Evidence of meeting #35 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fisheries.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Marine Conservation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
Then we would get better conservation outcomes.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Of course, I see the ability of citizens to lobby elected officials as a precious right that started with the Magna Carta. Obviously you and I think very differently. Laws should be about people. People should come first.
I'll now turn my time over to Mr. Doherty.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
I don't even know how to follow up on that one.
Chief Chamberlin, I appreciate your comment that the government, in consult, should be with the communities that are going to be the most impacted. The rural communities are going to be the most impacted.
We'll go back to the aquaculture and the farm fisheries again. I'll ask in terms of the first nations that are dependent on the coastal communities, the first nations that have signed on in economic benefits to that.
How do we weigh potentially moving those businesses and those opportunities from those communities to potentially land-based systems? There would be lost jobs potentially. How do you weigh that when you're having your conversations with colleagues?
Vice-President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
I weigh that quite clearly. My understanding, and this is first-hand knowledge in our territories and our neighbours directly to the south of us who are very supportive of fish farms. They don't live in the territories. They live in urban settings such as Campbell River. By and large they do their hunting and fishing at the local Save-On-Foods store. They do quite well.
I see that the nations, not all but the ones in and around our territories, the ones that are absent from the territories, are the ones that are supporting the fish farms in the territories.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you, Chief Chamberlin. Sorry, I have to stop it right there.
Mr. Donnelly, you have about four minutes, please.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Before I ask a question, I want to draw attention to a letter that I received, dated November 15, by Jordan Point, the executive director of the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C. He outlines his concerns and confusion about how to actually get in front of this committee and make comment, or how to get the nations that are a part of his council in front of the committee. Our committee clerk responded, I think very well, on November 16, outlining that.
However, I want to emphasize that obviously there is still a lot of confusion out there in the public about whether it's the website or what, in terms of how you get in front of this committee, how the decisions are made, how the witnesses are chosen, who is selected and who isn't. I just wanted to add that.
My question in the short minutes that I have is for Dr. Fuller. I want to go to you about enforcement and improving enforcement. Could you clarify if, in your organization's mind, it's more of a legal issue of changing the act. Is it more of a resourcing the department issue, or is it a combination of both?
Senior Marine Conservation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
I would say that it's a combination of both.
I think you have to have a strong act, so that it is enforceable, and then there have to be resources, enforcement on the ground. I do think with the more people who work together, you get more compliance, but unless you have some enforcement, you get no compliance.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
In terms of the legal part of the act, do you see any specific changes that are necessary around improving enforcement?
Senior Marine Conservation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
I'd have to think a bit more about that. I can't think of the specific aspect of the act and the wording that I would suggest, but I will get back to you on that.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
You do want to see some improvement in the wording. Maybe there's some clarification, as well, from other organizations that want to see improvement on the defined rules of enforcement.
Also, obviously if there's a lack of enforcement and we can't get good information because we don't have the enforcement officers, the boots on the ground as they say, it's really hard to make good planning decisions, etc. Would you agree?
Senior Marine Conservation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
Yes, it's very hard to know if the act is being upheld, or whether the law is being broken, if you have nobody watching.
NDP
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
In the one minute I have, maybe I'll ask this to Chief Chamberlin and Mr. Bonnett.
What's the one thing you would like to see this committee do as a result of this consultation?
Vice-President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
One thing I'd like to see is the reinstatement of the HADD permitting.
President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Look at the emphasis on conservation and stewardship initiatives.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you, Mr. Donnelly.
With regard to the issue you brought up earlier, I also spoke to the gentleman in question in person. He expressed a great deal of interest. As we've mentioned in committee before, it's not written in stone. We do have additions coming up, suggested by you, and we'll address that in the next segment. Unfortunately, it will be in camera, but we will be addressing that very shortly.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
I want to thank the witnesses for coming in, Mr. Black, Mr. Bonnett, Ms. Fuller, and Chief Chamberlin. We truly appreciate your coming here today.
We're going to break for a few minutes to go in camera, and let's please be just a few minutes.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]