And what is that?
Evidence of meeting #21 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rhyno.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #21 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rhyno.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
4:05 p.m.
As an Individual
Certainly. It's a letter from Mr. David Bevan, assistant deputy minister, dated June 10, 2005.
The Honourable Geoff Regan has asked me to respond to your request for access to the Eastern Nova Scotia snow crab fishery in 2005. As you know, your request was referred to the Atlantic Fisheries Licence Appeal Board (AFLAB) and was heard on July 8, 2005, at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in which you participated. Although the board recommended that your appeal be granted....
Is that not clear?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
That's it. Why does that not appear in any of the documentation?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Is there any communication between AFLAB and your client?
4:05 p.m.
As an Individual
No, AFLAB doesn't communicate with clients. AFLAB is there to give recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
This committee, though, can't understand the rationale of AFLAB in this particular instance. We don't have any documentation, just as you don't. That's the point here.
4:05 p.m.
As an Individual
You asked me to read the letter, so just let me finish reading it.
Although the board recommended that your appeal be granted
--it seems clear to me--
the Minister has made a decision based on a thorough review of all available information, including the New Emerging Fisheries Policy....
Am I going too fast?
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Chair, if I may, I would like to raise a point of order. I don't think that makes sense. I am not able to understand the letter. I am on a different planet at the moment, honestly. I just mean that I know nothing about the matter and I am going to get to know about it. I know very well, and it's not your fault, that whenever a person reads a document, they think it must be read quickly. For the interpreter, it is a mad race and for the person listening to the interpreter, it is more than madness, it is sheer insanity.
Please, if you want to read a document, take your time. That will give me time to understand it.
4:05 p.m.
As an Individual
I understand you very well, sir. I have the same problem in French.
I'm sorry for speaking so quickly.
Although the board recommended that your appeal be granted, the minister has made a decision, based on a thorough review of all available information, including the New Emerging Fisheries Policy, and I regret to inform you that he has denied your appeal. The New Emerging Fisheries Policy requires active participation in an exploratory fishery and the conversion of the five exploratory licences to commercial status was based upon provisions within this policy. You did not participate in the exploratory fishery and therefore are not eligible for a commercial licence. In its report the board added that it felt you were treated fairly in accordance with the department's policies. The minister concluded that the licensing policy was correctly interpreted and applied by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in your case. I regret that this decision....
To me, that's a communication from the ADM to Mr. Rhyno. AFLAB does not communicate with people who appear before it. It gives recommendations to the minister. The minister made his decision. It seems to me clear that the ADM is saying that the board recommended that the appeal be granted, because that's what the plain language says to me.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, gentlemen.
You understand that, like I said in my point of order, I am a little bit on Mars. I will be asking really basic questions. I will not get into the pros and cons since I am not up to speed on that. But I would like to understand two things.
First, the file is about Mr. Rhyno. We are talking about issuing a permit to Mr. Rhyno. What is your role in all this, Mr. Angel?
4:10 p.m.
As an Individual
My French is not what it used to be, so would you excuse me if I reply in English?
I represent Mr. Rhyno. He hired me to present his case to government and I am his representative.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Rhyno, why did you feel you had to be represented in a personal matter?
4:10 p.m.
As an Individual
It's because I'm not that good with paperwork and things like that and I can't speak as good as John can. He's a professional and I'm a fisherman, so that's why I did that.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Is it also because you felt caught in the red tape, which you did not understand, and you were afraid of doing the wrong thing depending on what they were going to ask?
4:10 p.m.
As an Individual
I didn't get that word. What did you say?
It's still not working. It's not working.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Raynald Blais Bloc Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Is it working now? All right.
I want to fully understand the dynamics. I understand that someone is representing you and I also want to understand why. Given that you had to make administrative decisions, you thought that, if you did not have someone with you, you would make mistakes or you were afraid that you would make them by giving the wrong answer or document. Is that why you have a representative with you?
