Fisheries Committee on June 12th, 2023

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you both for appearing today.

I just want to point out that the guiding principles of the GLFC are consensus, accountability, information sharing and ecosystem-based management. Global Affairs Canada says, “We define, shape and advance Canada's interests and values in a complex global environment.”

Mr. Cronin, you mentioned in response to another question the importance of defending Canada's interests. That's at the heart of Global Affairs.

You've referred a few times to ongoing conversations with DFO. I'd like to get a better understanding of the formal relationship that you have with DFO. I wonder if you could tell the committee and explain GAC's current role specifically with respect to GLFC, and also the role it plays in the success of Canada's fisheries in general.

[Niall Cronin]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the question.

Again, I'm able to speak to the role of the transboundary affairs division and our relationship with DFO and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. On the broader role of Global Affairs with respect to defending and promoting Canada's fishing industry, I really would refer to colleagues, probably on the trade side of the department.

When it comes to our relationship with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as my colleague Felicia Minotti mentioned, when there are representations that come in related to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, there is certainly a discussion among officials in my division and the officials within DFO responsible for the commission. There are regular check-ins for us to be updated on the progress of conversations. We also circle back with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission secretariat to see how things are going. We check in with our colleagues at the U.S. embassy and State Department, and our message really is that the Canada-U.S. relationship is strong. The GLFC is a valuable contributor to making sure that relationship stays strong, and we're very much encouraging the commissioners to get back at the table to meet.

I think there's an opportunity. There are two new commissioners who have been appointed on the U.S. side. There's really an opportunity now to get all the commissioners around the table rowing in the same direction—

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you.

I'll just move on to another question, because I think again in your testimony today you talked about successful, bilateral transboundary agreements. Could you maybe just elaborate on that? Maybe give me an example of what you see as successful agreements.

[Niall Cronin]

Certainly. I think there are a number of them. I think it speaks to the strength of the Canada-U.S. relationship and the foresight of Canadian decision-makers back in the day to codify some of those relationships.

Certainly we'll take the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 as an example. That created the International Joint Commission to help Canada and the U.S. manage issues related to water quantity and water quality. Certainly that treaty and the commission have served Canadian interests very well by creating a space for Canada and the U.S. to have very frank conversations around water issues. I would point to that.

I think there are a number of organizations or bilateral institutions managed by colleagues at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans related to fisheries management and protection. Those have also served Canada very well.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I'm going to jump in. I have a minute left. I'm going to let Mr. Hardie finish his question from the previous round.

Thanks.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Hanley.

Is money the only issue here? Are there other issues that the fisheries commission is struggling with in its relationship with the DFO, or with Canada?

[Niall Cronin]

Mr. Chair, that's probably a question better answered by either the officials from DFO or the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. What I could—

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Okay, that's good enough. I want to sneak one more in here.

Are there other bilateral commissions or agencies that are also in stress, having difficulties getting Canada and the U.S. rowing in the same direction?

[Niall Cronin]

Of the examples I have provided before, related to the International Joint Commission, Roosevelt Campobello park, or the International Boundary Commission, we don't have the same questions around governance.

If I can be frank, we have had questions from the International Joint Commission on both the Canadian side and the American side about when we should be leveraging the commission, or not. Those are active questions. Those can be frank and difficult discussions with our American counterparts. I certainly don't want to paint a picture that everything is rosy, but certainly if you look at the strength of the Canada-U.S. relationship at this moment in time, you see it is very strong.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Hardie.

That concludes our hour of testimony and questions for this particular session.

I want to say thank you to Mr. Cronin and Ms. Minotti for being here today, for answering questions and providing us with their knowledge on this particular topic.

We'll suspend now to go in camera to do some committee business for the next hour.

[Proceedings continue in camera]