Fisheries Committee on Nov. 20th, 2025

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

We have proof that it happened. Is that shocking?

[Adam Burns]

Again, I'm not privy to those—

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Considering that pinnipeds consume 50 times more fish in Canada than is harvested by fishermen and that the Prime Minister removed discussions about seal products from the trade discussions in June with the EU, are you shocked?

[Adam Burns]

Again, I'm not privy to those discussions. I can say that the department is actively engaged with global partners to try to advance work to reopen markets.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, my next question is for Mr. Lambertucci.

Congratulations on the great work that you've done since you came in. We've seen some heavy-duty enforcement in southwest Nova. There were reports last night of quite the sting operation going down. It's a bit peculiar to me that all this has happened in the last eight to 10 weeks. Does that have anything to do with plea bargaining on behalf of Mr. d'Entremont when he crossed the floor? Did you give him a soft landing?

[Peter Lambertucci, National Chief Enforcement Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

Good morning, and thank you for my first invitation to FOPO. It is a pleasure to represent the green and gold, and the men and women who do this job, and I look forward to the questioning.

Our enforcement approach is evidence-based and supported by intelligence, and what we do is based on substantial operational planning, which is based on that evidence and intelligence that we work with.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

We've seen the arrests in the last eight to 10 weeks. What about the next level? What you've taken here feeds into something else. What's happening in terms of investigating the dark web and electronic currency that bad actors are using to...? They're a step ahead of the Canada Revenue Agency, by the way. They're prepared for what's coming. Are you going to be investigating who's above these harvesters and the movers and shakers on the ground? There's someone else beyond it all. Are there any investigations ongoing, or is there political interference that's stopping that from happening?

[Peter Lambertucci]

I can't speak to what my interdepartmental peers are doing for responsibilities and accountabilities that fall outside the Fisheries Act. I can speak to the fact that we have very regular dialogue with our partners, through other federal and provincial agencies, to work on issues. I cannot comment on active investigations or investigations that are in the planning stages.

At the same time, in response to your question about interference, law enforcement independence is something we enjoy in C and P. It is based in the rule of law that the judgment exercised by our fisheries officers on the ground is independent. The way we form that independence is through solid standards, practices, policies, guidelines, training and development, and that independence is a key function of their using their judgment in how they operate in the field.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Small.

Next, we go to Mr. Connors for six minutes.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you.

I'm going to ask Mr. Lambertucci a couple of questions as well. First of all, I'm glad to hear about the new enforcement that's happening under your leadership, and I look forward to the due process as it follows through on those investigations.

Fisheries officers can be put in difficult situations, when they can easily be outnumbered in rural areas or remote locations. Is DFO using any new technologies or engagement to make sure officers are safe and supported? Are there tools that you believe would help them be more effective?

[Peter Lambertucci]

Officer safety is at the forefront of everything we do in our operational planning, when we engage in operations and are working, within the Fisheries Act, for our accountabilities and responsibilities. In matters of public safety, we also have interdependencies with local police forces of jurisdiction and the RCMP, and we take measures to ensure that officer safety is at the forefront of our planning, with the support of our local law enforcement partners for public safety interests.

In terms of technology, we have and are in the throes of substantial dialogue right now in the assessment of modern tools and technologies to reinvest in ourselves, which will enable greater efficiencies to augment our boots on the ground and our presence in the community.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

In following up on that, we heard some testimony earlier about working with the RCMP or other enforcement agencies, and how enforcement in fisheries—DFO officers—may not be fully suited to carrying out all the enforcement. How do you see DFO officers and the RCMP or other agencies working together so it can be beneficial?

[Peter Lambertucci]

Enabling functions and multiplier functions are essential in what we do as we approach the challenges that lie in what we enforce, from the fisheries and unauthorized...to the protection of our fish and fish habitat. The dialogue is continuing with our law enforcement partners, and it's frequent and ongoing. It is on a case-by-case basis as we investigate certain issues and projects. We talked about projects that happened yesterday in Nova Scotia—that was referenced earlier today. Those are examples of when we have those interdependencies and we employ those partnerships.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Once the official charges are laid at the boat level, say, or at the wharf level, then it would be a process of partners who would join in as that moves along to further charges.

[Peter Lambertucci]

The same independence I talked about from law enforcement independence is similar to the independence that the Public Prosecution Service enjoys in terms of taking charges forward. Fisheries officers are responsible for investigations, case packaging, material preparation and investigating to the best evidence possible. Those submissions are then made to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, with whom we have a very active relationship and partnership. PPSC then makes the decision on what to prosecute and not prosecute, based on public interest and opportunity of success or chances of success. We forward our materials on the recommendation that we are seeking charge approval, and PPSC is the one that independently makes that decision as to what goes forward.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you.

As we've already discussed, there have been major busts so far in the last little while, in different areas. What types of support are fisheries officers getting from their provincial counterparts? Is this support adequate to ensure compliance in both provincial and federal jurisdictions?

[Peter Lambertucci]

Our partnership with the provinces is ongoing and frequent. We do work on an interdepartmental enforcement working group, where we discuss various operations that we can collaborate upon. Undertakings we do that are beyond the Fisheries Act accountabilities and responsibilities are where we seek participation from the province to assist us.

Fisheries officers are governed for what they do up until that first point of sale, and then, from the sale and buyer side, this is where we have our interdependencies with the partners, both provincial and federal, to help facilitate those investigations.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Is there anything that you think could be improved upon or that you're looking to improve upon in those relationships with the different partners and provincial partners? You have only about 30 to 40 seconds to answer that.

[Peter Lambertucci]

The facts of those relationships are that communication is the key, and communication is constant and ongoing. As we see the provinces share those interdependencies with us, it's incumbent on us to keep that dialogue open and active in the interest of Canadians.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Connors.

Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for being here.

Mr. Lambertucci, how long have you been the national chief enforcement officer for Fisheries and Oceans Canada?

[Peter Lambertucci]

I joined DFO in February 2025.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Have you had the opportunity to review the testimony the committee has heard over the past few weeks, according to which some of your officers are terrified of enforcing the law?

Others tell us that they are under political pressure not to enforce the law.

[Peter Lambertucci]

I am aware of prior testimony that was presented before this committee.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Are you also aware of the report on the program Enquête exposing a not-so-subtle smuggling ring in New Brunswick?