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The analyst indicated the time needed for the drafting of the report. I would request that, if needed, we look at possibly fitting in an additional or extraordinary meeting in the week of May 10 in order to provide drafting instructions in that week so that version one could be ready in time for us to consider.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. Before I go to Mr. Bragdon, would it be easier to try to do drafting instructions at the end of the third meeting on the Pacific salmon?

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

It will depend, I guess, on what we feel we'll need for time for drafting instructions. I'm just suggesting that it may be beneficial to add some time into that week to make sure we get the instructions to the analysts by that time.

Before I forget, could I also ask the clerk to send out some clarity on what the deadlines are now for the additional or revised witness list for the salmon study and for the prawn study, so that we're very clear on when those deadlines are?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. I thought that for the prawn study it was tomorrow at 12, and I thought that for the Pacific salmon study it was Friday at 12, if that clarifies that part of it for you.

With regard to looking at extra time, we can do that along the way, but right now I'd like to suggest.... Because usually drafting instructions don't take very long, I don't think we need to allocate a full meeting to drafting instructions. We'll try to look at the 12th when we finish up the study, and we'll know going forward, once we figure out how the witnesses are being scheduled and filled in. Some may not be available. Maybe we'll get enough witnesses for the two meetings, including the one with the minister, and another half a meeting might do it. Then we can dedicate half a meeting to the actual drafting instructions.

I think we'll leave that to the chair's discretion—that might be the easiest way to say it—with the full intent of making sure we get time to do it so that we can make sure the study is done and completed before the House rises.

Mr. Bragdon.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have just a quick request. I wonder if we can have the clerk send to each of the members an updated calendar of everything that we've discussed here today, just so that we have it, everybody is on the same page and we're good to go.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes. I see that Tina is nodding her head, so I'm sure that will be looked after.

Barring nothing else, can I suggest that we now go to the vote and see what time is left over afterwards, if we want to come back to committee or if we have time? So the clerk will know, is it everyone's intent to try to come back?

I see some people shaking their heads no. I'm not hearing any disagreement with that, so we will—

Mr. Arnold.

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

I'm just curious as to how much time we have left. I'll leave that to you, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay, we've had close to an hour, so we'll adjourn.

Mr. Battiste has his hand up.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I was just putting my hand up in support of.... I think we've covered off what we needed to cover today, and after the vote we should just adjourn...or we should just adjourn and then go vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

If you look at the time, there's still probably 10 or close to 15 minutes before the vote is called, then it's another 10 minutes of time and then the time the vote takes. There's not going to be much left anyway.

I think I'll take Mr. Battiste's advice and I will adjourn the meeting for now. If I don't give everyone the notice that we're coming back, we'll see you all at the next committee meeting.

Thank you, everyone. The meeting is adjourned.