Fisheries Committee on April 28th, 2015

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Monsieur Lapointe.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the witness, and I sympathize with the witness and a lot of other things. It's more than you certainly expected to get here today, I'm sure. But basically the bottom line of my questioning is, would it possibly be information that would indicate that the tuna fishery would be fished illegally or unregulated, as we would look at it in this country. I think you understand that. It could be our view, it might not be our view, but we just need to know what's taken place as in the Indian Ocean and other places. That's all I want. I've heard complaints all over for years about how the tuna is fished in other areas. I just felt it was the proper place to get it. I harbour no resentment towards anybody, but I just want the information.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you.

All right, are we ready for the question on amendment G-1 as moved by Mr. Kamp?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 4 as amended agreed to)

(On clause 5)

We have amendment G-2, to be moved by Mr. Kamp.

Mr. Kamp.

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

I move that Bill S-3 in clause 5 be amended by adding after line 45 on page 4 the following:

(2.1) Section 6 of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (d): (d.1) respecting documentation required for the importation of fish and marine plants;

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

It has been moved by Mr. Kamp that clause 5 be amended as proposed by amendment G-2, which you have in front of you.

Do you have anything to say on the amendment, Mr. Kamp?

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

I think we've already discussed this. As I mentioned, this is where we're adding an authority to make regulations regarding the trade tracking documentation of RFMOs to which Canada is not a party.

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 5 as amended agreed to)

(Clauses 6 to 8 inclusive agreed to)

(On clause 9)

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

We have an proposed amendment to clause 9; it's amendment G-3, as presented by Mr. Kamp.

Do you have anything to say on the amendment, Mr. Kamp?

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that Bill S-3, in clause 9, be amended by replacing line 5 on page 13 with the following:

9. Paragraphs 14(a) to (c) of the Act are replaced

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Kamp.

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

It's a long amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Oh, sorry.

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

Would you like me to dispense with reading it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

No, or if you want to, you can. You don't have to read it. It's all presented, everybody has a copy of the text in front of them.

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

I'd be happy to dispense.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Certainly.

It's been moved by Mr. Kamp. It's amendment G-3; you have it in front of you.

Do you have anything to say on the amendment, Mr. Kamp?

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

The current forfeiture provisions in the act cover seized fishing vessels and goods on board vessels, but do not authorize the court to order forfeiture of goods seized in a place other than a fishing vessel. Bill S-3 authorizes the seizure of products in places other than a fishing vessel, a warehouse, for example, or it could be at a border crossing, or that kind of thing. This amendment modifies the forfeiture provision to authorize the court to order forfeiture of such goods, otherwise the crown could end up returning the goods or proceeds of the sale, if they've sold the goods, to a convicted defendant.

I hope that's clear. I know it's a long amendment, and I know Angela understands it better than I do if we have any technical questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Kamp.

You have a question on the amendment, Mr. Lapointe?

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It's providing for what, exactly? I'm not sure if I've got the exact advantages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Mr. Kamp?

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

I'm not sure I caught the question, but the current law allows the crown to seize vessels or goods on a fishing vessel. Bill S-3 allows the seizure of other things that are in places other than a fishing vessel, but it became clear that the legislation wouldn't allow for the individual to forfeit and for the crown to sell if they were seized from a place other than a fishing vessel.

Now under Bill S-3, in order to be in line with the port state measures agreement, the officials will have the ability to look for illegal product in places other than fishing vessels. It also is important to have a clause that allows the illegal things that are seized to be sold and for the money to go to the crown rather than—

It's a technical amendment, but that's all that it's doing here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Are there any further questions?

Mr. Weston.

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

Before we lose them, I want to acknowledge our guests. We have overseas guests, over 20 of them, with André Montroy, whom I believe is associated with the Glebe and the Ottawa School Board, and people from Zurich, the Lycée Français Marie Curie de Zurich. Thank you for your indulgence, colleagues. I know you'd want to acknowledge them while they're here. Thank you all, students, for being with us.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Weston. Are we ready for the question on amendment G-3?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 9 as amended agreed to)

(Clauses 10 to 15 inclusive agreed to)

(On clause 16)

We have an amendment to clause 16, amendment G-4 in your documents.

Mr. Kamp.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that Bill S-3, in clause 16, be amended by adding after line 33 on page 18 the following:

(3) Every person who contravenes subsection 5.6(3) is guilty of an offence and liable

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $500,000; or

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $100,000.