Evidence of meeting #45 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was recreational.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Mike Melnik  Managing Director, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association
Bruce Tufts  Professor and Fisheries Biologist, Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Lab, Queen's University, As an Individual
Robert Huber  President, Thames River Anglers Association
Darryl Smith  Provincial Fish Chair, Alberta Fish and Game Association

12:55 p.m.

President, Thames River Anglers Association

Robert Huber

Most of the community hatchery programs and a lot of the volunteer organizations, the NGOs, all these different groups that work to try to build habitat and improve fisheries, are going through a succession challenge that we see in a lot of different industries where you have a group of anglers who have volunteered and worked really hard for the last 20 years, and they're looking for that next group of 20- to 30-year-old people who are wanting to take on the responsibility and the work that's involved in doing that literally boots-on-the-ground work itself. If we're not looking at ways to engage those people and get them out there and actually be more actively involved, it will die off on the vine.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Lawrence MacAulay

Thank you very much, Mr. Weston.

Mr. Huber and Dr. Smith, thank you for your excellent presentations. You've given valuable information to the committee, and we thank you very much.

Having no further business, this committee is adjourned.