Fisheries committee  We had a request in to DFO for $300,000 per year for the next five years. We have no commitment in place. What I will say is we have had very productive discussions with Minister Shea. My position, based on my discussions, is that DFO is supportive of the centre. Her position in my most recent meeting with her was that the total $1.3 million federal request would be best served coming as part of the federal stimulus package.

Fisheries committee  Occasionally, we get funding on projects, but nothing towards the renewal of the centre. We have no commitment at this point.

Fisheries committee  There are two key points on that. Overall, this “he said, she said” is not what this is all about. This is about the loss of a highly valued fisheries, research, and development organization--or the potential loss. We shouldn't be debating who said this sort of stuff. There are two key points.

Fisheries committee  The quick answer is no. Yes, the industry has evolved and changed over the last 20 years, but it's changed and focused on different areas that still require the support of the centre. Again, ACOA has made the point that there has been $60 million through the Atlantic innovation fund over the last seven years.

Fisheries committee  I can respond to that fairly clearly. I actually read Treasury Board guidelines because of the issues that have been raised. I went through them cover to cover. The key issue with respect to Treasury Board is accountability. There are many examples today--and I can cite dozens--of the federal government providing funding to organizations like CCFI on a third-party-delivery basis.

Fisheries committee  In our St. John's office, under normal circumstances, we would have two officers. We've been down to one for much of the last year or two. We've had funding challenges for the last couple of years, and we've been operating on a very lean budget. Under normal circumstances, though, the centre would have two industrial liaison officers.

Fisheries committee  Our ILOs might sometimes be biologists. We've had industrial liaison officers with biology backgrounds. It's not uncommon. They could be academics, in some cases. But they have to have good expertise in terms of their knowledge of the industry and working with industry. Generally, it would work like this.

Fisheries committee  As of this month I have been with the centre for four years. My first two years were spent as industrial liaison officer, and the last two years I have been managing director.

Fisheries committee  I've made it one of my purposes as managing director—even prior to that—to build relationships in the Maritimes, because we wanted to move on that and establish.... Our industrial liaison officer, Andy Chapman, and I have spent a tremendous amount of time throughout the region.

Fisheries committee  I presented to both Minister Ashfield and Minister Shea, I believe it was in February. I had what I would call good discussions. I took them through the centre, explained who we are, what we do, the importance of it, and stressed the point that without federal support, the centre does not continue.

Fisheries committee  I guess its mandate is largely advisory. It doesn't conduct research and fund research. The argument has been made by Minister Ashfield as recently as last night in the House of Commons that the CCFI does not do research. That's true, but we're a catalyst for research. Without that catalyst this research doesn't get done.

Fisheries committee  Can I plead the fifth on that one?

Fisheries committee  I have had great relationships with Nellie and Norma through the lobster round table. I always hype the round table because it's one of the few experiences I've had where you get such a broad and diverse group in the room. I made the point at the last meeting that there's been no major acrimony whatsoever.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. There are a couple of points on that. First, we have two offices. We have an office in St. John's, Newfoundland, where under normal circumstances we have two industrial liaison officers, me, and an executive assistant and secretary. So there are five people in that office.

Fisheries committee  In our current proposal to ACOA and the other agencies, we have proposed a total of approximately $1.9 million a year. We've secured funding of over $400,000 from the Atlantic provinces. We also have institutional support through some overhead reductions through the academic community; we project about $171,000.