NR-HQ-00-65E

DHALIWAL ANNOUNCES $102 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING TO ADDRESS "RUST-OUT" OF DEPARTMENTAL CORE ASSETS

July 25, 2000

OTTAWA -- The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced an investment of $102 million in new funding over the next three years to address health and safety concerns related to the "rust-out" of departmental core assets, such as fleet, laboratories, small craft harbours and other facilities.

"Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is steward to a highly diverse portfolio of core assets that are essential to services provided by the Canadian Coast Guard, Small Craft Harbours, Fisheries Management, and Science Programs," the Minister said. "The new funding that I am announcing today will help ensure that DFO’s core assets meet operational and safety requirements."

This investment is part of the additional $320 million over three years that DFO received in the 2000 Federal Budget to assist the department in addressing critical pressures it faces in providing its services to Canadians. DFO has allocated $102 million of Budget 2000 funding as follows:

• $30 million to repair structural deterioration of small craft harbours and wharves, and to eliminate safety hazards to public users, departmental personnel and equipment.
• $54 million to ensure that the DFO fleet of sea vessels and aircraft can meet safety requirements while supporting a range of operational requirements for search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and scientific research.

• $18 million to improve the productivity and condition of DFO laboratories that have structural deterioration and inadequate ventilation.

DFO’s core assets make a significant contribution to the overall effectiveness of the Department, and to the viability of coastal communities and reliant ocean industries.

They support access to and from fishing grounds for the commercial fishing fleet, safe shelter and berthage for both the DFO fleet and public users, and safe vessel movement in Canada’s navigable waterways. They provide direct support for DFO program delivery and enable the protection and storage of required equipment, such as aircraft, scientific equipment and seasonal aids to navigation. And, finally, core assets provide office accommodation and special purpose working spaces, such as laboratories, hangars and workshops for employees.

"Over the past few years, the Department’s core assets have deteriorated," Minister Dhaliwal acknowledged. "Age, weather, use, and technological obsolescence, combined with funding pressures and changing and increasing program requirements, have led to barriers to effective program delivery. It is in response to this situation that my department has allocated $102 million over the next three years to rehabilitate its core assets and improve standards and conditions."

The Minister made this announcement during a visit to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where a significant investment will be made to rehabilitate laboratories, upgrade heating and ventilation systems, and repair the wharf and buildings. This investment will help ensure continued operation of this major DFO research facility in keeping with present and future requirements.

Minister Dhaliwal stressed that new money is only one part of DFO’s long-term solution for maintaining its core assets.

"We are working to improve efficiency while serving Canadians in keeping with present day realities and future needs," the Minister stated. "A key priority is to work smarter and better to ensure the long-term integrity of assets that are essential to the success of our program delivery."