Evidence of meeting #21 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Do you know how much in total the government spent in providing capacity funding to various bidders?
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Not at this point, but we can provide it once the process has come to a conclusion.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
I have a couple of other questions.
You mentioned there is a preferred bidder. What were the components of their bid that resulted in them being the preferred bidder over what has obviously been revealed informally to this committee, which is that there were multiple bids? Why do we have a preferred bidder?
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
As you rightly note, there has been public speculation about the nature of that, and some participants have shared where they were in the process.
The preferred bidder was chosen on a variety of criteria through this independent process. By working with a third party, that was determined against the criteria that all bidders were equally evaluated against. All were provided capacity funding to make sure they were putting forward the bid that responded to all of those elements.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Is there a rank order if the deal for this preferred bidder falls through? Is there someone in second and someone in third you're going to go down the list to?
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
If this bidder is not successful in this process, we will have to go back to where we are in the process and make recommendations about the next steps in that regard to ensure we are bringing forward the best possible outcome.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
When the government decided to divest the FFMC, did they consider as the best deal to taxpayers splitting up, dismembering, the FFMC into various components and just selling it off, as opposed to divesting it as a whole? Was that option considered or evaluated?
Niall O'Dea Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The full spectrum of divestiture possibilities had been contemplated in the process of informing the minister and the government on an approach to proceeding with this bid process.
Conservative
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Indeed, as was the full range of possibilities in respect of how we might move forward with the corporation.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
It seems that through providing capacity funding—not just breaking up an entity that is at this point losing money and actually trying to divest it—it is likely that taxpayers are footing a bill so this entity can continue operating in some capacity.
What was the reason for that? Was it just because this seemed to be an important part of the supply chain for some fishermen?
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Looking at the recommended approach and where we landed, the idea is that there is still value in a concerted, coordinated approach to maximizing market access to inland fish for inland fisheries, so it's about looking at how to retain that market space, but also recognizing that the model is no longer fit for purpose and doesn't meet market needs.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Gunn.
Next, for five minutes, we're going to Mr. Connors.
Liberal
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you to my colleague.
I'm going back to my question. Fisheries and Oceans Canada sets the conditions of licensing in all species on all licensing. Does the department, in its conditions of licence, whether it's commercial, first nation food and ceremonial or moderate livelihood, outline that an egg-bearing female lobster is illegal to sell or bring ashore to use, as well as an undersized lobster? This protects the overall fishery for all—first nations and commercial.
Regional Director General, Maritimes Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Without having all of the licence conditions here in front of me for the different communities, I can confirm that, by and large, all of the general conservation measures pertaining—
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Not by and large. I mean the two specific ones that I identified.
Regional Director General, Maritimes Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Again, I would have to confirm any individual licence conditions, but—
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Would you confirm that information and bring it back to the committee?
Regional Director General, Maritimes Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I can certainly do that.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
If the department is not enforcing those conditions, then it is letting down the overall fishery on the east coast, primarily as it relates to lobster. I'd want to know clearly what direction is given.
Mr. Chair, I'll give the rest of the time to my colleague.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
I'm going to ask a question of Mr. Williams concerning mackerel again. I'm glad that my colleague MP Morrissey is going to be bringing forward a motion on the mackerel fishery.
I understand that there is an advisory committee on mackerel, that it has been analyzed and that you're analyzing data that's submitted by fishers. There's been some question of whether any data has actually been submitted.
I want to be a bit more specific on the data on spawning grounds or the movement of spawning grounds because of climate change or water warming. How is that data considered when you're looking at the fishery and the reopening of the fishery?
Senior Director, Resource Management - Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Our science officials within the department work closely with stakeholders and harvesters in the collection of samples for Atlantic mackerel throughout Atlantic Canada. We have seen in recent years that within Atlantic Canada, populations can be quite high in localized areas. It's a schooling fish. It's a migratory species, and it mixes with a southern contingent. The science looks at this. We have seen, certainly in areas of Newfoundland, that the species—this isn't unique to mackerel; it's other species as well—is appearing in different areas that we didn't see it in before.
That's why it's so important for the department to ensure that when we're doing the science, we're doing it in a way that can be properly peer reviewed, there's consistency from year to year in terms of sampling sites and we're listening to harvesters to make sure that if there is a change, we're able to pick up on that and can respond it. All of that will be taken into account as we move forward, consult and prepare for the next season.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
When I talk to fishers, they say there's a two-year gap between what they see and what the science shows. Is there a way of narrowing that gap in the science to make sure that what the fishers see on the water is actually what science is showing?
Senior Director, Resource Management - Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We hear from harvesters and other stakeholders that there can be a difference between what we're seeing from our science and the peer-reviewed studies and what they're seeing on the water.
In terms of that time gap and how it can be reduced, I think that points to the importance of our advisory committee process. More than that, it speaks to the importance of having an ongoing relationship and collaboration between the department and harvesters. Certainly we're engaging harvesters throughout the year—not just annually, but throughout—to see if we are missing something and if further science work is required.