Okay.
Evidence of meeting #16 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lobster.
Evidence of meeting #16 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lobster.
2:50 p.m.
Secretary-Treasurer, Maritime Fishermen's Union, Local 9
So really we would mostly go out of the fishery for help, or being in this organization, like store owners or people who are in the forest, to see where we're standing. It's not to run the whole thing; we want the outsiders to see where we're coming from and get some good people. I think we could be represented very well.
It would be a step forward for us, because in the old days we'd say we'll just go fishing. If I'd told my grandfather that I had to use a suitcase to go fishing, he would have said I'm nuts. But we need some people who are really educated at the front for us, to represent us. There are a lot of meetings we can't go to where we would be represented, very important meetings that we can't go to. I don't think it's done on purpose, but there are a lot in December, and it's our livelihood in December, so we can't go to those meetings. So we would be really represented there. It's a step forward for us.
2:55 p.m.
President, Maritime Fishermen's Union, Local 9
Could I put in another point?
2:55 p.m.
President, Maritime Fishermen's Union, Local 9
It looks like we're asking for money out of government, to send it back to us, and they send us $1,000 back for this agency. If this agency can promote the product and open markets overseas and make it work, and if we can recapture 25 cents a pound more for our product—and 25 cents is not a huge amount--25 cents on 40,000 pounds of landed product per year is $10,000 more of taxable income for every vessel. So there is no loss to the government coffers in trying to help us form this agency. As a matter of fact, it's a benefit.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
I'm glad you raised that point, Mr. Saulnier, because that question kept coming to my mind as you were speaking here. I appreciate your coming forward with a proposal.
But I was getting a mixed message, to be very frank with you, around your concept of this agency. The agency you presented initially in your opening comments, I liked the idea with the marketing agenda you brought forward. But as you progressed throughout your presentation I began to think it's more of an advocacy group, that you were looking for an agency of advocacy, as opposed to marketing.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
I wonder if you could clarify that a little bit for me here on the record, if you don't mind. The intent of your proposal today, is it directed more towards advocacy or is it directed more towards marketing?
2:55 p.m.
President, Maritime Fishermen's Union, Local 9
It's directed towards marketing, promoting the product itself. And I'm sure we can find somebody who knows how to promote a certain aspect.
We have a local newspaper in Halifax. I'd like somebody who works in an office all week to open the newspaper on a Saturday afternoon and see a full-page colour ad of a nice red lobster. The Chronicle-Herald would love the funding, and maybe the individual would tell his wife, “You know, that sounds good. Why don't we have that ?” I think there are many things we could do to promote the product itself, and I'm not an expert in that--far from it.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Gentlemen, I'd like to thank you on behalf of the committee for coming to meet with us today to bring forward your ideas. I do realize the personal sacrifice that you've made in order to do so today, and let me just say that the committee certainly does appreciate it. It's certainly important that we hear from you and on behalf of the members you represent. Thank you.
Gentlemen, this concludes our committee business today. The next group we were supposed to meet with is unable to come today, so at this point in time I would say the meeting is adjourned.