Evidence of meeting #5 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was boats.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Yvon Lévesque Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Chairman, I would like to tell Blaine that he did not interpret my comments correctly. I was wrongly quoted.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Yvon Lévesque Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Chairman, what I meant was that, on Prince Edward Island, we have an advantage—we have a bridge to bring in the rock. In the Magdalen Islands, they don't have one.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Bill Matthews
I agree. I think they're quite lucky to have Ms. Eastman with the information she's given the committee today. She's been quite compelling, actually.
Does the committee agree to doing a quick runaround, for just one question each? Does everybody agree with that? And we'll have a quick answer, a short answer.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Thank you very much.
Again, I want to thank you very much for coming on very short notice for a half an hour that ended up being two hours, which is wonderful; that's what happens around here.
There are things that did happen that are good, but what I'm concerned about...and of course with North Lake, you're there, and you're hard to deal with, and you need all the money, so that creates....
We have five managers, but we have a lot of wharves that do not have people like you. We have harbour authorities. What is your...?
We had the harbour authorities here before us. You viewed, before you came here, for a very limited time, what has taken place in some of those harbours. Fatigue for volunteers is a concern for this committee. I'd like you to comment on that. And what's going to happen if we don't get at least up to $130 million or $140 million on Prince Edward Island?
4:50 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
4:50 p.m.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of North Lake
Oh, he meant “for”. We're not sharing that with anybody. That's just ours.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
4:50 p.m.
Harbour Manager, Harbour Authority of North Lake
Harbour fatigue is and has been a problem for the last number of years. I don't know how these guys do it. I honestly don't. They're trying to fish. They're trying to make a living. If they have to phone an electrician, they can't phone him at 4:30 in the morning when they get up. They have to wait and phone him from their cellphone in the middle of hauling their lobster gear at half past eight.
If you're doing a job you love, that's one thing, but when you're doing a job you love, and you're doing a voluntary job on top of it for everybody's good, and you are the guy.... I know, working a paid position, the wonderful praises and glories I get some days. I can only imagine taking that as a volunteer.
The other hard part of the other harbours that don't have employed positions is that sometimes it actually can affect them on the water as well.
It really is. It's getting to the point where the harbour fatigue has grown quite a bit on P.E.I. You're seeing very good people just stop and walk away.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you.
I just wanted to say that we have seen representatives or harbour administrations. One of the things the group points out—a group that represents all harbour administrations in Canada— is that they are exhausted and frustrated by the situation. They are exhausted because of the facts you have set out, and they are frustrated because of the situation regarding funding and needs. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to bear the brunt of everything because they are on the front line. People in cabinet don't have to face immediate recriminations, but the manager of a harbour administration, or the volunteer who is there, will have to respond to those initial expressions of frustration. It's very difficult.
Lastly, I would like to ask Mario if he would like to cap things off and deliver a concluding message on the situation of small craft harbours. I know that, as a fisherman, Mario experiences the problems involved every day. He has described them very well. I would like to give him time to make a few additional comments, if he wishes.
4:55 p.m.
Director General, Association des pêcheurs propriétaires des Îles-de-la-Madeleine
I will take a few seconds, if I may.
We often make the connection between the harbour and the fishers, from what I can hear at the committee. However, there is an important connection that is a historical one, which has always existed, and which is becoming more and more important. That is the connection between the harbour and the community. In the past, the church was the heart of the community. It still is, but in many communities now, the heart, or the centre, is the harbour, because there are jobs involved. I think that you, the members, are well aware of it. This is something that you are concerned about. It goes further than the connection between the harbour and the fishers.
Thank you.
4:55 p.m.
President, Association des pêcheurs propriétaires des Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In conclusion, I would say that if I had a message for the Canadian government, it would be this: don't let us down. Mr. Poirier said it at the beginning—we are not doing that badly, even in the Magdalen Islands. We do, after all, have earnings that amount to $45 million. We are not millionaires, but we can support our families decently, even today, through the efforts we have put in. So you have to keep supporting us, as I said. The government has to maintain the infrastructure so that we can keep our livelihood. If we can't use the harbours, we will be done. We will not even be able to maintain our boats. If our boats are not sheltered, if they break, our livelihood is in jeopardy because of poorly maintained government infrastructure. But we bear the repercussions. Please don't let us down, we need investments.
Thank you.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to our witnesses for appearing. I always appreciate hearing forthright testimony.
I don't have long, and I want to clarify a bit more with Mrs. Eastman. First of all, could you tell me briefly how long you've been in your position?
