Evidence of meeting #35 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 years.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
I can speak about the biotoxin closures that may have happened.
In Chaleur Bay, we have not had any biotoxin closures in the area in the last five years.
For some statistics, in 2025-26, over 9,000 samples were tested, and 26% of them were from around the Quebec area. As a result of the testing for marine biotoxins, there were over 1,300 recommendations to open or close in the Pacific region, 42 in Quebec and 81 in Atlantic Canada.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
My question was this: Did we have any mortality in people, or any cases of intoxication that we know of, in an area that was open or closed? Did that happen in some regions?
Director General, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
During this time in 2025-26, I believe we had one recall, which would be a contamination issue that was impacting human health.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Okay.
Ms. Gaudet, do the provinces have a role to play in these tests? If not, is it strictly the federal government's role?
Do you deal with third parties, for example?
You are probably familiar with the Institut Valores in Shippagan, which conducts tests.
Regional Director General, Gulf Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Thank you for those questions.
We work with the provinces, but strictly our colleagues at Environment and Climate Change Canada do the testing.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much.
Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for six minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for being here. I'd like to thank the witnesses in the room who travelled to come here.
I am very happy that we're talking about clam digging on the Gaspé peninsula and Baie des Chaleurs.
A few days after our first committee meeting at the end of March, a resident of Bonaventure organized a gathering. About 150 people from Bonaventure and Saint-Siméon came out to demand that clam harvesting sites be opened. This is a really important activity for us in the Gaspé. It's our culture, it's our tradition. The first nations, the Mi'kmaq, are also calling for sites to be opened up.
During this session, we have received resolutions from the municipalities of Escuminac, Bonaventure, Carleton‑sur‑Mer and Gaspé. The reeves are all asking that we find a solution to open more shellfish sites. My goal is to see how we can achieve this. Currently, all requests are categorically denied. We're just being told that there are no resources.
First, let's talk about sanitation.
I'll start with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Ms. Volk, have any tests been conducted recently in the southern Gaspé peninsula, in the Baie des Chaleurs area, that would show the water is unsuitable for harvesting clams?
Director General, Environmental Science Services Directorate, Department of the Environment
Thank you for the question.
I'll turn it over to my colleague.
Director, Emergencies and Marine Science Division, Department of the Environment
Thank you for the question.
Yes, tests have been done in some areas. In two of the regions mentioned, analyses were performed on waste water discharge. Some data has been generated. This data is either already public or will be made public shortly.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
You say that analyses have been performed in certain areas.
In what areas, exactly, were these analyses performed?
Director, Emergencies and Marine Science Division, Department of the Environment
I'll have to send you the data for those specific areas later.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
You're saying that Environment and Climate Change Canada is currently conducting water tests, even in areas where there is no clam harvesting?
Did I understand correctly?
Director, Emergencies and Marine Science Division, Department of the Environment
Environment and Climate Change Canada is conducting tests in areas that have already been designated. That doesn't mean tests are being done everywhere, but only in those areas.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
As I understand it, tests are being done in Miguasha, where there is a site where harvesting is permitted. Sometimes, tests are conducted in Saint‑Omer, right next door, in Port‑Daniel, where there is a site, and in Douglastown.
In places where harvesting is currently prohibited, there are nevertheless beds of clams.
Are you conducting tests in those places?
Director, Emergencies and Marine Science Division, Department of the Environment
I'll have to send you the data for those specific areas later.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
The subject of the study is the opening of the softshell clam fishery in the Baie des Chaleurs. I would have liked you to come prepared with the necessary data on what's happening in the Baie des Chaleurs. My understanding is that you will respond to us in writing to inform us about the tests.
Ms. Soo, has the Canadian Food Inspection Agency done any tests on softshell clam meat in the Baie des Chaleurs to determine whether it has been unsafe to eat in recent years?
Director General, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
In Chaleur Bay, we have full monitoring stations for biotoxins.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Where are these stations located?
Director General, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
They are the ones on the harvest sites that have been classified as open or for harvesting. I don't know exactly which regions they are in, but there is a map.
Over the past five years, we haven't had any biotoxin concerns in that area.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
You did tests at four sites in the Baie des Chaleurs. In the past five years, no test has shown that the shellfish meat was unsafe.
Is that correct?
Director General, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
That's correct.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
My question is for the Fisheries and Oceans Canada representatives, but the representatives of the other organizations here can answer it as well.
A final report was produced in 2022. It's called “Horizontal Evaluation of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program”.
In 2022, it was found that the program lacked resources and that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada had reached their maximum capacity.
Is this still the case?
I would first like to invite Mr. Vézina to answer my question, given that he's responsible for the Quebec region.
Sylvain Vézina Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
As far as our region is concerned, the resources at our disposal allow for the implementation of the program.
On our end at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, once Environment and Climate Change Canada verifies water quality and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirms that there is no toxicity in the shellfish, we open or close the harvesting areas.