Transport committee  I think it would be useful to discuss the definition of minor works and have a good debate on that. From a DFO perspective we certainly don't classify waterways as minor works or major works. If there's fish and fish habitat, we're there. If the real concern is whether an enviro

Transport committee  The other thing is that we're looking at the same activities. When it's in and around water, Transport Canada and DFO are usually looking at those same environmental impacts when we're doing an environmental assessment. So that's also quite important.

Transport committee  Sure. As to whether or not there would be an environmental assessment, I think if anything is going to have an impact on fish and fish habitat, obviously the Fisheries Act authorization has to be applied, so we would need to do an environmental assessment. The other side is tha

Transport committee  There are very few waterways without fish.

Transport committee  There are other regulators.

Transport committee  I think that would be fair to say in that regard, and that's where I think you have some opportunities to start aligning some of the definitions we're using, even with respect to CEAA's wording. That would be a way of helping, maybe, to reduce some of the confusion.

Transport committee  Yes, Steve's right that there are components. We do not regulate an entire project. Often provincial processes under environmental assessment will regulate an entire project. We may be authorizing one piece or one component or activity related to that project. I think that is a f

Transport committee  Unfortunately, I am not completely familiar with this project, but I can enquire as to the status of our approval. I will provide the community with that information later.

Transport committee  It may not trigger a Navigable Waters Protection Act permit, but it may trigger a Fisheries Act authorization. Therefore, in that case they would actually still do an environmental assessment. But with respect to navigable waters, they possibly would not.

Transport committee  Basically what we've done at DFO is we've actually looked at the projects and determined a risk management type of framework whereby we actually start allocating our resources to where there are significant impacts. Our projects range from a cottager putting in a wharf to a major

Transport committee  In Fisheries and Oceans I can't give you a specific number because I don't have that off the top of my head, but I can certainly provide that to you. The way we're structured right now, we have a centre of expertise for environmental assessments for major projects, which are nat

Transport committee  No, I don't necessarily think so. I think we are open to whatever approach, if it's a comprehensive approach. Certainly I think we could look at some further streamlining opportunities that probably wouldn't avail themselves if we take a very narrow approach.

Transport committee  We haven't had time to review this thoroughly. Based on our preliminary analysis, we're looking at our role with respect to Transport Canada. We would be looking forward to working with them on whatever they are looking to propose. At the moment the proposal is seven amendments.

Transport committee  Fisheries and Oceans does not have opening remarks, but we would like to thank you for inviting us to participate in this panel. I'm Ginny Flood. I'm the national director for environmental assessments and major projects for DFO. I am joined by my colleague Gilles Belzile, direc