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.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I believe that's part of the oceans protection plan. We have some elements of that, and Transport Canada has some elements.
December 2nd, 2022 / 1:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Your predecessor used the two programs to remove the HMCS Cormorant from the port of Bridgewater in my riding. There presumably was a ministerial or departmental order directing that seizure to happen, which happened on November 8.
Will you be willing to table that order with this committee?
Liberal
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Okay.
Along the same lines, there would have been a departmental decision and the reasons for the breakup and destruction of the HMCS Cormorant and the sale and disposal of the assets on that. Will you also table that order, as well, please, with the committee?
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Okay.
If you could table, as well, the cleanup costs through the two cleanups and the costs of the disposal, I'd appreciate it.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thank you.
I'd like to acknowledge my predecessors for the legislation requiring the abandoned and wrecked vessel cleanups.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
That's okay. I have limited time.
In response to an Order Paper question of mine when I recently asked the details of the number of southern resident killer whales in the transit zone through the Pender Island bluffs no-transit fishing zone, the department said that it had no information. It seems odd to me that the department would have no information when it closes an entire area to recreational and commercial fishery.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Is there any information besides the department's telling Parliament that it doesn't have any?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
The department may have some evidence that this is an important foraging area at certain times of the year. I think we need to be precautionary when it comes to this very challenged species that's just not doing so well.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I hear you, but actually closing an area and not having any evidence that whales are there at any period in time is not an effective policy.
I'll turn the rest of my time over to Mr. Epp.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Perkins.
Thank you, Minister.
As of March 24, at that FOPO meeting in response to a question by Mr. Perkins, you stated and you confirmed that Canada had not paid the full amount of our government's bill to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission over the past seven years. Is that correct?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Canada had been paying the amount it agreed to, and it was less than the percentage that Canada originally paid in, because the U.S. had increased its money.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you, Minister.
In the spring 2022 budget, the Minister of Finance allocated an additional $44.9 million to fully fund the Canadian commitment to the 1954 convention treaty so that the U.S. wouldn't have to pay our share. Is that correct?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Yes, we did add $45 million over five years and $9 million ongoing. I was pleased that my request to the Minister of Finance was successful.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
And you stated such. In the House on May 30, 2022, you stated, “Mr. Chair, I am very proud that we are [now] providing some $45 million [to] the Great Lakes Commission over the next five years.” Is that correct?
Liberal
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
In meetings this past week of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the U.S. walked out in frustration after Canada disclosed that $14 million over the next five years and $18 million over the next six years are being withheld by the DFO from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Is that correct?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
There's been no change in the structure of how the funding flows since the beginning of the binational program in 1956.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Minister, you're responsible for living up to our treaty obligations. You've stated so in public, that you were going to maintain our full public commitment to fully uphold the treaty. Now, once again, Canada has underfunded the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Is that correct?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
That's not correct. We are fully funding our portion of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's work. Funding to the GLFC has flowed this year in the same way that it has since its inception, and it's in compliance with article VIII of the convention.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Epp. Your time is up.
I know we're getting close to the time when the minister may be leaving. I don't know if she can stay for one more round of questioning from a member or if we are done.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Okay.
We're not going to suspend. We'll continue on, but we'll allow the minister and anyone leaving with her to do so as quietly as possible.
Again, Minister, thank you for taking the time to be here with us today.
Thank you to the witnesses who are still with us. We will continue with our rounds of questioning from members.
We have Mr. Small for six minutes or less.