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.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
What was discussed in camera?
Mr. Chair, I fail to see where the member if coming from. I'm talking generally. You referenced conservation and protection. My question was to give the committee a general overview of where the department was and where it's at today as it relates to protection and conservation and the ability of the department to effectively protect the fisheries on all coasts and in the inland waters.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I can share that since I became minister, I've been working with the department on key issues around the staffing and recruitment of C and P officers. I take this very seriously. I've been very clear that unauthorized fishing is not acceptable.
To that end, I want to thank the conservation and protection officers for the work they've done. It was really quite extraordinary. They have seized thousands of traps. They've returned tens of thousands of lobsters to the water, and they've also inspected dozens of facilities. I think that's a very important step forward and really does set us up well for the upcoming season. I want to thank the officers for what they've done.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Could you give to the committee a sense of where you see the department's focus on conservation and protection going in the immediate year coming and in the future?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
To align with the need to have an authorized fishery and to have a safe and successful fishery for all involved, it's important that we continue to support the work of enforcement. That continues. It is important that officers have the tools they need to continue to do the work.
I also want to say—again going back to consultation—that it is important that we continue to sit together. I do that regularly. I meet with harvesters, whether it's on a wharf or in a meeting room. All of us have to work together, and that's how we'll have a productive and safe fishery for all.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Going back, you touched briefly on your support for the fisheries fund and how important it is for supporting a lot of initiatives within the fishery. Could you expand on that a bit? If and when the budget is approved, does that move us closer to having funding for that important fund?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I hear loud and clear, and have certainly seen for myself, that the funding has been incredibly important not just to the Atlantic region—and in different names—but across the country. The funding is in place until March, but I know that it's incredibly important. If at any time there's additional information to share, I will be happy to do that, and I will.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Morrissey.
We'll now go to Mr. Deschênes for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I would like you to work with us on Atlantic salmon.
In Quebec, the Atlantic salmon industry is worth $26 million, a significant amount. The 2023 and 2024 seasons were very worrisome, because very few grilse were running. The Fédération québécoise pour le saumon atlantique asked me to meet with them and explained that the most likely explanation was that there had been a major sudden die-off in the Strait of Belle Isle. It therefore made a request to your department last year for fisheries officers to have the authority to take smolt bycatch, often from capelin fishers, and conduct scientific tests to try to understand what caused the major die-off. The request was made last year, but there was no follow-up.
Can we count on your support to get this done before the upcoming season?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will go back to my team and look into this.
We'll get back to you with an answer, but, again, I want to stress that I believe in consultation. To not consult isn't a decision that I would take, so let me just find out the nuances on this and get back to you.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I'll move on to another topic, which is exploratory lobster fishing licences.
Phase 2 is on hold, and you will decide whether phase 2 begins this summer or later.
There's a lot of demand from people in area 19. At the very least, they want to know as quickly as possible whether phase 2 will be launched or whether they have to wait.
I need to know where things stand on that and, in particular, what your scientists are saying about the possibility of starting phase 2 of exploratory licences.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I'm going to turn to the deputy.
Do you have a timeline for when that information will be available—certainly for my eyes and if we have more consulting we need to do?
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Right now, we're analyzing last year's data for areas 17, 18 and 19, which are the exploratory areas you mentioned. The data was provided to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We had a meeting with the industry before the holidays. We're still in the process of preparing recommendations for this year.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.
Next we're going to Mr. Gunn for five minutes.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I just want to give you an opportunity. With my colleague Mr. Small, your exchange got cut off.
Can you confirm that you will basically be following the unanimous wishes of this committee and appearing on our study to discuss marine protected areas, which are obviously creating a lot of uncertainty and strain among fishermen, their families and coastal communities in my riding and right across Canada?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
What I will say once again is that I believe that consultation is critically important. I think I've said this before at committee. We need to protect ecosystems. That is the future of the fisheries for all—
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Let me finish. At the same time, we can protect fisheries.
I understand this study is happening. I think it's incredibly important that you meet with a wide range of individuals—
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Will you be appearing, Minister? That's the question.
Liberal
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Well, you have been asked to appear. That's on the record. It was unanimous from all members of this committee, but as of right now, there's no commitment on your part. Is that correct? I'm just trying to get this on the record for—
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Let me answer clearly. I have always been open. This is my third appearance at this committee in a number of months. I am always open to appearing at committee.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
I won't take that as a commitment, but I do appreciate your appearing before this committee, including here today.
I have a question about the FFMC. You mentioned that there is a preferred bidder for this process. Was it the highest bidder in this process? How can Canadians have confidence that this is the best deal for taxpayers?