Evidence of meeting #133 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Yes, but I don't think everyone was aware of that.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
The controllers are also controlling the mikes. It gets confusing.
Can you tell me how much time is left?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you.
Minister, can you tell us when you'll appear for the Fisheries Act?
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
I think that the committee has work to do on the Fisheries Act. I hope that it does this work. I look forward to your recommendations. I'm working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and with the associations—
Conservative
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
—to protect owner‑operators. I would very much like to see the work done here too.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Minister, you're here today seeking an additional half million dollars to be added to the $5 billion already authorized to DFO, for a total of $5.5 billion. Is that correct?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
In fiscal year 2014-15, DFO's expenditures were $1.7 billion. What you're proposing is a 300% increase over DFO's 2014-15 expenditures.
Would you say that DFO is doing 300% better service today than it was nine years ago, yes or no?
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
You're comparing the 2014‑15 budget with the 2024‑25 budget. I would like to inform you that construction costs have increased. In addition, the funding requested today will be used to repair and maintain small craft harbours in some of your constituencies and to purchase fuel for the Canadian Coast Guard.
I expect us to put petty politics aside and to work on ensuring the safety of fishers on the water. They need this infrastructure to do their job properly.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
This is a 300% increase. Would you say that DFO is providing 300% better service than they were in 2015?
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
As a result of global warming, the oceans have less or even no ice and small craft harbours require much more dredging. Costs have risen. We must give our fishers the opportunity to fish and provide safe infrastructure. This infrastructure is vital to economic development both for the harvesting industry and for the processing industry and SMEs involved in the fisheries sector.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
It seems that $332 million in these estimates is for grants and contributions, which is paid to outsourced operations outside of DFO. You're asking for $332 million in grants and contributions. If you consider the $400 million that has yet to be accounted for in the green slush fund scandal, you can understand why we want to know what this $332 million will be spent on.
Could you provide us with details on what the $332 million in grants and contributions in the estimates will be spent on?
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
The funding will be used for new activities, fleet renewal and initiatives for marine protected areas. As I said, we—
Conservative
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
—need to upgrade harbour infrastructure in a number of your constituencies. I hope that you're taking the fisheries sector into consideration.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
There must be planning to ask for those kinds of funds.
Could we get this provided in writing to the committee, please? I want details on the $332 million.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
We'll now go to Mr. Morrissey for five minutes or less.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for coming.
What you've heard so far from the official opposition is empty rhetoric—which consistently comes from opposition parties—relating to the management of the resource. That's what occurred for years. I'll paraphrase a former Progressive Conservative fishery minister, John Crosbie, who had to shut down a fishery that totally collapsed: It is extremely important for your department to get accurate stock assessments. We do that well in a number of fisheries. It is not always widely received and welcomed, but management is important. All the input we get on stock assessment is important, because we only want to make decisions that ensure the successful future of fisheries.
Madam Minister, I support the expenditures you're looking for before the House. The former Conservative government slashed small craft harbour funding for a number of years, which left harbours deteriorated.
My question for you, Minister, is on small craft harbours. I raised this with you before. It is about looking at the possibility of utilizing your harbour authorities jointly to manage the output and repairs in harbours, which can get the job done in a lot of cases faster and more cost-effectively.
Madam Minister, will you take it upon yourself to see that the amount of federal funding harbour authorities can use to improve their harbours is increased from what it is now?
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
I can tell you that a meeting of harbour associations from across Canada was held recently. I attended their meeting by videoconference. They submitted requests to me. When I talk about collaborative work, I'm also thinking of this type of approach.
Requests have been submitted. We're currently analyzing them. Harbour associations indeed do important work. They're volunteers. We must be there to encourage them and to work in partnership with them.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Minister.
I'll turn the rest of my time over to MP Cormier, Mr. Chair.
December 4th, 2024 / 5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
Minister, thank you for joining us today.
You spoke earlier about the Conservatives. I couldn't agree more. They voted against the budget and their actions in the House are delaying any potential fisheries initiatives.
However, we mustn't forget that the Bloc Québécois is also implicated. Two weeks ago, the Bloc Québécois came to Caraquet to put on what I would describe as a theatrical production. I'm talking about its fisheries forum, which it held to convince stakeholders that the Bloc Québécois was the saviour of the fisheries in Parliament. However, most of the stakeholders weren't there. There were more Bloc Québécois employees than stakeholders.
Yet the Bloc Québécois, like the Conservatives, voted against the latest federal budget. It voted against funding for small craft harbours.
My Bloc Québécois colleague asked earlier whether one of the wharves in her constituency would undergo repairs. I wonder whether she knows that she voted against the budget.
You also spoke about Canadian Coast Guard funding, which would be delayed should the budget not pass. Imagine the impact on the earlier opening of the crab fishery, for example, before the whales arrive. The Bloc Québécois said other things at the fisheries forum in Caraquet. For example, they all supported an earlier opening. However, if we don't have access to this funding, we know what will happen.
Tell us a bit about the Bloc Québécois and what will happen if we don't adopt these budget appropriations as soon as possible.