Debates of May 30th, 2022

Department of Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates 2022-23

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister just opened a new door with her mention of data. What we are hearing on the ground is that there is a lot of missing data regarding certain species, in particular pelagic species, and especially in the St. Lawrence. Does the minister think that DFO has enough ships?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, it would be nice to have unlimited resources, but that is not the world we live in. We have the resources we have, and our officials and scientists work very hard to get adequate data for us to make decisions. There are gaps sometimes, and when that is clear, we find ways to help fill those gaps and make decisions based on the—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The hon. member.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, does the Coast Guard have sufficient capacity? Does it have enough vessels? Unfortunately, the answer seems to be “no”. Does DFO have a plan for rectifying this? Without measures, it is difficult to make informed decisions.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, we have a very comprehensive fleet refresh plan that has 31 votes for the large ships and dozens of smaller ships and crafts we are replacing. This was necessary because of a decade of darkness under the previous Conservative government, when nothing was done to modernize and update the Coast Guard.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, while we are on the subject of the Coast Guard, I would like to talk about the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The St. Lawrence River is magnificent. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, but it is also one of the most complex and perilous to navigate. That is precisely why there are pilots to navigate the St. Lawrence River. Most of the time, it is the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary that keeps people safe in the turbulent waters of the St. Lawrence.

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary has a very small budget. Is the minister planning to increase its funding soon, as the Senate committee proposed in its November 2018 report?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Coast Guard has been funded this year to continue refreshing its fleet, and it is a major investment in the Coast Guard. I have been very proud to see the work the Coast Guard does in icebreaking to enable fishers in constituencies such as the member's to get out early onto the water to fish.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, I really want to talk about the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, which is made up of volunteers.

Does the minister know how much the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary teams have to spend in order to be properly equipped when they respond to calls?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for her concern over the Canadian Coast Guard, which is a very effective and proud part of this department. It is the 60th anniversary of the Coast Guard, and that is something worth celebrating.

As to details about the Coast Guard funding, we are happy to provide them should the member provide us a written question.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, I know many people who work for the Coast Guard on the St. Lawrence River. I share the minister's joy.

However, my question has to do with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose members are volunteers. I will give the minister the answer: It costs them between $4,000 and $5,000 to gear up safely in order to voluntarily participate in saving lives.

Does the minister know if her department's votes include provisions to support volunteers at the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, who are so essential to the survival of a great many boaters and water sports enthusiasts on the St. Lawrence River?

Again, the responders out there are often the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. What can be done to encourage these volunteers to remain in the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary? What can be done to retain these people and keep them active? How can we ensure they do not have to spend $5,000 of their own money to do society a great service?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's enthusiasm for the volunteers of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, which I share. The work that these volunteers do with local partners is very important.

Canada's oceans protection plan includes funding that will allow us to support and strengthen this initiative.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to hear that. I hope the volunteers of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary have heard that they may get some financial support.

While we are on the subject, may I also suggest that the old Canadian Coast Guard ships be modified, refitted and offered to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, since they do not have suitable ships either?

I would also like to talk about independent harvesters and owner-operators. Do the minister and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans support independent harvesters?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the member for her question.

Yes, we support independent harvesters with fishery allocations and with data on both sea and fishing conditions. We have new regulations in place for independent harvesters.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister just said that she supports independent harvesters and coastal communities.

Does she feel that the policies and regulations that protect them are being respected?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for her question. I believe she is talking about independent inshore harvesters.

It is the independent fishers who are in the inshore fishery, as opposed to the big commercial boats.

We have regulations that protect the continuity of the independent inshore fishery.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, how many quota transfer violations are currently under review?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I am having trouble understanding the interpretation. Could the member repeat the question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The member may repeat the question.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, can Fisheries and Oceans Canada tell us how many quota transfer violations are under review at this time?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will have to answer that question a little later. My team has to find that information.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, can the minister or her team tell us if any sanctions have been put forward to prevent illegal quota transfers?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think the member is asking about a particular fishery. The regulations differ from fishery to fishery. A quota that is assigned to an inshore fisher may not be contracted out to someone else, nor can it be sold. That is a way to protect the integrity of the inshore fishery.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Chair, are there any sanctions for non-compliant transfers?

That was my question. I do not know if the minister will answer.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, compliance is required under the renewed Fisheries Act.