Gail Shea

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 14th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 2009 the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced $65 million in new funding to help the Atlantic lobster fishery. These measures will help harvesters adapt to the extraordinary market conditions created by the global recession. This funding includes $15 million in immediate, short term support to assist qualified low-income harvesters severely harmed by the collapse in market demand for their products. This funding also includes $50 million in longer-term financial assistance to support industry to develop and implement sustainability plans.

With regard to (a), the availability of this funding will be based on eligibility criteria, which is currently being developed. While the programs are available to eligible lobster harvesters in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, the funding will not be allocated by province.

With regard to (b), these programs, the short term transitional measures and the Atlantic lobster sustainability measures will be made available to licenced lobster harvesters in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

With regard to (c), the short term transitional measures comprise $15 million of the announced funding and are for licenced lobster harvesters who have experienced a significant drop in income from lobster harvesting in 2009. This program would only be available for the 2009 fishing season.

With regard to (d), the details of the program are currently being developed.

With regard to (e), changes to the employment insurance program are not part of this initiative.

With regard to (f) and (g), the government has also made other efforts to support the lobster industry. On May 22, 2009, thegovernment announced that it is directing $10 million from the Community Adjustment Fund, CAF, to the Atlantic provinces and Quebec for activities to improve marketing, assist in innovation and develop products and technologies in the lobster industry. This CAF funding may also be used by fleets to organize and develop sustainability plans for consideration for funding under the Atlantic lobster sustainability measures. CAF will be implemented by through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

With regard to (h), the current economic situation is also creating difficulties for the industry to access capital. To help alleviate this challenge, Budget 2009: Canada’s Economic Action Plan provided many measures which improve access to credit, including new funding to the Business Development Bank of Canada, the creation of a Business Credit Availability Program and a new Canadian Secured Credit Facility.

With regard to (i), the program details for the short term transitional measures and the Atlantic lobster sustainability measures are currently under development.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 14th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2008 providing funding of $720M to procure a Polar Icebreaker to replace Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Louis S. St. Laurent, currently Canada’s most capable Heavy Icebreaker, at the end of her planned operational life in 2017. The Polar Icebreaker will provide Canada with an enhanced Arctic capability to operate farther North and over a longer period each year than is currently the case.

In response to (a), to date the following progress has been achieved:

(1) Establishment of positions and hiring of key project personnel;

(2) Broad consultation with internal and external project stakeholders to develop a preliminary mission profile for this new class of vessel; and with project definition phase of the project.

In response to (b), design contracts have not yet been awarded.

In response to (c), the procurement process for the acquisition of the Polar Icebreaker, to be named CCGS John G. Diefenbaker, is unfolding on schedule. The government has not altered any plans in this regard and remains fully committed to this project as a key component of Canada’s Northern Strategy initiative.

In response to (d), the total estimated cost for the project is $720 million.

In response to (e), the government has not reassessed its plans regarding the Diefenbaker. The project remains on schedule and delivery is planned for 2017. The Canadian Coast Guard’s current approach to fleet operations is that all vessels are multi-tasked as the most efficient and effective means of maintaining its assets and delivering on its mandated programs and providing support to and working closely with other government departments and agencies.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 14th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the low return of sockeye salmon in British Columbia. Conservation, I can tell the member, is our number one priority.

I want to inform the hon. member that I was in British Columbia just last weekend and had a meeting with a number of industry stakeholders and we will plan the best way forward from there. I had a round table with them and they presented plenty of ideas for discussion. We will be planning a way forward from discussions with the industry.

[Fisheries and Oceans, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that the member over there is talking as he is, that we should not pay any attention to science, when I know he attended Oceans Day where we talked about sustainability of our seafood products.

Science is very important, and because science tells us that seals are also a contributing factor in the low stocks of the cod industry and are preventing it from rebuilding, I have directed my department to implement a plan to reduce the number of seals in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence as soon as possible.

[Fisheries and Oceans, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a difficult decision to close down a fishery, because it does impact the livelihoods of people. We all know that the cod industry has had its challenges over the years. This is the third closure in less than 20 years, but we cannot compromise the stock or it will have absolutely no future.

This was the right decision. We have the community adjustment fund in place to respond to issues such as these.

[Lobster Fishery, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to clarify something. I did commit to working with the fishermen on a rationalization program. I never once said “a government funded rationalization program”.

What we do have here is a contribution agreement to help the fishers carry out their plans, which I must point out is $75 million more than the Liberals ever put on the table for the lobster industry.

[Lobster Fishery, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, I committed to helping the people in my riding. One of the issues they identified was the need for rationalization. That is why last week we announced $65 million to support the lobster industry, some of which will go to rationalization.

We are working on plans with the different fisheries organizations right now all across Atlantic Canada to assist them and to address their issues.

[Lobster Industry, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I will point out to the hon. member that $75 million is $75 million more than the Liberal government gave to the lobster industry. When the fishers asked for capital gains exemptions, they were ignored. When they requested more harbour funding, they were ignored. For the Liberals' record on the fisheries, their ship did not come in.

[Lobster Industry, June 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday it was a pleasure to announce $65 million in support for the lobster industry. That $65 million includes Quebec.

[Business of Supply, May 28th, 2009]

Madam Chair, as Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, it certainly has been a pleasure for me to be here tonight to tell my hon. colleagues about the work being done in our department and on behalf of all Canadians.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our stakeholders, the team that helped prepare for the debate tonight, as well as all the dedicated public servants who are committed to delivering excellence to Canadians through their work and support of our mandate at DFO.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the government members who have participated, the opposition members who have participated, and you, Madam Chair, for putting in a late evening.

I also want to say many thanks to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. These committees deserve great praise for their hard work, their dedication and their significant contributions to our department.

It is our government's goal to maintain long-term sustainability of our fisheries and oceans, and to get the job done, we will place policy grounded firmly in science over politics.

Through our past investments and our economic action plan, we will ensure that our fisheries and oceans will continue to provide for our country and Canadians from coast to coast. Our investment of $200 million in small craft harbours over the next two years will allow fishing ports to operate with updated facilities for years to come.

Likewise, our science and our collaboration with international partners will ensure that the world's fish stocks and ocean resources will be maintained and sustainable for future generations.

With our commitment to the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Hydrographic Service, we will provide improved safety, security and sovereignty to our country's oceans and waterways.

We know this is a very difficult time for the fishery, but as we move forward we will continue to work with our partners, as well as industry. Together we will ensure our waters are vibrant and healthy so that future generations continue to reap the benefits of our aquatic resources.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and goodnight.