Fisheries Committee on April 21st, 2010

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I don't think anyone would question anyone's integrity or capacity to defend the interests of their constituents. This business about the power of persuasion.... Of course I think sometimes we all need to be persuaded or it's useful to accept powerful persuasion simply by reminding people that this is a huge economic crisis facing the entire region of eastern Canada--Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Newfoundland and Labrador. It's part of the discussion of this committee. It's not directed at any one individual or any group of individuals; it's just a reality. It's important, when we talk about this motion and these issues, that we use the power of persuasion to remind each other that these are the issues that impact deckhands and fishermen and communities and off-loaders and others.

I'm not sure if I originally understood that there was some concern about the extent to which the motion was prepared to go. I suggested, in good faith, a move to tone it down and simply use plain language to say that we will study the snow crab industry. If we could get together and decide whether or not this is an important issue to study, in a timely fashion, or it's not, should we include the language or should we not, I'd be prepared, if one of my colleagues were to go forward with an amendment, to listen to the amendment and vote accordingly, or the committee will do as it will. I know I'm very happy and very proud to say that I'm prepared to stand up for the crab fishermen, those who are impacted, and to say that we feel--and I think I'm joined by my colleagues here--this is an important study to undertake and that it should occur immediately.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Byrne.

Mr. Kamp.

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just so we're clear, I haven't heard anybody propose this amendment, so I assume we're still dealing with the original motion, nor have I heard anybody else speak in favour of this motion besides Mr. Byrne, so I think we're probably at a place where we need to draw this to a question.

Nobody is suggesting that crab fishermen in Atlantic Canada won't be affected by this reduction of quota. When the quota was set last year, industry was told there would very likely be a significant reduction in quota this year, and in effect that has happened. What I would most like to say is that while that is a significant impact, in British Columbia, for example, thousands of people, both harvesters and processors, also depend on fisheries resources. There was little to no commercial fishing of sockeye last year, and the prospects don't look good this year. First nations couldn't even get anywhere close to their normal allocation of food, social, and ceremonial fish. That's on the one hand. On the other hand, those who make their living in aquaculture are feeling threatened by this debate. I think an argument can be made that if we're looking at the livelihoods of people, there is as compelling a reason to look at aquaculture on the west coast as there is to look at crab on the east coast.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Kamp.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I agree with Mr. Kamp. There are a lot of problems on the west coast. I spent a lot of the last meeting trying to convince people to continue and hear witnesses, and that failed.

With the situation that's before us at the moment, we have a massive reduction in quota--again, a slap in the face to the fishermen and the plant workers. It's right in my area, so I certainly support.... I think it's a responsibility of this committee, when fishermen and plant workers and people involved and millions of dollars are lost to the area--and even more so for my own area.

I think it's so important that this committee find out just what went on, what should be done, what the government can do, or what advice we can give to the government to try to relieve, somewhat, the massive cut in the quota, and also find out why. Bring the people before the committee and find out why all of a sudden we had to slash the quota to such a massive extent.

With that, I would propose

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans study the snow crab industry in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, and that the committee report to the House on its findings and conclusions.

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

I believe he's moving an amendment, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Yes, I understand that; I'm just trying to get what his amendment is. I have what your suggestion was.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

It's basically the same. Do you want me to read it? No. Read it back to me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Okay, Mr. MacAulay moved that the motion be amended by substituting the words “snow crab industry” for the words “shellfish industry” and deleting all the words after Quebec and up to Labrador.

Is that correct?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

We're good.

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

“And that”, I guess, would be....

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

“And”, of course, before--

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

Following “Labrador” it would be--

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

It would be “and that the committee report to the House on its findings.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

So add the word “and”.

All right. You've all heard the amendment. Mr. MacAulay moves that the motion be amended by substituting....

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Could you reread the entire motion? Before putting the question, I would like it to be reread please.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Or before we move to discuss it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

All right. This is the amended motion that I'm reading. It reads:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans study the snow crab industry in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, and that the committee report to the House on its findings and conclusions.

So you've all heard the amendment as moved by Mr. MacAulay.

On the amendment, Mr. Donnelly.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I hear the comments about the work plan, and I believe we're going to talk about that after this amendment and then the amended motion.

In terms of just a quick review, I think it's relevant because in terms of this amendment it's going to affect our work plan, or it potentially could.

We have consulted with the minister. We have had DFO, the head of the management or the department of aquaculture in. We've talked to legal counsel on the inquiry and I think I would also like to go further on west coast aquaculture, because we've heard some different perspectives and I'd certainly like to get to the bottom of that.

I've had a number of calls on the east coast on the snow crab in particular, and I realize this is an emerging issue on the east coast as a result of a recent announcement. So certainly with the amendment, if we were able to limit the number of committee meetings we were to look at this for this year, I could see our looking at this as a work plan item.

But again, I would like to keep the focus on the aquaculture on the west coast and have a look at this serious and emerging issue. So I certainly could support the amended motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you.

Monsieur Blais.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

I will give Mr. Andrews the floor because he has not spoken yet.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Mr. Andrews.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think it's important that we do take a very serious look at the snow crab industry. We're in a crisis. I don't like using the word “crisis”, because we always seem to use that word too often, but we're in a very untenable situation in Newfoundland right now when it comes to an industry where industry, provincial governments, plant workers, everybody is waiting to see what is going to happen to the industry this year. After speaking to fishermen this past week, it's on their minds and it's very important.

I think we really need to have a look at it and do a study and make some recommendations, because the federal government does play a role. It's much like the lobster industry, which we went through last fall. So I wanted to speak in support of the motion by Mr. Byrne.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Andrews.

Monsieur Blais.