Melissa Collier and Daniel Desbois made statements and answered questions.

At 11:58 a.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:02 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Michael Griswold, David Summers, Warren Barker and Ivan Chu made statements and answered questions.

Clifford Small gave notice of the following motion:

That,
(a) considering the concerns around the publishing of the report: Four Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Offshore of Nova Scotia: A Description of the Primary Marine Ecosystem Features, Significant and Protected Areas, At-risk and Depleted Species, Fish and Fisheries, Science Surveys, and Other Human Uses that May Occur In and Around the French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank, and Sydney Bight Areas (Report) in the Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3312;

(b) pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) be ordered to provide to the committee, within 30 days of the adoption of this motion, the following:
(i) all documents, including but not limited to memoranda, briefing notes, and internal communications, related to the decision to produce this report, including any requests for its preparation and associated allocation of resources,
(ii) all documents related to the timing of the report’s public release, including any correspondence or briefings concerning its publication in relation to announcements on offshore wind development for the Scotian Shelf,
(iii) all documents relating to internal review processes for the report, including any peer review, inter-branch consultations, or assessments conducted within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including Science and Fisheries Management,
(iv) all documents relating to consultations, or lack thereof, with the fishing industry in the preparation of the report,
(v) all documents relating to the omission of Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs), Recovery Potential Assessments (RPAs), or SARA-required recovery strategies in the report,
(vi) all internal communications, records of decision, briefing materials, analyses, and other documents relating to the use of this report in departmental decision-making; and

(c) pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertakes one 2-hour meeting with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to be held one week after all requested documentation is received by all Members of the committee, and the scope of the meeting be on the report.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.