Evidence of meeting #46 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 recording is available from Parliament.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Thank you for the question.
The budget for GLFC has been based on the negotiation between the two nations and is set, of course, with the inclusion of the commission. From what I'm aware of, yes, the budget has been set.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
I don't believe that to be the case.
Do you know why? Why is the U.S. State Department now involved?
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I can't answer that question at this point.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
The minister stated in her testimony that the money from DFO has flowed, as it always has, to the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. The DFO was in a conflict of interest position with respect to the department's duties and its machinery of government function for the GLFC, as well as its role as the selected contractor for the sea lamprey control by that same commission.
Will the DFO support the transfer of the machinery of government function back to Global Affairs so as to eliminate this conflict?
December 2nd, 2022 / 2:45 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I will repeat what the minister said, which is that we are in full compliance with our obligations under the treaty in terms of funding for the commission—
Conservative
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
My understanding of this issue is—and this is a very simplified understanding of it—that DFO receives funding for actions related to the Great Lakes for the sea lamprey program, as we have for years. This is ongoing funding to the department. There may be different views by some individuals that this funding should go to the commission, and that is part of the dispute here.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Epp. You've gone over time.
We need a few minutes to do some voting very shortly. We're going to call it quits for the panel.
Thank you to the departmental officials for being here yet again today, and spending the full two hours with us. We greatly appreciate it. I apologize if you thought you were being harassed by any member with the strict line of questioning, but I don't think you were. I think today was an absolutely good day for both sides at this particular committee meeting.
We're going to allow our witnesses to leave. We're not going to suspend. It's just so that we can do the voting on the supplementary estimates.
It could be up to three votes. I don't know. We'll see how it goes. There is very little time left. We'll try, and get through it as quickly as we can.
In all, three votes were referred to the committee in supplementary estimates (B). Unless there's any objection, I will seek the unanimous consent of the committee to group the votes together for a decision.
Does everybody agree to group them all together?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Seeing no objection, we'll do that.
Shall all votes referred to the committee in supplementary estimates (B) carry on division?
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........86,793,760 Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........5,702,998 Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........344,798,357
(Votes 1b, 5b and 10b agreed to on division)
Shall I report the votes back to the House?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Next Tuesday, we will start with drafting instructions for the letter on the impacts of the climate crisis. We will then begin consideration of the report on science at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Before I adjourn, I want to bring up one issue. When members want to talk to each other, please turn around, or do something. I'm listening to what the witnesses are saying, the clerk is saying, and what an analyst might say to me. When people are speaking close to me, it interferes with my concentration as I am trying to pay attention to what's actually going on.
Some men's voices are much louder than the ladies' voices. I don't hear Madame Desbiens and Ms. Barron interrupting like that, but there are some people who speak loudly. I know when Mr. Zimmer was here, I had to tell him, “You have a very loud voice, even though you're down at the end of the row, kinda.” It distracts everybody here on this end, so I'd ask people to keep that in mind.
On that note, enjoy your weekend, everybody. We'll see you back here on Tuesday.
The meeting is adjourned.