Fisheries Committee on May 9th, 2024

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

I'm very happy to be able to provide you with that information.

You know that the Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands make their living from fishing. What's more, there's been a real lack of funding, both in my region and throughout the east coast and Canada.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

I have one here as well, Les Méchins. I think that's about to be added to your riding after the redistribution.

Minister, 12 of the 41 projects scheduled for 2024-25 are in your riding. That's quite the percentage. For those who are missing out on funding for small craft harbours in their ports throughout Atlantic Canada, B.C. and the Great Lakes, what would you say to outside observers who might think that you've made partisan decisions here?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

I've made decisions to ensure the safety of fishermen and economic development throughout the country. It's work I'm going to continue to do with integrity, as I have done from the start. I will continue to do this work, and I have no—

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Twenty-nine per cent of these ports are in your riding, 29% of all the Canadian projects—

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

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

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Ms. Barron.

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, with all due respect, I would like to ask my colleague and the minister to please not be talking over each other with the microphones on. It's really challenging for the interpreters. Perhaps the chair could help everybody to be reminded of that.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, I will remind everybody that it's one person speaking at a time. Even if you're sitting next to the person who's speaking, please don't be shouting or conversing with someone else around the table, because the mic picks it up and then the translators don't know which one they're supposed to translate, whether it's Mr. Small speaking or whether it's Mr. Perkins, Mr. Bragdon or Mr. Kelloway, whoever it is. Please, speak one at a time. That's all I ask.

Go ahead.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As for the towns of Harbour Breton and Hermitage in my riding, and the town of Shelburne and the village of Pubnico in south and west Nova Scotia, each community has a higher landed value in the fishery than all 12 of the ports that are receiving funding, if you combine them all, in the minister's riding. I wonder what the minister has to say to the folks in the fishing industry in those harbours that didn't get a nickel and that are not projected to get a nickel in the upcoming year.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Unfortunately, Mr. Small, you've gone way over time.

We'll go now to Mr. Hanley for six minutes, please.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank the minister and her officials for being here today and spending two hours with us.

I'm going to ask my questions in English for the benefit of my constituents for the most part.

The first thing I'd like to talk about, especially in view of our ongoing study on the Yukon River salmon stocks, is about some concern I have, and maybe you can alleviate my concern.

I noticed that in the main estimates there's just over a $1-billion decrease in planned spending for the next two years, including, according to the department's planning document, funding changes in planning for the Canadian Coast Guard, marine conservation targets and the Pacific salmon strategy.

Of course, I'm concerned about the funding for the Pacific salmon strategy initiative, PSSI. I wonder if you could clarify whether there is a determination to cut funding to the PSSI.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Hanley, could you repeat your question? The deputy minister couldn't hear it.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Certainly. My question is about the funding and estimates for the Pacific salmon strategy initiative. Could confirm or clarify whether there's an intent to reduce funding for the PSSI?

[Annette Gibbons]

Funding for the PSSI expires at the end of 2025-26. It was a five-year program. What happens after that is still to be decided, so there will be an evaluation of everything that's been done and then a determination on the next steps in that program and the funding levels.

Right now, it is a B-based program, with funding allocated over five years.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Okay. Really, when it says, “planned changes in funding for the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative”, that means the current funding commitment is intact, but there will be some consideration of future funding. Is that what I'm hearing?

[Annette Gibbons]

Yes, but I think another—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Ms. Gibbons, could I ask you not to touch the...? The interpreters hear tapping.

[Annette Gibbons]

I'm sorry. I don't want to do anything to hurt the interpreters.

There are also year-over-year changes in our programs where we may not spend as much as we thought in one year and we'll reprofile it to the next year, or we may take money in one year and actually move it to an earlier year depending on what we're seeing across the suite of programs.

The PSSI is a large, complex program with a lot of external partners, for example, so we do move money across different elements and across fiscal years.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you.

Finally, on that point, and perhaps for you again, Deputy Minister, I know I've asked this before, but could I get clarification on how much of the PSSI is being directed toward projects along the Yukon River in view of the clear need for restoration of the salmon?

[Annette Gibbons]

Absolutely, there is activity happening with respect to the Yukon River. I will have to return to you with an answer in writing on the specific amount.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I'd really appreciate that.

The minister and I have discussed how pleased we are with the recent seven-year moratorium on fishing as an international agreement between Alaska and Canada. I know that my constituents have really welcomed that. They have also pointed out that this is the beginning and that the moratorium itself will not be enough. We certainly are hearing our witnesses encourage continued engagement with our partners in Alaska and, at a federal level, with the United States.

I wonder whether you are formally engaged with counterparts in the U.S. federal government and with the Government of Alaska on Yukon salmon or whether this is being considered. Do you think more formal engagement with all stakeholders is critical to moving forward on this issue?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Hanley.

Before I give the floor to the deputy minister, I'd like to highlight the work you've done on such an important file. It confirms the importance of collaboration in the fisheries sector, to save not only wild salmon but all wild species that live in the ocean.

I went to the U.S. to meet our partners and intensify our efforts and our work to protect wild species, including salmon.

[Annette Gibbons]

We absolutely work with the U.S. federal government and the State of Alaska. The State of Alaska has a lot of authorities with respect to salmon, but so does the U.S. federal government. We work with them in various venues, including the Pacific Salmon Commission, which is a very active forum for negotiations and joint work. Of course, we work intensively with indigenous communities in the Yukon and throughout B.C. on Pacific salmon issues as key partners.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Hanley. You're right on time.

We'll now go to Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, who is subbing in for Madam Desbiens, who's the usual person from the Bloc.

You have six minutes, sir.