Fisheries Committee on April 23rd, 2009

[Mike Allen, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

I have a couple of quick questions, too, and I'm not sure if there will be any time left.

Has there been, in these discussions with the provinces, any thoughts that the provinces would be prepared to ramp up their funding?

I ask that question because in your discussion in response to the questions from Mr. Blais and Mr. Lévesque, you talked about your future plans and expansion, and possibly bringing it into Quebec. Would you be expecting ACOA to pay for that, as you kept expanding outside the region? There are other organizations in the country, in other regions, that do things similar to what you do, and you have a barrier as to how far you could go.

[Carey Bonnell]

Of course, we wouldn't be looking to ACOA to fund research or development work in either Quebec or B.C. We would pursue other avenues and other funding mechanisms for such a model.

In terms of the provinces contributing larger amounts, whether or not they would consider such an option, you can't have the discussion when you don't have the other party at the table. So would they consider it to a certain degree? The provinces are under tight constraints. You've seen some of the budgets that the provinces--New Brunswick and others--have gone through recently. It's a challenge. It's a testament that we've received the contributions that we have, but if the federal government were at the table talking about this and looking at.... We've said, “We want a champion. We need a champion for the cause. Come to the table. Let's find solutions together. Let's work our way through the federal system. Maybe there are other avenues for support, but recognize the need to do that.” Then perhaps there would be further funding there from the provinces—I don't know—to a certain degree, or in time you could build that and other avenues. But they're not at the table right now, which is what makes this so challenging, I guess, from our standpoint.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Bonnell.

On behalf of the committee, I want to thank you for taking the time to travel here today to meet with the committee and answer the questions the committee has had. We do certainly appreciate your efforts here today. Thank you.

Mr. Byrne, I believe you have a point you want to raise.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

The chairman of our committee has taken the liberty to go into a public forum to express his dissatisfaction with members of this committee, in particular Liberal members from Newfoundland and Labrador, and our perceived lack of support for the seal hunt. He did so through the issuance of a statement. He was on the Fisherman's Broadcast on Tuesday of this past week, identified as the chairman of this Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, and was interviewed as such. He indicated that he was extremely dissatisfied that Liberal members from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador did not stand up in support of the seal hunt satisfactorily, despite the fact that, of course, this committee has produced several unanimous reports on this issue and has engaged in intensive study.

That being the opinion of our chair, that he feels it is important for this position to be re-announced, I would like to present to the committee a motion pursuant to Standing Order 108(2):

The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans acknowledges that the Committee fully endorses the harp seal hunt, that it approves of current regulated killing methods, approves that the harvesting of harp seals of the age cohort known as “beaters” and older is fully acceptable, and that the Canadian harp seal hunt is humane, responsible and sustainable and should continue for generations to come; and

That information of the Committee's position along with the results of the recorded vote be made immediately available to the general public through media advisories prepared by the Clerk and distributed throughout Canada, and that this resolution be reported back to the House as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you. Notice has been served.

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned.