Debates of May 28th, 2009

Fisheries and Oceans--Main Estimates, 2009-10

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Chair, what is the department doing at this time to help the viability and sustainability of jobs in the fishing industry?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I take that to be the durability or the maintenance of employment.

What we have done, as I have said here several times this evening, is we are trying to assist the lobster industry to ensure that the markets can recover so that fishers can get paid a decent price for their product. That would be maintenance in the lobster fisheries.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

The problem, Mr. Chair, is that the people who have left the fishery industry take away with them a large amount of knowledge and know-how.

Does your department have an action plan to guarantee that the these highly qualified individuals will return? Do they have a future in the fishing industry?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I am not quite sure I understood that question because when people leave the industry they normally leave because they retire.

We talked about having rationalization programs. That actually is a program that would help people to exit the industry.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Chair, the idea is to retain their knowledge and wisdom regarding the fishing industry.

What kind of programs is the department offering to help communities that depend on a single industry like the fishery deal with times of crisis?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, my experience has been that the younger fishers are normally mentored by older fishers and industry organizations normally sponsor different courses that fishermen take before they become a core fisher.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Chair, the small craft harbour program is a key initiative of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to help foster economic sustainability to small rural communities throughout Canada.

Yet your own department does not believe that the program is viable in the long term. Thus, instead of making corrections or transferring funds to other programs that are more likely to succeed, the department continues to inject more and more money, simply to conduct studies.

Does the minister believe that this is still what we need?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I am not quite sure what the hon. member is getting at, but when it comes to small craft harbours, we are injecting an additional $200 million into small craft harbours to benefit our fishing sector.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak today to some of the investments we have made through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as a result of our government's economic action plan from last January.

The fishing and seafood industry in Canada is a driving force behind a large portion of our economy. We know that the commercial fishery will play a major part in our economic recovery. Like industries in other areas, the fishing industry needs every opportunity to succeed.

Our government is acting aggressively during these tough global economic times to help Canadians through this period of financial uncertainty. Part of our approach is to make smart stimulus spending decisions that will create jobs.

Canada's economic action plan announced funding for DFO programs over the course of the next two years that will do exactly that by helping to stimulate the economy and protect our country during the current global recession.

One example is the $175 million our government is putting into the Canadian Coast Guard. This funding will go toward small boats and conducting vessel life extensions and additional repairs on our larger vessels so that the Coast Guard can continue delivering on its important mandate.

We understand just how important the fisheries are to Canadians in many communities across the country and that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a responsibility to ensure this industry remains not only sustainable and competitive, but that it holds a place in our future.

Investments made through our government's economic action plan to initiatives, such as the small craft harbours program and the funding for our federal science labs, will help ensure this happens.

DFO is currently responsible for approximately 1,163 harbours across Canada. In fact, together, these harbours include almost 6,000 facilities.

Although I represent a Prairie riding, my riding of Selkirk—Interlake has 20 small craft harbours that are serving over 1,000 commercial fishers.

Those who work in the Canadian fishing industry, an industry whose landings are valued at approximately $2 billion, rely on access to these facilities in order to make a living. The value of the inland fishery landed from Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba in my riding is $20 million a year in freshwater sales of pickerel, whitefish and other species. This is a significant sector of the economy in Selkirk—Interlake.

That is why our Conservative government is increasing its investment in a network of safe, well-functioning fishing harbours.

As part of the economic action plan, the small craft harbours program will receive $200 million in funding over the next two years to accelerate repairs, maintenance and dredging projects at our core commercial fishing harbours across Canada, repairs that are so badly needed after 13 years of Liberal neglect in Atlantic Canada, on the Prairies and across the country. This significant investment is in addition to the approximately $93 million in regular funding already planned for this program this year.

That is almost $300 million in small craft harbour investments over the next two years. I am proud to say that this kind of investment was previously unheard of, especially from the previous Liberal government.

We are spending this type of money on small craft harbours because we recognize that commercial fish harvesters must have safe and well-functioning harbour facilities to make an honest living. We also know that in addition to addressing the safety needs of harbour users, these investments are providing stimulus to the Canadian economy, creating real jobs, often in small coastal communities and small towns like in Selkirk—Interlake, areas that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn.

Thanks to the additional funding provided in Canada's economic action plan, a considerable amount of work will be carried out in the short term at an accelerated pace across the country. A number of much needed projects will be completed sooner rather than later. DFO is working in close co-operation with harbour authorities who manage and operate the facilities to accomplish this.

We have already announced a number of new projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario, and other projects will be announced in other provinces as soon as the details are finalized.

Over the past couple of years, repairs to small craft harbours in my riding have included Berens River, Easterville, Arnes, Matheson Island, Gull Harbour, and McBeth Point, totalling over $750,000 in new investments from this government.

