Question Period Note: 2022-23 Main Estimates

2022-23 Main Estimates

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2022-23 Main Estimates are presenting a total of $3.987 billion dollars in planned spending. This amount represents a slight change in total planned spending compared to the 2021-22 Main Estimates.

The change is attributed to a combination of factors, including the evolution of existing initiatives, such as the Indigenous Programs; the completion of others, such as the support Program for self-employed fish harvesters in Canada affected by COVID-19; and newly initiated ones, such as the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative.

Indigenous Programs

Indigenous programs cover a variety of initiatives such as advancing reconciliation, land claims and treaty agreements.

This funding will:
• enhance relationships, involvement and outcomes for Indigenous peoples to allow for self-sufficiency and autonomy, while respecting cultural rights; and,

• support the Government’s priority to renew the nation-to-nation relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.

Support self-employed fish harvesters in Canada affected by COVID-19

This funding was used to provide immediate assistance to harvesters to ensure that operations could begin, or continue, during the 2021 fishing season. The program’s aim was to help secure the sustainability of Canada's fisheries sector.

Harvesting operations required this assistance to cover a decrease in income and address increased costs due to health and safety requirements.

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

Pacific salmon are some of the most iconic fish species in Canada, with social, cultural, and economic significance for many communities in BC and Yukon.

This new funding will be used to further advance the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, which aims to provide a long-term strategy to stem declining trends in the Pacific salmon stocks.

The overall results are to: make the commercial Pacific salmon harvesting sector in Pacific Region more adaptive and resilient; enhance relationships; increase involvement and outcomes for Indigenous people; and, improve salmon conservation through effective stewardship and integrated ecosystem planning.

• The Main Estimates list the resources required by individual departments and agencies for the upcoming fiscal year in order to deliver the programs for which they are responsible. Main Estimates are used to seek Parliamentary authority for spending.
• Due to timing, it is not always possible to include items announced in the Government’s federal budget. Additional funding stemming from the upcoming Budget would therefore be sought through Supplementary Estimates later in the fiscal year.
• These Main Estimates will be tabled near the end of February, with the Interim Supply bill receiving Royal Assent prior to the start of the fiscal year. The remaining voted authorities will be received once Full Supply is granted in June.

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