House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 45% of the vote.
Transport April 7th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the member well knows that there are three inquiries that have already started, one by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, one by the Coast Guard with an independent lead and we announced the name of the leader. Every avenue, every factor that resulted in the accident will be explored and then a comprehensive, thorough study will be carried out by the Department of Transport.
The Quebec government, the local area, everybody accepts that. Let the committees get on with their work.
Sealing Industry April 3rd, 2008
Mr. Speaker, Canada has a sustainable, well-managed seal hunt. We will not tolerate the reckless antics of the Sea Shepherd Society.
However, I wonder if the Leader of the Opposition feels the same way. His co-leader, Elizabeth May, is listed as a member of the advisory board of the Sea Shepherd Society. Does he think sealers are vicious killers? Has the leader called her to ask her to advise the Sea Shepherd Society to back off?
We will protect our sealers. We will pursue charges.
Seal Hunters April 1st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, again, let me inform the member that we have already sent people to the island. They are already there representing the Coast Guard and the Department of Transport. We also have other officials there, and when we get away from the hype, the sadness and the concern around this, I will be delighted myself at any time to talk to anybody who will find themselves in this situation.
Seal Hunters April 1st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, we will make sure the bodies are returned at no cost to the families.
I wish to notify him and the House that we will be doing this immediately with the help of our friends from the Department of National Defence. The bodies will be brought back by chopper as quickly as possible to the Magdalen Islands.
Seal Hunters April 1st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, all of us have heard the statements that have been made. We are going to hear many of those. There are many views that will be expressed. That is why we have put a mechanism in place to ensure that all the information is collected, and proper decisions will be made at that time.
Seal Hunters April 1st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member, as do all of us here, feels for the families and communities involved. Those of us who come from fishing communities in particular know the effect of something like this on the whole community and the whole area.
I assure the member that all the facts will come out. Three studies have been initiated, supported by the Government of Quebec and by the local area. The truth of whatever happened will come out and all the bits and pieces we hear will be put together to ensure this puzzle is completely solved for the families, as it should.
Seal Hunters March 31st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, this morning I spoke at length with the minister responsible for public security and the minister of fisheries from the Quebec government. I informed them and worked with them, actually, to make sure that three studies are already under way: one by the Transportation Safety Board, one by the RCMP, and one by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard study, by the way, will be led by an independent individual.
We will make sure that we get to the bottom of whatever happened. All of it will be made public and we will learn from it if any mistakes were made.
Seal Hunters March 31st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, let me assure the member and the families involved that they will not need to pay the costs of having the bodies returned.
Seal Hunters March 31st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, let me also add my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people of the Magdalen Islands generally.
Let me say to the hon. member that when a decision is made by the central coordinating agency to end a search, it is probably the most difficult decision anyone could make, but there comes a point in time, especially when we look at the conditions involved, when decisions must be made.
As the member knows, searches will continue, but the thing is, it is not an easy decision for anybody to make.
Fisheries March 13th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the member that we have already addressed the issue.
She is right. The amount of bycatch, 130,000 chinook, is unacceptable. We have made that quite clear to the Americans. There is a limit that we think is possible and practical to maintain. That is exactly what we have told them we expect them to adhere to.