Bill C-68 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Dominic LeBlanc  Liberal

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Fisheries Act to, among other things,
(a) require that, when making a decision under that Act, the Minister shall consider any adverse effects that the decision may have on the rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, include provisions respecting the consideration and protection of Indigenous knowledge of the Indigenous peoples of Canada, and authorize the making of agreements with Indigenous governing bodies to further the purpose of the Fisheries Act;
(b) add a purpose clause and considerations for decision-making under that Act;
(c) empower the Minister to establish advisory panels and to set fees, including for the provision of regulatory processes;
(d) provide measures for the protection of fish and fish habitat with respect to works, undertakings or activities that may result in the death of fish or the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, including in ecologically significant areas, as well as measures relating to the modernization of the regulatory framework such as authorization of projects, establishment of standards and codes of practice, creation of fish habitat banks by a proponent of a project and establishment of a public registry;
(e) empower the Governor in Council to make new regulations, including regulations respecting the rebuilding of fish stocks and importation of fish;
(f) empower the Minister to make regulations for the purposes of the conservation and protection of marine biodiversity;
(g) empower the Minister to make fisheries management orders prohibiting or limiting fishing for a period of 45 days to address a threat to the proper management and control of fisheries and the conservation and protection of fish;
(h) prohibit the fishing of a cetacean with the intent to take it into captivity, unless authorized by the Minister, including when the cetacean is injured, in distress or in need of care; and
(i) update and strengthen enforcement powers, as well as establish an alternative measures agreements regime; and
(j) provide for the implementation of various measures relating to the maintenance or rebuilding of fish stocks.
The enactment also makes consequential amendments to other Acts.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Votes

June 17, 2019 Passed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence
June 17, 2019 Failed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence (amendment)
June 13, 2018 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence
June 13, 2018 Failed Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence (report stage amendment)
June 11, 2018 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence
April 16, 2018 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence
March 26, 2018 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on April 24, 2018

  • Chair, Mrs. Bernadette Jordan (South Shore—St. Margarets, Lib.)
  • Churence Rogers, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, Lib.
  • Philippe Morel, Assistant Deputy Minister, Aquatic Ecosystems Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Darren Goetze, Director General, Conservation and Protection, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Adam Burns, Director General, Fisheries Resource Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Nicholas Winfield, Director General, Ecosystems Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Mark Waddell, Acting Director General, Fisheries and Licence Policy, Fisheries and Harbour Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on April 24, 2018

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on April 26, 2018

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on May 1, 2018

  • Keith Sullivan, President, Fish, Food and Allied Workers
  • Pierre Gratton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada
  • Joshua Laughren, Executive Director, Oceana Canada
  • Justyna Laurie-Lean, Vice-President, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, Mining Association of Canada
  • Sergio Marchi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Electricity Association
  • Terry Toner, Director, Environmental Services, Nova Scotia Power, Canadian Electricity Association
  • Susanna Fuller, Oceans North Canada
  • Ian MacPherson, Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on May 2, 2018

  • Matt Thomas, Acting Director, Economic Development, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
  • Ray Orb, President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
  • Ron Bonnett, President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Bridget Doyle, Natural Resources Planner, Treaty, Lands and Resources Department, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
  • Martin Olszynski, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, As an Individual
  • Jean Lanteigne, Director General, Fédération régionale acadienne des pêcheurs professionnels
  • Daniel Rubinstein, Director, Policy and Research, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on May 3, 2018

  • Paul Lansbergen, President, Fisheries Council of Canada
  • Kate Lindsay, Vice-President, Sustainability and Environmental Partnerships, Forest Products Association of Canada
  • Bernie Berry, President, Coldwater Lobster Association
  • David Browne, Director of Conservation, Canadian Wildlife Federation
  • Nick Lapointe, Senior Conservation Biologist, Freshwater Ecology, Canadian Wildlife Federation
  • Chris Bloomer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association
  • Christina Burridge, Executive Director, BC Seafood Alliance, Seafood Producers Association of British Columbia
  • Chris Sporer, Executive Director, Seafood Producers Association of British Columbia

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on May 22, 2018

  • Philippe Méla, Legislative Clerk
  • Nicholas Winfield, Director General, Ecosystems Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Mark Waddell, Director General, Fisheries and Licence Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Gorazd Ruseski, Senior Director, Aboriginal Program, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Adam Burns, Director General, Fisheries Resource Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Fisheries and Oceans Committee, on May 24, 2018

  • Mark Waddell, Director General, Fisheries and Licence Policy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Nicholas Winfield, Director General, Ecosystems Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans