Fisheries Committee on Oct. 28th, 2010

[John Fraser]

Well, I don't think you have time for me to elaborate. Remember, even though I haven't been an active politician for some years, I still have all of the problems that go with being a politician. I don't want somebody to have to get up and say, “Listen, there are three things every politician or ex-politician should know, and that is: stand up, speak up, and shut up.” So I'll be very short.

Clare Backman has been one of the most effective leaders in the fish farm industry in trying to find ways to minimize the impact of fish farms on wild fish and on the environment. As far as we're concerned, he should get very high praise for that.

Now, in terms of the details of what needs to be done to achieve some of these things, we don't have time to go into all of that here. But it has to be done in collaboration with the science, the industry, first nations, environmentalists, and ultimately--ultimately--there has got to be a recognition on the part of both the Government of Canada and the Province of British Colombia that without coming along and changing the Constitution, by agreement both the province and the federal government can work out ways to do everything that we've been talking about.

I don't believe for one minute that it can all be done just under the constitutional authority of the Department of Fisheries, and I certainly don't think it can be done under the administrative authority of the province alone. They have to work together.

But John Weston, in short answer, what we tried to do with the establishment of the science advisory committee was to say to them, okay, now go out and collaborate with everybody in order to get the maximum input so that the reports you give us will be accurate and will have taken into account the sometimes very different views of some very able people.

That's the best I can do to a complex question; we can't get into all the detail. But collaboration is absolutely essential.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

I'll try to sneak in two questions.

First, you're talking about constitutional authority. That hasn't changed, but the interpretation has changed. Now the federal government will assume jurisdiction over aquaculture come December. I ask whether that gives you any cause for optimism.

Also, Mr. O'Riordan, perhaps you could finish by commenting on the closed containment issue that my colleague Fin Donnelly brought up. We're all interested in your comment on that.

[John Fraser]

Go ahead, Jon.

[Jon O'Riordan]

To my mind, there will always be a concern about open-net pens in the environment. I think it's fair to say that until that concern is put to bed by seeing whether an effective and viable closed containment system can work, there will be a limitation on the amount of capacity in open-net farms on the west coast of B.C.

The forum has strongly urged that aligned resources from the conservation movement, the federal and provincial governments, and from the industry be invested in the closed containment pilot on land that will determine once and for all whether or not closed containment is viable.

That is a strong recommendation of the forum, and it needs to be addressed.

[John Fraser]

John Weston, you asked what our view is now that the federal government, as a consequence of the legal decision, has now most of the responsibility in the administration of fish farms and the selection of sites, etc.

If the federal government follows basically the thrust of our recommendations, we will be very pleased. That requires openness, transparency. It also requires something as simple as this: before you okay a fish farm, at least do the background work before the licence is issued.

I could go on and on about some of the things that weren't done that must be done. There's no reason the federal government can't do this, but they are going to have to take into account that it's no use sitting in Ottawa deciding what Canadians on the west coast of Canada are going to think of fish farms, for or against, unless they take into account the views of people who are on the coast, people who know what is going on, and people who have a stake in doing it right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much.

Unfortunately, our time has expired. I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of the committee to thank you three gentlemen for taking the time out of your schedules to meet with the committee and to answer our questions. We certainly appreciate it.

Before you leave, committee members, I'd just like to remind you that if you have witnesses you'd like suggest to the clerk for our travel to the west coast, please don't forget to do that.

[John Fraser]

Can I just say something--

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Also, committee members--

[John Fraser]

--very briefly, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

--do not forget that you need a valid passport for the trip as well. That is a requirement. You do need to have a valid passport.

Mr. Fraser.

[John Fraser]

I just want to say that Dr. O'Riordan and I, and all the members of our forum, appreciate the fact that we were invited to come before you today. I know you expected us to be frank, and I think we have been. We wish you well.

In my view, at least, the Fisheries Act is perhaps the most significant environmental piece of legislation in the Canadian system. You have a tremendous responsibility to make sure that it's implemented and that our fish and our habitat are looked after. We're very appreciative of what you're doing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much, Mr. Fraser.

Thank you to all.

The meeting is adjourned.