Fisheries Committee on May 26th, 2021

[Andy Olson]

Thank you.

[Sonia Strobel]

Thank you so much for having us.

[Ivan Askgaard]

Thank you so much.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Thank you.

To the rest of the committee here, there's a quick housekeeping matter. The chair has asked that we make sure we take care of this. It is in regard to our study budget, which was sent around to everybody yesterday. We need approval on that budget. I believe it's around $1,250. It covers the costs associated with the current study.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I move that we accept the budget as presented, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Okay. Are all in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

I think we have unanimous approval, so that's great.

I see Mr. Arnold has his hand up. Go ahead, Mr. Arnold.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Prior to the completion of the salmon study and prior to the constituency break, we discussed having the minister appear—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Just a second, Mr. Arnold. Just make sure the boom is closed. There's a lot of background noise and I think it's hard for our interpreters, so try again.

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

Okay, and I will speak more slowly. I had to log on here in the lobby.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

It's hard for people to hear, yes, for sure.

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

I'm in a quieter area now. Is this better, Mr. Chair?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Yes, we can hear you okay. I'll check with interpretation and I think everything is okay.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

No, Mr. Chair, the interpreter is signalling to me that the sound quality is not good enough for interpretation.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Okay.

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

I don't think Mel has the actual microphone selected on his computer from his headset. He's probably got the laptop—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Do you want to check your settings there? You may have just a different setting.

Mr. Arnold, if you're okay, I could go to Mr. Calkins, if you like.

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

Let's try this now. Is that better? Yes, I'm seeing nodding heads. I apologize.

When we were getting near the end of the Pacific salmon study, and prior to the constituency week, I believe we discussed having the minister appear. It was agreed by the committee that it wasn't possible to have her appear before the constituency week and still be able to get a draft out and complete the study before the end of the session, so we delayed having the minister appear.

I believe we all agreed that we would have the minister appear after the constituency week. I don't see that in the calendar that has been circulated. Can the clerk clarify that the minister has been invited, and when she would be appearing?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

I see Mr. Beech has his hand up, but I guess the clerk can clarify.

Is that correct, Mr. Beech, or do you want to add a comment here?

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

My understanding is that the minister is booked for Wednesday, June 2, but maybe the clerk can confirm.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

I'm getting thumbs up, so we have confirmation for Wednesday, June 2.

Thank you, Mr. Arnold, for the question, and thank you, Mr. Beech, for the clarification.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I have a point of order, too, Mr. Chair.

I know that it's not my job to tell people who they are or what they are or what they can do, but Mr. Hardie indicated that there were government members at the committee here today when he was laying the blame squarely at the feet of DFO. I just want to remind colleagues that there is actually nobody here from the executive branch at all appearing before the committee, and that not even the parliamentary secretary is a member of the executive.

I know what it's like to be a government caucus MP, but I think we should be careful, and these are just my feelings and sentiments. I didn't want to reprimand Mr. Hardie in front of witnesses, but I think we just need to be careful about who we are and how we identify ourselves and be accurate in how we portray ourselves in front of witnesses. We are simply members of Parliament, whether we're a member of the government caucus or not a member of the government caucus, and we shouldn't be portraying ourselves as executive members or members of government.

I think Mr. Johns was completely bang on when he said that the minister, somebody who could make the executive decision, would be more than appropriate to take action. I wish we had the executive powers of government sometimes as a committee, and then we would get some of these things done.

If somebody on the government side of the table were to prepare to move the appropriate motion, you would have my full support.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Thank you, Mr. Calkins. I see no further hands raised.

I want to thank everyone for being a part of tonight's meeting. Thank you for your patience with the rookie chair. I appreciate all of your kindness throughout this meeting.

The meeting is adjourned.