Natural Resources Committee on Sept. 25th, 2018

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Would they look to you for advice, given that you are probably best suited to make those recommendations?

[Derek MacFarlane]

Sure.

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

As an example, we are conducting aerial surveys for forest health risks in the mountain national parks. We're working closely with Parks Canada on that, and we're providing advice on management options for the mountain pine beetle. Of course, these are conservation areas, so the objectives may be a bit different than in commercial forests.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Right, but would a partnership with the private sector be something you might consider, based on the fact that we obviously don't want this to spread any further? This is one in a series of options that could help, and it probably would also reduce the burden on the taxpayer.

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

In the case of national parks, we would defer the question to Parks Canada.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Would this be something you would recommend?

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

It always depends on the objective and the outcomes that are expected. Is there a role for the private sector in that? It really depends on the objective. If it's mitigating fire risks, maybe not.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Okay, but—

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

This has been the main driver for management of the pine beetle in national parks—the safety issues. Harvesting trees may not be—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

For sure, but the outcome is the same. We want the spread to stop.

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

Right, but removing trees from the forest may have a different impact than leaving them on site and burning them, for example.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

In most cases, how long until it gets replanted?

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

I'm sorry?

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

How long until the trees get replanted, in most cases? Obviously, when they remove trees for whatever they use the wood for, most logging companies replant—

[Derek MacFarlane]

It's three for one.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Obviously you're not Parks, but if you recommend a private sector partnership, could we use this as a tool to help spread and reduce the cost on the taxpayer? And the fact that they are replanted afterwards.... Would that, on the surface, be something that might be considered or could be recommended by your agency to Parks?

[Jean-Luc St-Germain]

My colleague can correct me, but I don't think operational recommendations are usually provided by our department to Parks Canada. It's more a strategic perspective.

[The Chair, Liberal, James Maloney]

Thank you. We're going to have to stop there.

Mr. Serré, it's over to you for five minutes.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My thanks to the witnesses for their presentations.

I would like to come back to the provincial jurisdiction over forestry and the recommendations that you could make to our committee.

The first recommendations require more money, but I don't really want to talk about money.

With a Canada-wide approach in mind, what can the federal government do to support the provinces, so that they don't reinvent the wheel every time? Can you make specific recommendations to the committee to support the provinces with that?

[Chris Ward]

I'll say one more time how positive our experience has been with the research focus of CFS. We're at a huge advantage that they're right in Fredericton, New Brunswick with us. It's been a huge advantage to our management of the spruce budworm.

I think the number one thing the federal government can do for provinces is to keep supporting research. Research is the one thing that's outside of our mandate.

[Derek MacFarlane]

I can add to that.

I'll reference again the national forest pest strategy. It's really a collaboration with all provinces and territories and with CFIA, and we take into consideration industry issues. That's a forum for us to share best management practices from one jurisdiction to another. The provinces and territories have just recently verified that this approach is very valid and important for pest management in Canada.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I am pleased that budget 2018 commits $75 million to innovation and research.

Mr. Anderson, in terms of innovation and research, does Canada work with the United States in particular on long-term research? As mentioned, this comes up every 8, 10 or 50 years. Could there be closer co-operation with the United States on research and innovation?

[William Anderson]

When it comes to research with respect to forests, the forest sector is like the provinces with regard to the dependence on our research arm. We almost look at it as NRCan there. Our direct involvement in research collaboration with CFIA and our counterparts is not there right now, but I assume NRCan is working very closely in that regard.

[Derek MacFarlane]

I can add a bit to that. We have many examples of collaboration between our researchers and researchers in the U.S. on a number of fronts. We recently held a Canada-U.S. forest health summit, back in February. Among other things, pest management is an area where we have recognized that we have a long history of collaboration and we are going to enhance it and continue to do that into the future.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I'm not sure whether Mr. MacFarlane or Mr. Anderson talked about raising public awareness to mobilize Canadians in their presentation. At any rate, what recommendations could the committee make to promote Canadians' commitment to protecting forests?