Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, Fisheries and Oceans Canada does not centrally track the execution of public-facing contests across the department, and the time allocated to answer this question does not allow for the preparation of a comprehensive response.

National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act  Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in the House today to support my colleague, the hon. member for Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, and her Bill C-224, an act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting. I am equally proud tonight of all members in the House for their speeches and for sharing their personal experiences.

William Davis Miners' Memorial Day  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to commemorate William Davis Miners' Memorial Day, which is observed every year on June 11 in mining communities across Nova Scotia. In the spring of 1925, coal miners in Cape Breton went on strike to protest poor working conditions and wages.

Fisheries and Oceans  Madam Speaker, the government is committed to preserving our freshwater resources and protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species. The Great Lakes are important to the environment, the economy and the health and well-being of both Canada and the United States. It is for this reason that for 60 over years, Canada, in close partnership with the United States, has directly supported the work of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to combat the invasive sea lamprey, which are so damaging to the fishery, to invest in science and to facilitate efforts for sound fishery management to maintain an abundant fishery for generations to come.

Fisheries and Oceans  Madam Speaker, I wish the member a happy 60th, and I am glad to celebrate it with him at this time. Speaking of 60 years, as I said earlier, for over 60 years Canada has had an amazing and close partnership with the United States, and we have shown a commitment to the preservation of the Great Lakes through the work of this commission.

Conservation of Fish Stocks and Management of Pinnipeds Act  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to debate private member's Bill C-251, an act respecting the development of a federal framework on the conservation of fish stocks and management of pinnipeds. Let me start by saying that I appreciate the passion of the member for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame on the issue of seal predation.

Constitution Act, 2022 (representation of Quebec)  Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak today to Bill C-246. I would like to draw attention to the introduction of Bill C-14 and note my support of the government's proposal to update the grandfather clause in the seat allocation formula. This will ensure that no province will ever have fewer seats in the House of Commons than it did in 2021.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. Small craft harbours is a key Fisheries and Oceans Canada program and one that is important for Canada's economy because it provides critical support to the commercial fishing industry, which has annual landings valued at more than $3.5 billion.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, it is great to be here in the committee of the whole. Fishing is the lifeblood of our rural coastal communities from coast to coast to coast. It is the main driver of local economies. Whether it is bait, gear or simply grabbing a coffee on the way to wharf, it drives jobs directly and indirectly.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I spoke of the Atlantic coast and I spoke, in the last question, of coast to coast to coast, but I would like to speak a little bit about, and the question will be on, the Great Lakes. Among my colleagues in the House and at committee, I've been reminded and actually learned a lot about the importance of the Great Lakes and, more specifically, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission.

Graduating Class of 2022  Madam Speaker, yesterday and today, Cape Breton University hosted their spring convocation ceremonies, celebrating the class of 2022. As a CBU graduate myself, I welcome the new class to the Cape Breton University alumni family. I have no doubt that this is just the beginning of a long road of success, happiness and well-being for each of them.

Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame  Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate both the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative and the Nova Scotia Community College for launching the first annual Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame induction gala, which will occur in the spring of 2023. I would like to take this moment to congratulate the 2023 inductees, who, as a point of pride, all hail from my riding of Cape Breton—Canso: two individuals, Rita MacNeil and Matt Minglewood; The Men of the Deeps, my dad's favourite; and a song induction, Getting Dark Again by Buddy MacDonald.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, Canada is a proud supporter of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, or the Ocean Decade. The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard is a member of the Ocean Decade Alliance, a global network of leaders to inspire and stimulate action.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, in 2021, as part of immediate conservation measures under the Pacific salmon strategy initiative, the minister announced commercial fishery closures to protect stocks of conservation concern. For 59 fisheries, the pre-season forecast or outlook indicated that salmon returns were not likely to be strong enough to provide a commercial fishery opportunity in 2021, based on decision rules set out in the integrated fisheries management plans, or IFMPs.

Kraft Hockeyville 2022  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I congratulate both the Blizzard Female Hockey Association and the Capers women’s hockey team on being named Kraft Hockeyville champions for 2022. It is great to see that women’s hockey will now be front and centre in our community. Now, $250,000 is being invested in a building and a home dedicated to women’s hockey in Cape Breton, the first of its kind in all of Canada.