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.
As an Individual
Last night, apparently, the city council of St. John's voted to ask the government to oppose this convention. The story went on to say that they made their decision based on a presentation by one Mr. Gus Etchegary.
Now, if a city council of the main city in your province makes a major decision based upon a presentation, and I don't care by whom--by me, by Earle McCurdy, or by whomever—at least they should have checked the facts. I'll bet you that not one of them had read the convention and probably had never even seen it.
That is the kind of stuff we have to fight. We're not fighting here because you're Conservatives, you're NDP, or you're Bloc. That has nothing to do with it. This committee generally has been on the topic, but I think it's strayed on this one. Generally we're fighting to protect the rights, the privileges, and the resources for the people of this country. In this case, it happens to be Newfoundland and Labrador. I would suggest that everything we've done has been leading towards doing just that.
Conservative
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, words are important and definitions are important. So just for the record:
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's the definition the Prime Minister made.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
If that's a point of order, then I will raise a point of order: there's no definition of the term you use.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Gentlemen, please. Order.
It's not a point of order. It's a statement.
Thank you, Mr. Andrews. I'll hear no more on that point of order. As I said, it doesn't exist.
Anyhow, Mr. Hearn, I want to thank you very much on behalf of the committee for coming in today to meet with our committee. Thank you for taking the time out of your very busy schedule. We certainly do appreciate this.
The committee will take a short recess....
Mr. Byrne.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Thank you.
I too want to thank the witness.
The next session was intended to be in camera, according to our schedule. What I would like to request of you, and of my colleagues, is that we don't go in camera for the next particular session. I don't see any particular need for us to do so.
I also would like to provide adequate notice that I'll be calling my motion, which I gave notice to earlier.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Notice has already been provided for your motion. If you intend to bring your motion forward, we'll stay public at this point in time.
The in camera session was for consideration of the draft report. Obviously, if we're not going to take into consideration the draft report, we'll stay public and we'll deal with your motion.
Mr. Hearn, once again, on behalf of the committee, thank you very much for taking the time to appear before our committee today.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
The committee will recess for a few moments until we move on to new business.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
I call this meeting back to order.
Mr. Byrne, you wanted to move your motion?
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Yes, thank you.
In accordance with my notice of motion given earlier, I would like to read my motion:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans report the following to the House:
Notwithstanding the motion adopted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on October 8, 2009, and given the evidence heard by the Committee in March and May of 2009 as well as the serious concerns expressed by various witnesses during hearings in October 2009, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada not ratify the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries adopted by the General Council of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) in 2007, and that Canada notify NAFO of its objection to the amendment as per Article XXI of the Convention.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
You've all heard the motion as read by Mr. Byrne, and I believe it's been distributed to each of you. I'm not going to read the motion again.
Is there any debate on the motion?
Mr. Kamp.
Conservative
Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC
I'll be voting against this motion. It seems to me that it ignores much of the testimony that we've heard before this committee. I think it would be a mistake to pass this motion, so we'll be voting against it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Are there any other comments or questions on the motion?
Mr. Weston.
Conservative
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
We've talked a bit about rookies here, and Mr. Andrews and I both share that status, I suppose. I'm disappointed. I feel that I'm here on behalf of a lot of Canadians, including my nine-year-old daughter, who want to see that we preserve the species and pass the fisheries on to them and their children. We've heard a lot of debate, a lot of serious discussion, and I've stepped back, as a thinking person, not as a party member, but as someone who feels that we have a treaty. The treaty is going to be enhanced by the provisions that we've heard about, and we therefore have a duty to all Canadians to make sure that Parliament passes the amendment to the treaty. So I'll be voting against this motion.
Conservative
Tilly O'Neill-Gordon Conservative Miramichi, NB
I, too, will be voting against it. I know I'm new on the committee, and I still have a lot to learn, but I feel that over the last few months I have had a chance to hear many witnesses speak about the new NAFO convention. I've also had a chance to review and read the report prepared by the analysts.
We have heard from legal experts, Ted McDorman and Phillip Saunders, both respected legal experts on the management of the high seas. In addition, we've heard from impressive groups from the industry who support the new convention and think it's good for the fishing industry. We've also heard from our own minister, Gail Shea, and now we've just heard from Minister Hearn. Both are passionate about these reforms.
For these reasons, I'll be voting against it.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rodney Weston
Since there are no further comments, no further discussion, on the motion, I will call the question.
You've all heard the motion as read into the record by Mr. Byrne. The motion is presented before you.
(Motion agreed to)
Your motion is passed, Mr. Byrne, and I will report it to the House.
Mr. Byrne.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Mr. Chair, would you be able to inform the committee members about when you may be able to report this to the House?
November 17th, 2009 / 4:55 p.m.
Conservative
