Evidence of meeting #27 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
Yes. I should point out—and I know the parliamentary secretary is listening—that it's a separate regulatory process that looks at the permit process.
4 p.m.
Conservative
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
There are a lot who don't like them there at all, other than those who are there on the veterinarian side, those protections.
But I want to point out that this is under a totally different regulatory process than those who are not licensed. We could only look at what you call the illegal protest side of it. I don't think there is anything wrong with having a discussion about that down the road. I'm sure there are people interested in it.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
I think for sure it's great to have the veterinarians out there, but I certainly believe, and I would ask you if you concur, that the rest of the people out there have not done much for our sealing industry. We have, I guess, the most humane seal hunt in the world. Do you think a lot of the recent trouble we are having with it is because of the people who are out there observing?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
Believe it or not, there is very mixed opinion on that, because some of the legal observers would like it to go wrong. In other words, they're not in favour of the seal hunt, but when they are through observing, they would agree with your very comment that it is being done correctly, that it is being done humanely. They don't use poor tactics; they don't kill seal pups anymore. In one sense, the observers actually serve a purpose because they have to confirm that whatever is being done—if they like it or not—is being done correctly.
So I think that's part of the discussion that should take place. Do they wish it would stop? Some of them certainly would like to see it stop. But I haven't seen a report—we or the department could find out, I suppose—that they have provided any evidence in recent times—
4 p.m.
Conservative
4 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
The only thing I see is that when anybody's out there, it caused great difficulty for the industry itself. There's nothing that would help out the industry, and there are other places in the world where they do have the seal hunt and they're selling the pelts and we're not, which is a bit annoying.
You also dealt with the grey seal. In your discussions—I won't use the word “cull”—do you suspect or was there any discussion on legalized hunts on the grey seal? Are you at liberty to inform the committee whether you had that discussion?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
I might be shot at midnight if I get into that topic. That’s certainly beyond, I think as—
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
It was part of a discussion on the whole seal business, but as I responded to the parliamentary secretary, if a hunt were to be legalized, then certainly the same processes should be followed.
Is there an interest in having a legalized hunt? Yes, a lot of people have expressed interest.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
When you were having your discussions on the marine mammals regulations, was there any discussion about the penalized period being extended from five years to more for people who break the law out there, because these people have caused a lot of difficulty?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
Yes, and I think we passed along a few of those comments raised about making the penalty tougher. Again, I point out, our focus was specific on the distance for this particular piece, this simple little piece of legislation.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
I have to agree; I supported it fully. Have you dealt with other countries, or used information from other countries, that had the same difficulty as we have?
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Thank you very much, Mr. MacAulay.
Mr. Kerr, I want to thank you on behalf of the committee for taking the time to come and meet with us today and answer questions about your private member's bill. We certainly appreciate it.
Mr. Chisholm, go ahead.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
What are we going to do next on this? Are we going to call witnesses?
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
On Wednesday, we have officials coming from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the same bill.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
We'll discuss that on Wednesday.
If you get some suggested witnesses, please bring them with you. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.