Fisheries Committee on Feb. 25th, 2016

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

In 2005.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Before I go to Mr. Arnold, Mr. McDonald, do you want to address that?

[Ken McDonald, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Yes.

On the other species, it would include shrimp. If the cod are eating the shrimp, or if we suspect they're eating the shrimp, it obviously does have an effect on that species. I'd like to know if that's why the stock is going down. Area 6 in the shrimp fishery is the one they're having a problem with. Is it because there's a resurgence of cod in that area? A lot of environmentalists will say no, that the water temperature is affecting both the return of the cod and the deplenishing of the shrimp, but hopefully the study will show us if the cod are the main factor.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Go ahead.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Yes, thank you.

Thank you for the clarification on that. I think that helps me clarify who the witnesses are that could be invited, so this is great.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

We're getting short on time, folks.

Mr. Arnold.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

I don't want to confuse things, but if we want to make sure everything is included in this, I would offer that we could amend it to state that the study would evaluate the replenishment of the cod stock and what conditions and species are affecting or are affected by it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Give us one moment while we get that down.

Okay, Ms. Jordan, you go ahead while we're getting that down. I'm trying to be judicious with time here.

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I think the motion as it reads addresses those issues. I think the motion is fine the way it is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

You can vote against it if you wish. That's basically how it goes.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Unless it's accepted as a friendly amendment, I think we'll....

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I think we should vote.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I think what Mel's suggesting is that if Ken would consider that friendly....

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

The other issue, as a friendly recommendation from your chair, is that we're also omitting the words “report to the House”. Would anybody like to...?

[Ken McDonald, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Add “and report its conclusions to the House”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Add “and report its conclusions to the House”.

Now we have to deal with Mr. Arnold's amendment.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

I was assisting the clerk, so I didn't hear the discussion as I stepped over.

If you're fine with it as is, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Are you withdrawing?

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

I'll withdraw my amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Okay. What about “report its conclusions to the House”? I can't move it, so perhaps—

[Ken McDonald, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Yes, I'll move that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. McDonald, you'd like to move the amendment to add “report its findings to the House”?

[Ken McDonald, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Okay, so we have two votes.

We have to vote on the amendment.

(Amendment agreed to)

It has been amended. Now we have to vote on the main motion, which states all that was said before, plus it now includes “report its conclusions to the House”.

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

It's unanimous.

The meeting is now adjourned.