Derby
Crew Member
Budget cuts could hurt public trust in Fisheries, report says
New policies may open department up to legal battles
By Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun November 7, 2013
The federal Fisheries Department risks losing the confidence of the public and its own staff because of cuts and changes in direction after the 2012 budget, according to its own performance review.
The department's current "priorities and policies" could also provoke costly legal actions, according to a report tabled in the House of Commons this week.
"As a result of the department's new policy direction ... the department may not be able to adequately maintain public trust and confidence, and subsequently its reputation," the report states.
The 2012 budget included major cuts and a reorganization that chopped the department's budget from around $2 billion in 2010-11 to $1.77 billion in 2012-13. It will drop to $1.55 billion by 2015-16.
It also included major changes to the way fish and fish habitat are protected from damage caused by activities such as mining and pipeline construction. That triggered a wave of protests, with two former senior B.C. politicians, onetime Tory fisheries ministers John Fraser and Tom Siddon, warning the government was endangering critical fisheries.
The regulations needed to implement the 2012 legislation came into force Wednesday after numerous delays.
The report warned that some opponents of the changes "may seek to use the courts to alter departmental priorities or program delivery."
A departmental legal risk management committee has established "six ad hoc working groups" to monitor and deal with various areas where Ottawa could be hit with legal actions.
Craig Orr, of the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, said he isn't aware of any lawsuits being launched. However, he said there is a possibility that either First Nations or an environmental group could legally challenge the new Fisheries Act.
The government says it is trying to reduce the risk of losing public trust by creating a
"comprehensive communications strategy" and developing "tools" such as "a departmental Twitter strategy."
The report says some of the more than 10,500 staff "may not be able to adequately maintain confidence" in the department. That concern is being addressed with an "internal communications strategy and "conflict management" workshops that have been held across the country.
A departmental spokesman said risk assessment is a Treasury Board requirement for all departments to show Canadians there is "transparent and accountable" efforts taken to deal with all negative eventualities.
Many of the risks cited in the report predate the 2012 budget, Frank Stanek said in an email. "We are confident that the measures in place are sufficient to mitigate these risks," he said.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Bu...+report+says/9136433/story.html#ixzz2jyT9mwwc
New policies may open department up to legal battles
By Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun November 7, 2013
The federal Fisheries Department risks losing the confidence of the public and its own staff because of cuts and changes in direction after the 2012 budget, according to its own performance review.
The department's current "priorities and policies" could also provoke costly legal actions, according to a report tabled in the House of Commons this week.
"As a result of the department's new policy direction ... the department may not be able to adequately maintain public trust and confidence, and subsequently its reputation," the report states.
The 2012 budget included major cuts and a reorganization that chopped the department's budget from around $2 billion in 2010-11 to $1.77 billion in 2012-13. It will drop to $1.55 billion by 2015-16.
It also included major changes to the way fish and fish habitat are protected from damage caused by activities such as mining and pipeline construction. That triggered a wave of protests, with two former senior B.C. politicians, onetime Tory fisheries ministers John Fraser and Tom Siddon, warning the government was endangering critical fisheries.
The regulations needed to implement the 2012 legislation came into force Wednesday after numerous delays.
The report warned that some opponents of the changes "may seek to use the courts to alter departmental priorities or program delivery."
A departmental legal risk management committee has established "six ad hoc working groups" to monitor and deal with various areas where Ottawa could be hit with legal actions.
Craig Orr, of the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, said he isn't aware of any lawsuits being launched. However, he said there is a possibility that either First Nations or an environmental group could legally challenge the new Fisheries Act.
The government says it is trying to reduce the risk of losing public trust by creating a
"comprehensive communications strategy" and developing "tools" such as "a departmental Twitter strategy."
The report says some of the more than 10,500 staff "may not be able to adequately maintain confidence" in the department. That concern is being addressed with an "internal communications strategy and "conflict management" workshops that have been held across the country.
A departmental spokesman said risk assessment is a Treasury Board requirement for all departments to show Canadians there is "transparent and accountable" efforts taken to deal with all negative eventualities.
Many of the risks cited in the report predate the 2012 budget, Frank Stanek said in an email. "We are confident that the measures in place are sufficient to mitigate these risks," he said.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Bu...+report+says/9136433/story.html#ixzz2jyT9mwwc
