Evidence of meeting #34 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regard.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Did you want to fill in any final comments on the last line of questioning, Minister Jordan?
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bernadette Jordan Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
As I've said many times, Mr. Hardie, the mark-selective fishery is not something I am opposed to. I think it's actually a good idea. We just need to make sure that I have the right science and data, that it's backed up, to make sure there is not a challenge within the areas of concern. I will continue to say that.
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Now can we talk a little bit about hatcheries? They have come up quite often. In fact, during our discussions on the Big Bar slide and the work that's going on there, we did venture into that issue.
Where are we headed in terms of perhaps getting a hatchery strategy in place?
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bernadette Jordan Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
With regard to the salmon strategy, some of the money, of course, is for conservation-based hatcheries. We are actually looking at a number of ways.... We know that hatcheries play an important role in the conservation and protection of wild Pacific salmon, so I think that hatcheries are going to be part of the bigger picture as we go forward with the salmon strategy.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Yes, I think we're definitely going to need to be very close to community hatcheries and have a lot of consultation with indigenous groups, because they have some very clear ideas on this one.
I think Mr. Morrissey has some questions as well, so I'll turn the remaining time over to him.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Mr. Hardie.
Madam Minister, in my riding and the ridings of a number of my colleagues in P.E.I., harbours are facing challenges with dredging. It seems to be growing worse each year. Some of it is driven by climate change.
Could you speak to that issue and the increase in the budget for small craft harbours in being able to address what is a dangerous problem and a growing problem at quite a few ports here in Prince Edward Island?
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bernadette Jordan Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
I'm well aware of the challenges that are being faced with regard to shifting sands in Prince Edward Island and some harbours that are being negatively impacted, particularly the Malpeque and Savage harbours. I believe those are two of the worst ones.
Of course, the $300 million that's in the budget this year for small craft harbours will help with those problems, recognizing that a number of small craft harbours need work, whether it's dredging or infrastructure. This is an ongoing issue for rural coastal communities. We know how important they are to our rural economies, but, sadly, they have been left to fall into disrepair over a number of years.
Our government has actually put $787 million in the last five years into small craft harbours, and this is a significant investment. I know there's a lot of work to be done and I was very happy to see that $300 million. As the members of this committee whom I've worked with before will know, this has been something that I've been talking about for a long time.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thanks. Yes, there are quite a few.
Minister, one of the programs you fought for last year was the fisher benefit, which was extremely important. However, I believe that 40% of the funds were held for this year, and the department was supposed to begin the application process a while back. It's my understanding that it's still not available.
Could you update this committee on the status of that program and when fishers will be able to apply for the final payment?
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bernadette Jordan Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
The fish harvester benefit and grant was an extremely important program to help the fishers—captains and share crews specifically—get through COVID-19. Some of them were able to make some pretty difficult decisions about whether or not they were going to fish, because that funding was available to them.
As you said, 60% was released last year, with the other 40% being released once they were finished with the season. I will say that the program was actually extended on the other end, so we had to push it a bit this year as well. From where it was supposed to end—I can't remember exactly the dates of it last year—it was extended by about five or six weeks to allow more people to take advantage of it, so it got extended again this year.
I would like to turn to my department, though, and see if they have any update on timelines for when it can be applied for again.
6:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We're looking at June 28. That's our plan.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Okay. Thank you, Minister.
Chair, what's my time? It looks like it's over.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
I simply want to thank the minister for her clear responses to the questions that I had for her today. Thank you.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
As we said, your time is up, and actually the committee time is up as well.
I'll close off by thanking the minister once again for being here today and making herself available, with her officials, for the full two hours.
You've always been obliging to come to committee any time we've asked—
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Yes, Chair, it's Bob Zimmer here in the room, with just a quick one.
I have a follow-up for Ms. Reid on the names requested. I would ask that she provide them to the committee. I asked her early on, and she was going to provide them. I just wanted to remind her so that it will happen.
Thank you.
6:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you for that, Mr. Zimmer.
I wish everybody a good evening and thank everybody for their participation today. Thank you to our analysts, our clerk and our interpreters for making this another successful FOPO committee meeting. We'll see you next week.
The meeting is adjourned.