Fisheries Committee on June 3rd, 2026

[Luke Gaulton]

The report does mention where existing marine protected areas and marine refuges are. The report also shows the areas that are part of the draft conservation network. As part of the call for information included in this report, and also provided through other means to this process, DFO made it clear where existing protected areas are and where the areas under consideration are. Then a decision-maker who—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Are there no more questions from the Liberals?

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Chair, we've covered all of this report clearly. Some others are looking for an agenda that doesn't exist here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

There are no questions from the Liberals. You pass on your round.

Mr. Cormier, go ahead.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Madam Chair, we pass on our round. We have no more questions, so just keep the rounds of the other parties.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We'll go to Mr. Deschênes for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm kind of surprised that the federal government is designating areas for offshore wind energy development in Canada before obtaining scientific advice to determine whether there will be an impact on fisheries, which are an important activity in the region. In July 2025, it stated that its goal for the designated areas on Nova Scotia's offshore was to develop a generation capacity of up to five gigawatts by 2030. That's very soon.

Here's what I take comfort in knowing, Mr. Vigneault. Earlier, you told me that you were collaborating with scientists from European countries that have installed offshore wind turbines. You also said that it would depend on the wind turbines themselves. I get that.

Based on the information you have, is the question whether the wind turbines will have an impact on the marine ecosystem, or is it rather what the extent of their impact will be on the fish and other marine species around them?

[Bernard Vigneault]

There will certainly be impacts, and we need different kinds of expertise to assess those impacts. I mentioned our European colleagues, but our colleagues at Natural Resources Canada, who have the necessary engineering expertise regarding the installation of wind turbines, are also involved.

As an example of a direct impact, there can definitely be use conflicts. Navigation is one example. Our department's expertise allows us to conduct spatial analyses to assess these impacts.

There will certainly be impacts. Any new offshore infrastructure that interacts with the seabed, with currents and, by definition, with winds, is bound to have an impact on the ecosystem. The key is to be able to model and quantify the actual risk that these changes pose to the marine environment.

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

According to this report, some species migrate through that area. That's where it really hits home for me, as a Quebecker and as the member of Parliament for Gaspésie. Atlantic salmon can be in that area. The report also mentions mackerel.

My understanding is that the forthcoming analysis could show an impact on fish that migrate off the coast of Nova Scotia and end up in Quebec. Is that indeed the case?

[Bernard Vigneault]

Potentially. We're actually in the process of launching a new research initiative that will focus specifically on migratory fish. We will use technologies that allow us to tag the fish and track their movements using detection devices. We will also use environmental DNA to determine which species were present in the proposed areas and when.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

Now that one party in this committee no longer has any questions, we can end our round with Mr. Deschênes—

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

—because we cannot continue rounds with just one party.

Pardon me.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

We still have many questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I know. The round is supposed to be for Conservatives, Liberals, Bloc, Conservatives and Liberals. The Liberals have no more questions.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

If the Liberals wish to concede their time, we will gladly take it. We had two hours scheduled for this meeting because there was a series of rounds of questions we planned to get through.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

It's going to be difficult to have only one piece of the committee working on this and the other piece not playing.

Do we have a quorum in terms of questions?

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I think it should work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

That's my question. Do we have a quorum in terms of questions if we have one party not asking questions?

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, Mr. d'Entremont.

[Chris d'Entremont, Liberal, Acadie—Annapolis, NS]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I'm just looking at the motion. Item (c) says:

(c) pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertakes one two-hour meeting with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to be held one week after all requested documentation is received by all members of the committee, and the scope of the meeting be on the report.

All I'm seeing at this point are questions about all the things that might not be in the report. It is very clear that this should be questioning on the report. I haven't seen many questions on the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Arnold, do you have something to say?

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Yes.

I'll also go back to the motion. Look under item (b)(i). It says:

(i) all documents, including but not limited to memoranda, briefing notes, and internal communications, related to the decision to produce this report, including any requests for its preparation and associated allocation of resources....

I don't believe we've been provided with the document that provides the request. The committee still hasn't received the documents required, as per this motion.