Evidence of meeting #15 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 marine.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Project Coordinator, Tribal Parks, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
Our people are some of the most technically capable. Debris comes in every day; it's a daily issue. Long-term jobs in this capacity are much needed in the environmental industry. Industry keeps people in community.
Long-term funding will help keep people in place. We tend to lose folks when there's only limited funding. We train them up and then they're gone because of funding.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Captain Temple, I will use the term “plume of debris” from an incident. Does that change according to the season? Are there some seasons when it's less likely that it's going to end up at your front door? Are the currents pretty much consistent year-round?
Coordinator, Environmental Sustainability, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
That's a great question, Mr. Hardie.
The currents and the prevailing weather are pretty consistent year-round. Obviously, in the wintertime, the prevalence and the severity of storms increase the volume of debris that comes across the Pacific Ocean. Certainly, by springtime and early summer, we see the largest aggregate of debris because of that winter season.
Notwithstanding incidents like the Zim Kingston, which could increase exponentially the volume of debris that comes in at any time of year—but without an incident like the Zim Kingston occurring—spring and early summer are when we tend to see the largest aggregate of debris.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Mr. Dorward was asked for his thoughts or recommendations. Captain Temple, do you have any recommendations?
I asked questions about cellphone and, particularly, Internet coverage, because one would think that an Internet-based system where you could actually see or have reported to you the distribution of debris from an incident might be very valuable, so that perhaps you could be ready before it hits the beach.
Coordinator, Environmental Sustainability, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
Yes, absolutely. Any of us who have worked in emergency response in any endeavour can attest to how important effective and real-time communication is to be able to develop and implement a very efficient working response plan. Efficiency means we're going to save money and we're going to keep people safer.
One of the goals of whatever task force or working group could potentially be developed here is ensuring that we have the infrastructure and the framework across the coast to be able to deliver that effective communication. That means cell and Internet coverage throughout these remote first nations and non-indigenous communities.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Hardie.
That concludes our rounds of questioning for today's committee meeting. I want to say thank you to Mr. Dorward and Mr. Temple for appearing before the committee today and sharing their knowledge with us as we do this particular study.
I want to say thank you to our interpretation team, the clerk, the analysts and our multimedia people who made it possible for us to have this meeting, as well as our own staff for serving us so well throughout the day and weeks.
The meeting is adjourned. Enjoy your day.