Evidence of meeting #44 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 nafo.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC
Thank you very much. I think my time is just about up.
November 17th, 2009 / 4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hearn, for coming in today.
I'm glad you provided some context and quotes of what custodial management is, and it depends on who you speak to. I'd like to read you a quote:
...give the coastal provinces, particularly Newfoundland and Labrador, an increased role in the management of the fisheries. ... Early in our mandate, will seek to conclude a bilateral agreement with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador for this purpose. And we will make moves to extend [the] 200-mile limit to the edge of the continental shelf, the nose and tail of the Grand Banks, and the Flemish Cap in the North Atlantic, and to exert Canadian custodial management over this area.
That was Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when he stood on a wharf in Petty Harbour and defined what custodial management meant to him.
Sir, I have two questions. Can you look us in the eye here today and in your heart of heart say that we have accomplished custodial management as we promised?
My second question is, could you please elaborate on any attempts or bilateral agreements you made with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador's department of fisheries on custodial management?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
No, I mean custodial management--not management of the fisheries, but custodial management.
4:15 p.m.
As an Individual
I think what you read, and what you will say the commitment was about, was shared management with the provinces--
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
As an Individual
That's the second part. In the first part you mentioned about management of the fisheries, but it doesn't matter, because it ties in anyway. I'll answer the question both ways, if you want.
First of all, let me talk about the custodial management aspect. When I was in your position and came up here in opposition, conditions out there were such that you could hardly turn on the radio without hearing about some abuse by foreign boats, day after day after day. In fact, if you want to do a bit of research--
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
I'd just like an answer to this question. You can give your political rhetoric and you can talk your way out of this, but I'd like an answer.
4:15 p.m.
As an Individual
Well, listen, I know you're a rookie and I know you don't understand--
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
I appreciate that too, and Senator Manning thinks I'm a rookie, but--
4:15 p.m.
As an Individual
The first thing you learn to do in Ottawa is to listen, and once you listen--
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
As an Individual
--and you understand what's going on, you might learn something. But to answer it and cut to the chase and save you some time, when we came up and got involved, we were in such a position that it was almost desperation. Nothing was happening. We had the foreign boats raping the stocks. We didn't have the surveillance, because our coast guard didn't have fuel. Citations were being issued that were like warning tickets. They had no effect. It was frustrating, so we threatened to do whatever we had to do.
In fact, when I became minister, the foreign affairs department got a number of calls asking who this guy was and what he was up to, because of some of the threats we had made. However, if you look at the policy statement that I helped write in 2004 in leading up to our election--and it may have gotten changed in transcript somewhere along the way--it said that we will commit to end foreign overfishing or take custodial management. There was an “or” in there.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
