Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, DFO, hosted a series of engagement sessions in Atlantic Canada and Quebec to better understand stakeholder concerns about the role its inshore vessel and related policies play in supporting owner-operator objectives. These engagements focused on how owner-operator is central to the inshore fisheries and designed to promote viable and profitable operations for the average fishing enterprise in coastal communities, by requiring those who are issued licences to personally participate in the activities authorized in those licences, so the benefits associated with a licence remain in the hands of independent owner-operators.
All participants were presented with the same background material and engagement questions. While questions were presented in a sequential order, participants were not required to answer each question in turn; rather, participants could respond in the order of their choosing. This was intended to permit harvesters to inform DFO on the issues they felt were most important.
With regard to part (i), the dates are as follows: Moncton, NB, March 7, 2023; Deer Lake, NL, March 14, 2023; Gander, NL, March 23, 2023; Gaspé, QC, March 27-28, 2023; Saint John, NB, March 28, 2023; Halifax, NS, April 4, 2023; and St. John’s, NL, May 16, 2023.
With regard to part (ii), inshore industry participants from all East Coast DFO regions, there were 366 participants in person and 1800 questionnaire submissions. The following associations were consulted: Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union; Gulf Nova Scotia Fishermen’s Coalition; Maritimes region exempted inshore fleets; Government of New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries; Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association; members of regional harbour authority advisory committees; Grand Manan Fishers Association; and Fundy North Fishers Association.
Other individuals/groups who participated in the engagements include: professional certification board members; fish processors; Dr. Dan Walker, Naval Architect, Memorial University; provincial government representatives; and the member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets
With regard to part (iii), recommendations are identified by themes. The decision to identify high-level themes reflects participant discussions during presentations, who viewed issues interrelatedly. The high-level themes allowed the department to capture the key opinions and common threads that emerged and helped to identify broader possible policy recommendations or areas for improvement that apply across the subject matters discussed. Theme recommendations include: applications of laws, regulations, and policies; administrative complexity; enterprise management; accessibility to enterprises and licences; safety, infrastructure and training.
Each consultation session was supported by four to six staff, attending in person and online from both regional and national headquarters.
Total expenses, inclusive of room rentals, audiovisual, etc. was $56,437.
All administration was done by DFO staff as part of regular duties.