Question Period Note: Great Lakes Fishery Commission

What is the Government doing to protect the Great Lakes?

• Our Government is committed to preserving our freshwater resources and protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species. They are important to the economy, health and well-being of Canada and the United States.
• In Budget 2022, we announced new funding of $44.9 million over five years, and $9 million ongoing to ensure the Commission’s continued success.
• The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is vital to controlling sea lampreys, conducting scientific research, and maintaining cooperation among Canadian and American agencies to manage and sustain Great Lakes fisheries.

• The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) was established by the 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between Canada and the United States of America, with the objective of protecting and sustaining the Great Lakes fishery.
• The 1954 Convention charges the commission with five major duties:
• develop a binational research program aimed at sustaining Great Lakes fish stocks;
• coordinate or conduct research consistent with that program;
• recommend measures to governments that protect and improve the fishery;
• formulate and implement a comprehensive sea lamprey control program; and
• publish or authorize publication of scientific and other information critical to sustaining the fishery.
• The GLFC is made up of eight Commissioners (four each from Canada and the United States [US]) and one US Alternate Commissioner. The GLFC operates under the direction of the Commissioners, and functionally operates independently from government.
• Canada and the US government support the Commission through a cost-sharing arrangement that reflects the distribution of territorial waters and the value of each nation’s fishery. Canada agreed at the inaugural meeting under the 1954 Convention to contribute 31 per cent of funding for the transboundary sea lamprey control work, and 50 per cent of other research and administrative costs (e.g. secretariat/salaries). The US provides the remaining funding.
• In recent years the US government has decided to increase its contributions to the Commission; however, Canadian contributions have remained static. Canadian contribution is presently $10.6M per year.
• As part of the Budget 2022 process, the Department successfully brought forward a proposal seeking additional incremental funding of $44.9 million over five years and $9 million ongoing for the GLFC, to ensure that Canada meets its bilateral treaty requirement with the US - bringing Canada’s contribution up to $19.44M in 2022 and moving forward. This funding will help to augment Canadian sea lamprey control activities, and support the GLFC’s scientific research and binational fisheries management coordination across the Great Lakes.
• In recent years, the GLFC has been lobbying key stakeholders in the US and Canada, including Members of Parliament (MPs), and US Senators and Representatives, with their request for a portfolio change. Subsequently in April 2021, 18 MPs wrote to Minister Garneau requesting a change in Canadian leadership for the GLFC from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
• A motion was also introduced in June 2021, requesting an immediate transfer of responsibility for the GLFC to GAC. With the dissolution of the 43rd Parliament on August 15, 2021, the motion is no longer being considered.
• In September, the GLFC followed this up with a letter from the Head of the Canadian Commissioners to the Prime Minister, Minister Garneau, and Minister Jordan, requesting that the shift in federal responsibility be reflected in the forthcoming ministerial mandate letters.

• I know that the Commission and its Secretariat staff have been advocating for a portfolio change from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to Global Affairs Canada for quite some time.
• This is a complex matter and we are assessing the implications.
• Throughout this process, we will ensure that the work of the Commission and DFO’s ongoing delivery of critical sea lamprey control measures are not adversely impacted or needlessly disrupted.