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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 77

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 30, 2022 11:00AM
  • May/30/22 9:24:27 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Pacific salmon have social and cultural significance for many Canadians, and they are economically vital to many local communities. This iconic species is experiencing drastic population declines due to a combination of climate, habitat and harvesting pressures. Bold, transformative action is needed now to stabilize, protect and rebuild west coast salmon stocks for the ecosystems and communities that depend on them before it is too late. Many Pacific wild salmon are on the verge of collapse, and we need to take bold and ambitious action now if we are to reverse the trends and give them a fighting chance at survival. The PSSI is a comprehensive initiative that will build on and support the years of work and wisdom that grassroots organizations, indigenous communities, scientists and others have already put into effect to protect and recover Pacific salmon. Can the hon. minister please explain the funding strategy of the PSSI?
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  • May/30/22 9:25:17 p.m.
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Madam Chair, with this total five-year funding envelope, $346.4 million is vote 1 funding, which means it is dedicated to program operations across all four pillars, including climate change science, stock assessments, fisheries monitoring, a new habitat restoration centre of expertise and enhanced collaborative processes with first nations, the B.C. government, Yukon and key partners. Second, $274.5 million is vote 10 funding, which includes grants and contribution investments in the B.C. salmon restoration and innovation fund, the new Pacific salmon commercial licence retirement program and other activities. Lastly, $125.1 million is vote 5 capital funding to build new conservation-based hatchery facilities in the upper Fraser watershed, retrofit DFO and community hatcheries in key geographic areas and acquire key scientific equipment such as mass-marking trailers.
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  • May/30/22 9:26:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, icebreaker and offshore patrol ship delays are causing massive increases in costs and threaten our Arctic sovereignty and security, putting all Canadians at risk. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that the polar icebreakers announced by the government would cost $7.25 billion, or over $3.6 billion each. In 2013, the estimated cost for one heavy icebreaker was only $1.3 billion. Continued delays by your government are costing taxpayers billions. What date have you been given for when these heavy icebreakers will be added to our Coast Guard fleet?
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  • May/30/22 9:27:18 p.m.
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I will remind members that they are to address questions and comments through the Chair and not directly to the minister. The hon. minister.
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  • May/30/22 9:27:27 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am proud of our Coast Guard fleet renewal program. The member's government, a previous government, did nothing to renew the fleet, and many of these ships are well past their shelf life. I am proud that three major fishery science vessels have already been produced and that many more are under way.
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  • May/30/22 9:27:54 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister is actually announcing the previous Conservative strategy around shipbuilding, so I thank her for that plug. An Order Paper answer delivered by the government stated that the cost of the Coast Guard Arctic and offshore patrol ships would be $750 million per ship. Your colleague, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement said—
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  • May/30/22 9:28:15 p.m.
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I want to remind the member that he is to address all questions and comments to the Chair. He may want to refrain from using the words “you” or “your”. The hon. member.
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  • May/30/22 9:28:30 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister's colleague, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said that $750 million would be an estimate. Who is telling the truth?
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  • May/30/22 9:28:39 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I think the key question here is, are we delivering on our promise to renew the fleet? Yes, we are.
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  • May/30/22 9:28:51 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the question for the minister was specific. Irving just testified that the amount would be considerably less than the $750 million, so again, who is telling the truth?
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  • May/30/22 9:29:04 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the truth of the matter is that there was no renewal of the Coast Guard fleet nor the defence fleet for 10 years under the previous government.
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  • May/30/22 9:29:31 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I rise on a point of order. The member just said, “Why did it take you so long?”
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  • May/30/22 9:29:47 p.m.
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Madam Chair, there have been delays that tie into COVID, as well as supply chain issues.
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  • May/30/22 9:29:51 p.m.
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Madam Chair, when will the contracts for the two Arctic and offshore patrol ships for the Coast Guard be signed?
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  • May/30/22 9:29:59 p.m.
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Madam Chair, they will be signed when those negotiations are complete.
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  • May/30/22 9:30:03 p.m.
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Madam Chair, B.C.'s public fishery represents $1.1 billion in revenue and supports 9,000 direct jobs. When I asked the minister in committee if the minister would work with our angling community, she said that she would. She has since broken her promise. Why is she determined to shut our province's fishing communities down with continued unnecessary closures?
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  • May/30/22 9:30:28 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I will say I did meet with the angling representatives. I have a lot of respect for their position. I cannot open an integrated fishery management plan in—
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  • May/30/22 9:30:49 p.m.
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Madam Chair, who specifically in the fishing community did the minister meet with?
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