Fisheries committee  Under the terms of the new provisions of the Fisheries Act, it will be able to do that, yes.

Fisheries committee  The key will be that the prohibition remains in place holus-bolus across the country, in section 35. The guidelines you're talking about will say, “Buddy, if you're planning to build a stream crossing in this case, and you follow these standards, it's extremely likely that you will not violate the prohibition, because you will not cause serious harm, and so on.”

Fisheries committee  I'll talk about the first part of your question, and with respect to lobster, I may call on my colleagues. To the question whether we promote and market farm salmon, the answer is no. The market access program component under the sustainable aquaculture initiative is used to explore third party certification and contribute to the discussion around third party certification standards.

Fisheries committee  I'll give you a short answer so I don't get beeped again, because it's actually a very large topic. Specifically with respect to the species at risk program, the hub of your question, essentially we work very closely with Environment Canada in its role both as Environment Canada, so to speak, and the ministry responsible for parks.

Fisheries committee  I guess there are a couple of things to point out. First, the regulatory regime that's in place for aquaculture today will continue into the future. Environmental assessments of aquaculture sites will be conducted in two different ways. Again, we always have to distinguish British Columbia versus—I don't want to be pejorative—the rest of the country.

Fisheries committee  I'll answer that in two parts. First, on the resources question, which we got into a little bit, the program for aquaculture in British Columbia is funded through A-base resources. The implementation of the Pacific aquaculture regulation will continue regardless of any changes made with respect to the sustainable aquaculture program.

Fisheries committee  Again, I would emphasize that the government hasn't reached its conclusions with respect to the Cohen commission recommendations, including those related to aquaculture. So I want to make clear, when you indicate what I'm telling you, what I'm trying to make sure I tell you is that the government still hasn't reached its conclusions with respect to Cohen, so I wouldn't want to convey any suggestion the government will accept, reject, or endorse those recommendations.

Fisheries committee  With respect to the program, as I mentioned, the budget allocation was provided to the department in a five-year timeframe. The five-year timeframe comes to an end at the end of this fiscal year; it sunsets. If the government chooses to not renew the program or extend it as part of its budgetary process, there are four program areas that would be affected.

Fisheries committee  On the third part of the question, in terms of across the country, as you may know, our regulatory role in British Columbia is rather different from in other parts of the country as a result of some jurisprudence in B.C. The federal government has a substantially different role in British Columbia.

Fisheries committee  Before I respond, may I just make sure I understood the first part of your question? I had a little problem hearing you. You asked a question about the sustainable aquaculture program and the $17 million, and then I didn't catch the specific question on that.

Fisheries committee  Okay. With respect to the question specifically on that component of it, as my colleague, our chief financial officer, explained here on Tuesday, we have a number of sunsetting programs. The sustainable aquaculture program is one of them. If the government chooses not to renew it, it will drop by the amount that you've suggested, and that will have an impact on our programs.

Fisheries committee  There are a couple of things, I guess. Regarding the specific reference you made to HADDs, I would emphasize that the act will still require authorizations. Authorizations is another way to put it. They will no longer be called HADDs. We will for sure come up with another acronym, because we're very good at that.

Fisheries committee  With respect to the other two questions, one on fish habitat and the other regarding our DFO offices, there's an awful lot of information to convey there and I won't speak until 11:19 in responding.

Fisheries committee  In response to the question with respect to fish habitat, in terms of how consultations, both the ones that you referred to and others, are finding their way into the process, I would describe it as a somewhat organic process. It's very difficult to say that we heard this, this and this in meetings X, Y, and Z and you can directly translate that into legislative text or a policy outcome, and so on.

Fisheries committee  There's no policy coming out in April, as the minister has just said. As we engage with Canadians across the country over the next six or eight months and regulations come forward, one of the things the department will be doing is considering what changes to the existing policy base are required.