Evidence of meeting #97 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.
Vice-President, Programs, Ecotrust Canada
Yes.
There are completely different policies around licencing from the east coast to the west coast. We have no owner-operator fleet separation policies on the west coast.
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
Yes.
It's just a different direction. I don't know if it's been applied equally.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Okay.
Is it okay if I use your first names?
I appreciate both of your testimony.
When we hear first-hand from fishers—those who make their living or those whose family makes their living off the water in the communities that are going to be impacted by policy—it's very important for us. Sadly, sometimes I think 10 or 20 minutes is not enough.
Can you tell the committee, were either of you consulted on Bill C-55?
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Is this the first time you've been consulted by the government on a piece of policy?
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Thank you.
Mr. Cameron, you mentioned a recent sale of ITQs for $50 million to an offshore or foreign group. Are you at liberty to tell us who that group is, or not?
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
No, I do not have the details.
There was a recent Globe and Mail story that came out about it. It's not $50 million exactly. I believe it's just over $50 million.
That sale was offered to someone in B.C., but no one in B.C. could afford it, so that's why it was sold.
Vice-President, Programs, Ecotrust Canada
It was an individual. The name is known, but people are afraid to pass information on because they're afraid of being blacklisted.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
That's understandable.
Duncan, you mentioned that fishers are being intimidated, but I didn't hear by who. Who are the fishermen being intimidated by?
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
I think when I was speaking, I was referring to the increase in power for enforcement officers.
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
It's not actually holding something over someone; it's just the manner and the culture.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Right.
Further to Mr. Hardie's question about the charter patrolmen program, was that volunteer or was it part of DFO?
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
Yes, it was a DFO-funded program. It's been cut, since, I believe, the 1970s. Last year, there were still two major.... There are still six or seven charter patrolmen, I believe, but every year they're sort of dying off. There are not really any new entrants to that program.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Madam Chair, I'd like to have the analyst or the clerks potentially get us some information on that to share with the committee.
Duncan, on the east coast recently, there was an arbitrary decision made by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for the Canadian Coast Guard to arbitrarily go in and remove or withdraw or take 25% of quota from a group with respect to a surf clam fishery.
Does it bother you, or are you aware of this, that a minister could potentially come in and just arbitrarily take it without consultation?
Conservative
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
I read the headlines and the first paragraph, so that's about the depth I know of it.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
It would be scary for you. It would, again, lead to more uncertainty within a myriad of uncertainties that your family and you face in trying to just eke out a living. Is that correct?
Skipper, Save Our BC Fisheries
Uncertainty is the key word when you talk about fear on the Pacific coast, and if the point—I don't know the issue that well—is to reconcile with indigenous people then hopefully you will do that in a transparent, principled way so that you are reconciling and moving forward together and not leaving some people behind.