Natural Resources committee  There needs to be more done, but there definitely is, within governments now, the FPT—federal, provincial, territorial—model around invasive species, around the forest pest working group. There needs to be more, and there needs to be more collaboration with outside organizations.

Natural Resources committee  The national invasive species committee is chaired by Environment and Climate Change Canada with a province. The forest pest working group is chaired by NRCan, and I think it's with a province, but I'm not positive on that. Those are two models. The forest pest working group, whi

Natural Resources committee  Absolutely, along with CFIA. However, the big player that's probably silent on that list that we just talked about is the Canada Border Services Agency. It's the one that needs to stop them at the border.

Natural Resources committee  I think a success is the Asian gypsy moth, which we've actually been able to eradicate from Canada. It's been detected in Canada. It's been detected in B.C. and Ontario. It was detected in the Toronto area. However, with federal and provincial governments working together, that's

Natural Resources committee  I didn't come prepped with those numbers. The European gypsy moth established in Ontario has caused major economic damage, which is why the B.C. government's fighting hard against it. In comparison, the European and the Asian gypsy moths—and remember on the back door is the pink

Natural Resources committee  Right. I correct myself. It's not established.

Natural Resources committee  There are two gypsy moths of particular concern. The European gypsy moth has been eradicated, led by the provincial government. That's been effective for 20 years or so. Every year they take action, and this year it involved a lot of work on Vancouver Island that was new. They le

Natural Resources committee  The European gypsy moth you have established here in the east in spades. You don't have the Asian gypsy moth yet, nor do you want it. I think it's the European one you've got in spades out here. I'm going to have to watch my wording here.

Natural Resources committee  I would have to answer that from a biodiversity side—and I have Dr. Cannings beside me, I'm sure he would speak up—all native species have a role in our natural ecosystems. Taking any of them out, mosquitoes being the obvious ones that we always complain about, they have a very f

Natural Resources committee  No. Environment Canada had triggered a national invasive species forum in Ottawa 10-plus years ago. The question then—to build on what's called a national alien invasive species strategy for Canada, which was led by Environment Canada—was, what more did Canada need? One of the

Natural Resources committee  None. We don't want authority. You have lots around this table.

Natural Resources committee  I'll use an example from British Columbia that I'm personally familiar with. There is a brand new beetle—it's an urban forest concern—called Japanese beetle. We held a workshop and brought attention to it. The call for action was to have a multi-party committee that would respond

Natural Resources committee  No, it doesn't work so well. That's where we can help out. We can engage Canadians in a different way than governments can. It's quicker for us to respond on our website. It's quicker for us to respond to people than, often, governments can. That's just life.

Natural Resources committee  There's way more that we could do. In the last five years, invasive species have become a much more high-profile issue in government and industry. I think the path forward is big, and there's still lots of work to be done.

Natural Resources committee  I don't think there has been targeted federal funding on a large scale for organizations like ours. Environment Canada provides us some money or the provincial governments do, but I think what you're driving at is where it should be funded. Is that what you're asking?