Debates of May 30th, 2022

Department of Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates 2022-23

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, during the development of DFO's budget for the current fiscal year, did the minister reduce draft estimates from one DFO branch in order to meet resource requirements from another branch of DFO?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, no.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, on March 2 of this year, I provided the minister with a letter requesting that she and her officials review an attached proposal from the Adams Lake Indian Band and connect with program representatives to identify funding opportunities for a time-critical sockeye hatchery supplementation program in North Okanagan—Shuswap.

Has the minister or her department connected with the Adams Lake Indian Band, and have resources been identified for this time-critical program?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are assessing this proposal. We are always interested in ideas that are brought forward by our indigenous nations and we take them seriously.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, to date, how much of the funding announced for the Pacific strategic salmon initiative, the PSSI, has been allocated?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I can get us the exact number, but it is approximately $165 million.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, to date, what amount of PSSI funding has been spent?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I do not have that information.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, how many full-time and part-time DFO employees are currently paid with PSSI funds?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for raising PSSI, because it is an absolutely historic initiative that reflects the importance we place on the recovery—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, when PSSI is fully established, how many DFO employees in total will be positioned and paid through PSSI?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, 300 employees will be paid for through this program.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, what habitat restoration projects will be completed with PSSI resources this fiscal year?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, we have renewed the BCSRIF program. That is an ongoing set of funding to do restoration.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, what conservation hatchery programs will be funded by PSSI resources this fiscal year?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, that is still under development, but I am pleased that the enhancements in the hatcheries and community hatcheries are a core of the pillars of the program.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, 300 people are to be employed through this program, but there are no clear answers here yet on what is going to be completed this year.

What PSSI funding is allocated to drive improved fisheries harvests?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I do want to point out that the estimates process is Parliament's ability to provide approval to the proposed budget for this year, and—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, how did the minister's department arrive at the figures of $647 million, plus $98.9 million for amortization, for the PSSI?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, the PSSI is historically funded for five years at $640 million, so that is this year's component of the total program.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, it sounds like a pile of money poured out without a plan.

What evidence does the minister have that the resources and initiatives of the PSSI will increase the recovery potential for Pacific salmon stocks?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, that is absolutely our intention, and we will be collaborating with the indigenous communities, with harvesters and with others to do just that.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, that is 300 jobs but no evidence that there is going to be any improvement for Pacific salmon stocks. If the minister is unable to provide evidence of increased potential of recovery, how did she arrive at the figure of $647 million?