I would be remiss if I did not recognize the efforts of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in making small craft harbours a priority for this government. The minister recognizes the importance of these harbours to the local economy, coming from a small fishing town herself. Her leadership on this issue has been key in maintaining a safe and reliable network of harbours for the benefit of fish harvesters and small communities from coast to coast to coast.

The small craft harbours program is a highly visible program at DFO but it is not the only program in which we are seeing change and growth as a result of the economic action plan.

Canada's fishing and oceans industries rely upon the science and research that takes place in DFO laboratories, so it only makes sense that the department was one of a number of agencies chosen to receive funding to modernize our labs.

The federal government has committed to a $250 million investment over the course of the next two years to address maintenance and modernization at a number of facilities. Of this amount, $38.1 million has been allocated to DFO.

DFO operates 15 laboratories in Canada where fundamental research, testing and regulatory services are performed by the scientific community each and every day. Many DFO labs require repairs to their aging infrastructure and alterations in order to meet the changing needs. It is not an option but necessary that we tackle these issues now.

The economic action plan is designed to give Canadians some relief. This investment in DFO labs will not only contribute to the infrastructure of the facilities, but will support business and communities in every region across the country.

Among the labs chosen to receive funds, St. Andrews Biological Station in New Brunswick, Canada's number one marine biological institution, is one of them. I am pleased to say that over the course of this fiscal year and the next, $1.3 million will be put into restoration and modernization of this important facility, in addition to the current major construction of a new wet lab and science building. Contributions such as this will have far-reaching benefits for improving our research and technology capacities throughout Canada. With these investments, it is our goal to ensure that our fishers are operating at a competitive level with the rest of the world and that our ocean industries continue to grow.

The plans we have developed for these federal labs will go nowhere without a labour force to help us make them a reality. As we seek out workers to address maintenance repairs, issues and upgrades, the accelerated investment program will create job opportunities throughout the country.

Finally, the impact that funding for our labs will have on the scientists, researchers and employees who work in our facilities, cannot be ignored. The strength and productivity of our aquatic ecosystems, the environmental management of Canada's aquaculture industry and the protection of our marine resources are all backed and supported by the work that has been accomplished by our scientists in these facilities.

Part of our plan for new and existing labs include addressing emerging health and safety issues. Upgrades to these facilities will enhance the quality of scientific activities that will take place in our labs, helping to make the important work that goes on in them much easier in the future.

Speaking of undertaking scientific activities, in my riding of Selkirk—Interlake, the government has committed $18 million toward cleaning up Lake Winnipeg. I want to thank the Conservative government for standing up for the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg since it was ignored for 13 long years under the previous administration.

The Lake Winnipeg stewardship fund provides funding to retain experts and tools that are needed to physically clean up the lake and remove all the excessive nutrients which create algae blooms and dead zones in the lake. Fishers in my riding will benefit from this important initiative.

Our government is committed to supporting our fishing industry, and both our small craft harbours and our federal science labs are integral parts of that support. The investments we are making to these areas on behalf of the economic action plan are investments for Canadians and our quality of life in the future.

We will continue to act diligently and ensure that our taxpayer dollars are used prudently and effectively. By providing funding for this essential infrastructure, our government is helping to stimulate economic growth and support Canadians across the country from coast to coast to coast. It is the right thing to do.

We all agree that small craft harbours deliver important services to Canadians. In many remote coastal communities across Canada, small craft harbours are the most visible link between the communities and the federal government. For years the program has suffered from budget cuts and insufficient funding. Members of Parliament have long called on the government to invest in a small craft harbour program and I was rather disappointed to see that not all of them were able to join me in supporting this $200 million investment, as well as the $17 million for accelerated construction at Pangnirtung harbour where my mother grew up, funding that was recently outlined in our economic action plan.

As outlined in my earlier speech, our government is contributing to Canada's economic growth by investing in those areas where we can have the most direct, beneficial impact on the Canadian economy. The small craft harbour program at Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a great example.

For those who may not be as familiar with the program, could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans please explain how investment in her department's small craft harbour program is an investment in our economy?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to speak in further detail about our small craft harbours program.

As he mentioned, communities have waited a long time in vain, through several governments, to deliver funding that never came. I am pleased, however, to be a member of the government that is able to deliver this funding.

Through our economic action plan, the government is delivering direct support to fisheries, marine industries and the coastal communities that they support. I am pleased to say we are moving quickly to get shovels in the ground. In the Maritimes and gulf regions, for example, $12 million in projects are already underway and another $14 million in projects have been awarded or are being tendered.

In P.E.I., for example, we will invest $13.9 million for projects at core commercial fishing harbours over the next two years. This is in addition to our regular program funding of $3 million that will also be taking place in the province this year.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Chair, at the risk of sounding repetitious, I feel the need to, nevertheless, reiterate how essential I feel small craft harbour facilities truly are in providing an essential service to the fishing industry.

