Evidence of meeting #73 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 board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
I think I have enough time for my last question.
I think you mentioned, in your words, that Manitoba pulling out is “imminent”. The problems have obviously been there for some time, and we won't go through them again, but if the government had dealt with some of these problems sooner, in your opinion would Manitoba maybe have decided to stay in this?
10:15 a.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
The audit took place while Manitoba had already decided to withdraw. They ran in the election with that as part of their promise. They took the decision and made it public last year before the publication of the audit. No, I think what really drove them was the desire to have a choice.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Okay.
Going forward, then, in general, can the corporation survive based on freedom of choice? You just indicated that 80% of the fishers in Manitoba are still going to sell through...and obviously that number could change from year to year.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Can you survive based on that uncertainty, if I can use that word?
10:15 a.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
Certainly.
It's a different kind of environment that we're working in and that has changed our behaviour as well. We have been a little more flexible than buying fish and moving prices up and down in order—
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
I think so.
If you're asking in the long term, there are going to be challenges. If somebody wants to invest money in a fish plant in the south, they may be able to siphon off profitable fish.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you to our guests, Mr. Bevan and Mr. Lazar, from the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. We appreciate your time.
That draws this part of the meeting to a conclusion.
Colleagues, we'll break for two or three minutes and we'll get back to some committee business in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]