Book 2, Tab A4 - First Three Months
On this page
- Purpose
- Cabinet Business
- Budget 2023
- Fisheries Decisions
- Key Events and Outreach
- Committee Appearances
Purpose
To provide an overview of decisions and activities that will require your attention over the coming three months, including:
- Cabinet Business
- Budget 2023
- Fisheries Decisions
- Key Events and Outreach
- Committee Appearances
Cabinet Business
Context
- The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Cabinet is a member of the following cabinet committees:
- Full Cabinet
- Safety, Security and Emergencies
- Reconciliation; and
- Economy, Inclusion and Climate “B”
- The Department provides briefing material to support the Minister’s participation at these committees.
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Snapshot
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Next steps
- A dedicated briefing on priority departmental Cabinet business will be arranged with your office.
- Updates on key Cabinet Business items, including those being tracked for departmental interest are provided to the Minister’s office on a weekly basis via the Planning Binder.
Budget 2023
Context
- Federal budgets have typically been tabled in Parliament in late February or March (timing varies) following a “call letter” to Ministers from the Minister of Finance occurring several months before.
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Snapshot
- Acknowledging the current fiscal context, a targeted set of key priorities will consider new spending, program renewal needs, and operational pressures.
Next steps
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- Focused budget briefings will be arranged with your office, and the Minister, to discuss the overall approach and ensure sufficient time to refine the list of priorities and specific funding asks.
Fisheries Decisions
Context
- The Minister will be required to make a number of key fisheries management decisions in the early months of your tenure (e.g. total allowable catch limits).
- Given the high volume of fisheries management decisions, many uncontroversial decisions are typically sub-delegated to regional authorities (i.e., Regional Directors General).
- However, at times, you will be required to support the Minister's consideration of requests for licence transfers between parties, including high profile authorizations.
- Departmental legislation also requires consideration of Aboriginal treaty rights and land claims obligations as a legal requirement for decision-making concerning marine resources and habitats.
Snapshot
Examples of these types of decisions include:
- Authorizing fishing for commercial, recreational, and Indigenous rights-based purposes (e.g. moderate livelihood, food, social, and ceremonial)
- Total allowable catch limits, access / allocation, and openings and closures for various stocks; Unit 1 Redfish, Maritimes Elver, Pacific Herring, Lobster.
- Rebuilding Plans for several stocks currently in the critical zone. Two rebuilding plans may require approval within the next three months (Atlantic herring – 4T spring spawner, Atlantic cod – 3Ps).
Next steps
- You will receive information on key and upcoming decisions on a weekly basis.
- You can expect to receive focused briefings and decision memos for more substantive issues requiring your attention.
Key Events and Outreach
Context
- The Department has regular interaction with a wide spectrum of stakeholders and partners, indigenous groups and provincial and territorial governments through many tables and fora, including international events and meetings.
- While Deputy-level engagement will be important in some key areas/organizations, the department maintains senior-level interface and dialogue with many groups, particularly with regional fisheries organizations (industry representation).
- Generally, deputy-level engagement occurs with national organizations of interest and priority international events, with provincial and territorial counterparts, and Indigenous partners and leaders.
Snapshot
- Seal Summit in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador November 8-9, 2022
- Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM), Winnipeg,(late November-TBC)
- Departmental Policy Committee face-to-face meeting (Ottawa, November 22, 23, 2022)
- Bait Summit, Moncton (late December, 2022 –TBC)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15), Montreal, December 7 to 19, 2022.
Next steps
- The Department will work with you and your office to ensure opportunities of strategic interest and priority are considered in your first 90 days.
Committee Appearances
Context
- You are regularly invited to appear before House of Commons and Senate Standing committees to discuss topics related to DFO/CCG activities.
- The House Fisheries Committee (FOPO) and the Senate Fisheries Committee (POFO) are the primary focus of the department.
- Other committees such as those touching on the Arctic, the environment, and those studying departmental science, operations; and transport issues are regularly monitored and may require appearances by either the Minister, and/or senior departmental officials.
- When the Minister and/or departmental officials are requested to appear before any committee, the department develops briefing materials and opening remarks to support the appearance.
Snapshot
Upcoming committee appearances may include:
- FOPO: In November, we anticipate a study on Atlantic Mackerel and a study on the impacts of climate change. A possible ministerial appearance on Supplementary Estimates B is also anticipated.
- In late Fall/early Winter, we anticipate appearances in support of studies on: Pinnipeds & Illegal; unregulated and unreported fishing.
- POFO: Officials appeared in late September for a study on seal populations and may be invited to appear again. (Study slated to end in late 2023.)
Next steps
- The Department will provide weekly updates on committee business and potential appearances through the weekly planning binder.
Next steps
- The Department will work with your office to develop a briefing plan in line with the key issues and decisions that require your attention.
- You will also receive a weekly planning binder that will provide important details on a range of issues, including:
- Cabinet committees, Parliamentary, and regulatory agenda
- Treasury Board agenda
- Communications look-ahead (provides list of upcoming events and announcements)
- Key fisheries management decisions (ministerial and delegated departmental decisions)
- Upcoming science publications
- Litigation horizon
- Ministerial correspondence
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