They provide access to fishing grounds. They protect millions of dollars invested in vessels and gear. They offer safe haven to mariners in distress. I fully agree that by investing in small craft harbours, our government is creating real jobs right away in places like Winnipeg Beach, where a major harbour development project will be accelerated this year, thanks to EAP funding. In Victoria Beach, other major repair and construction work will be carried out over the next two years with this new funding.

Could the minister provide other examples of communities benefiting from the program?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I would be pleased to provide examples of investments in other provinces, which we have announced over the past month.

Aside from the harbours that are in the hon. member's riding, we are spending $52.5 million for Newfoundland and Labrador over the next two years in addition to the regular program of $14.1 million for projects in the province this year. Over the next two years, $22.5 million will go to Quebec in addition to regular program funding of $6.5 million for projects in the province this year. Over the next two years $4.6 million will go to Ontario in addition to $1 million in regular program funding for projects in the province this year. We will be spending $40.2 million in Nova Scotia over the next two years in addition to the regular program funding of $7.9 million.

We are investing in these areas because we believe, like the member, that they offer the most direct benefits to the Canadian economy. As a native of Prince Edward Island, I understand the importance of small craft harbours to coastal communities and to this country's economy.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, thank you for giving me the opportunity to direct a question to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and thank you, minister, for listening to me. One issue in my riding is of particular concern to me.

On May 4, I asked you a question in this House about an ongoing situation at the wharf in Rimouski. Fishers and some users of the wharf have been faced with a serious problem for a number of years.

Is the minister aware that when storms come in from the east and northeast, crab fishers in particular are unable to dock with their cargo? They are forced to wait out the storm in open waters, so that they do not damage their boats.

Is the minister also aware that when storms come up at night and crab boats are docked, fishers have to spend the night on their boats to keep them from hitting the wharves and breaking apart?

In your answer to my question, you naturally boasted about your economic action plan, which includes an additional $200 million for improvements to small craft harbours across the country. You also said, “I am not quite sure if Rimouski is on that list, but I will only be too happy to check.”

Have you checked?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I assume the situation the hon. member is referring to is dredging. This happens in a lot of places in the spring because of the winter storms and whatnot. We try to dredge the harbours as fast as we possibly can in the spring.

I do not see the Rimouski wharf on the list for this fiscal year.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, I do not believe it is a question of dredging. As I mentioned earlier, the ongoing problem with the Rimouski Wharf is the cribbing, the rock seawall that is inadequate during northerly and easterly storms. Therefore, it is not about dredging.

I have been told that this is the first time I have spoken to the minister about this matter. That is the case because I was just elected in October 2008. However, my predecessor questioned her predecessor on May 19, 2006. In his reply, the latter confirmed that he intended to carefully examine the options.

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, the small craft harbours are all rated and safety concerns are the number one issue. I do not know the condition of the other harbours on the list ahead of Rimouski, but I do not have the list for next year's work. It is possible that Rimouski is on that.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, I thank the minister.

I would like to know what criteria would make the Rimouski wharf a priority this year or next. What criteria are used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to assess the work to be done on infrastructure?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, safety is the number one concern. Safety of the structure is what is taken into account. I know that is the number one concern when the officials look at these structures.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will repeat what I said earlier about safety. Is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans waiting for terrible accidents to happen during storms because the cribbing on Rimouski wharf is inadequate? Is she waiting for someone to be injured, or killed or simply for vessels, a large investment for fishers, to break up when they crash into the wharf?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, certainly not. Safety weighs in at 20% of our prioritization of criteria for these projects. We also look at functional need. We look at economic participation, economic benefits, the amount of harbour activity and where the harbour is located.

If it is in a remote area and there are only a few fishers in it, it is possible that it can be consolidated with another harbour before we make decisions to spend money in it. I can assure the hon. member that the safety of fishers is number one and we will ensure that someone has a look at Rimouski.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, I invite the minister to go to Rimouski with me and meet the fishers and other wharf users so she can see how critical and dangerous the situation is.

As I said, the Government of Canada has been appealed to for some years about this situation. We know now that preliminary studies have been carried out and everyone agrees on extending the breakwater. Everyone also agrees that remedying the situation will take a few million dollars.

Does the minister commit, right away tomorrow, to finding out from her departmental people what the status of these studies is? Will she commit to going to Rimouski to see the situation for herself?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, with the wonders of modern technology, I have already checked. We are doing plans and the specs on Rimouski this year.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, I thank the minister for her reply and I can assure her that a number of interested parties from the Rimouski region have been listening to her this evening. They will have taken note of what she has said and will surely be waiting for results in the coming days.

I have a few more questions for her on a different tack.

With respect to the cod fishery, we know that the minister is preparing to announce a groundfish management plan for the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, When will the minister be announcing this plan?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, we have a number of fishing plans that are still being finalized. We hope to have those out the door in the next week or so.

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister could perhaps provide us with a bit more detail. Does this plan which she will be announcing shortly call for 2,000 metric tonnes as called for by the fishers in that industry for the southern Gulf region?