Madam Chair, once again, I am not familiar with the specific port that the member is referring to, but I am happy to get back to her, and we can have a conversation with regards to that structure specifically.
House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2021, with 37% of the vote.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, once again, I am not familiar with the specific port that the member is referring to, but I am happy to get back to her, and we can have a conversation with regards to that structure specifically.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, with regards to small craft harbour investments, in 2019, we know that there has been ongoing work. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic did put a bit of a halt on some of the work, but we are working to catch up. We will make sure that we are addressing issues in the most—
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, I do not have that number off the top of my head, but I am happy to get it for her.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, I know how important small craft harbours are to our coastal communities. That is why our government has invested almost $486 million in new money since 2016 to make sure that we are addressing the concerns around small craft harbours. Many of them need significant work. We know there is a lot to be done with regard to making sure that the infrastructure is safe, sound and built with resiliency.
Knowing that we are seeing storm surges with climate change, the impacts on our small craft harbours have been significant. We need to make sure that when we are building infrastructure, we are building it for the future. That is why we are going to continue to invest in the small craft harbour program. I know it is extremely important, especially, as my hon. colleague said, to the communities she represents, where the only way to get to those communities is through those harbours.
We want to make sure that the infrastructure that is in place is safe and that it is resilient for years and years to come, not only because our fisheries rely on it but because our coastal communities rely on it.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, as I said in my opening remarks, one of the most important priorities for this government is restoring the health of wild salmon stocks and other important fish stocks across Canada. That is why our government announced an additional $107 million to support the implementation of stock assessments and rebuilding provisions in the renewed Fisheries Act to sustain Canada's wild fish stocks.
We are working on publishing and supporting regulations. We have launched fish funds across the country to support our regions, including the B.C. salmon restoration and innovation fund and the Quebec fisheries fund, both of which are are modelled on the very successful Atlantic fisheries fund. These are supporting projects focused on building resilience through restoration, promotion and science partnerships, innovation and the adoption of technologies.
Last month, I was happy to also receive the delivery of our third and final oceanographic—
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, in 2015, when we first formed government, less than 1% of Canada's oceans were protected.
We set an ambitious target of 10% by 2020. We exceeded that. We are almost at 14%. We know there is more work to do. We are now committed to protecting 25% of Canada's oceans by 2025, and 30% by 2030.
We know that the sustainability of our oceans is extremely important and that is why we are going to continue to make sure that we make these important conservation targets.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, this year we signed on with the Global Ocean Alliance to make sure we are committing to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. This is an international effort to make sure that we are doing everything we possibly can to make sure our oceans are sustainable for the long term.
This is a commitment that we made as a government. We will hit 25% by 2025, and 30% by 2030. At this point, we are already at 14%, and we know we have more work to do.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, more than 2,000 DFO science employees research and monitor our oceans and our aquatic ecosystems across the country. Over 90% of DFO science employees work outside Ottawa.
Under the previous Conservative government, there were significant cuts to science. We reinstated a number of those positions. It is extremely important that we base our decisions on science.
In keeping with promoting women in science, technology, engineering and math, nearly 50% of DFO science employees are women. DFO science—
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, the Coast Guard continues to make progress on fleet renewal through the national shipbuilding strategy.
In 2019, the most significant investments in Coast Guard history were announced and included the construction of up to 24 new large vessels. All three offshore fishery science vessels have now been delivered, representing the first class of large vessels delivered through the national shipbuilding program. The Coast Guard is also renewing its small vessel fleet, with eight search and rescue lifeboats and two channel survey and sounding vessels delivered in recent years.
It is extremely important that the members of the Coast Guard have the tools they need to do their important job.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Madam Chair, I have met with commercial harvesters on a regular basis throughout all of this, listening to their concerns. Making sure that we hear from them is extremely important to me, as is making sure that Mr. Surette also has the ability to talk to them, so that when he files his interim report at the end of December, we will have another voice heard.
We know how important it is to have the commercial voice at the side table. That is one of the reasons we are listening to them. We want to make sure that we address the concerns that they have.
I am committed to hearing from commercial harvesters, and that is why I continue to meet with them.