Yes, please, bring us into the light. The Fisheries Act is a very.... I can't say even say that it's a very matter-of-fact document. With all due respect to Mr. Sopuck's observation about ministerial discretion, it does rely, and very much so, on ministerial discretion. Some might argue that this is okay in a benevolent dictatorship, but I don't know that it has much place outside of that. Others' absolute discretion is not something that we particularly like lots of days, right?
Everybody needs principles to guide them, and they need to be legislative principles. I was a minister, and I also sat in opposition for a period of time. It would seem to me that the Parliament of Canada is just as important as the ministers, and the members of the Parliament of Canada and their views on legislation and how industries, fisheries, and oceans and whatnot should be managed are just as important as the views of the ministers. I firmly believe that. We elect a House of Commons to establish broad principles to govern our land and our water.
Ministerial discretion exercised outside of broad principles is like driving down the highway and seeing a sign saying “maximum 50 to 70.” What does that mean? We have a sign that says “maximum 60,” or we have a sign that says “maximum 100,” and it tells us clearly what we are allowed to do. We need the principles. We need to understand why.... The people who manage the fishery in Canada.... I talk specifically about the marine environment, the fishery. People here are talking about the impact of the Fisheries Act on farmers and whatnot. I have nothing to do with that. It's not that I don't care, but my life has been the ocean.
We need principles that define how you should view conservation and how you should view harm to habitat, and not just serious harm. Can you imagine...? Many of us have siblings. For example, let's say my mother said to me, “Trevor, don't you do serious harm to your sister.” Well, now, I'd probably push that envelope a little ways. Well, I can hurt her a little bit, according to that.