Fisheries Committee on Oct. 14th, 2020

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll move on to the other motion, and hopefully those translated versions will be arriving to the clerk shortly.

I would like to make a further motion regarding the public fishery in British Columbia, which contributes $1.1 billion to Canada's economy, the public fishery and 300,000 angling licence-holders and provides 9,000 jobs benefiting families, small communities and businesses connected to the public fisheries activities and tourism-related spending. Since 2016 the public fishery in British Columbia has been damaged by closures and restrictions.

The motion that I would like to make is: “That the committee undertake a study of the socio-economic impacts of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ decision to restrict recreational and commercial fishing for chinook salmon on the south coast of British Columbia over the past two years to fully understand the impact of this decision on small businesses and coastal communities; and as part of this study, the committee meet virtually with those impacted including recreational anglers, small businesses and indigenous and coastal communities that have and continue to be affected and are observing significant additional hardship in business for 2020 due to the reduction of opportunities in the public fishery; and as part of this study, the committee assess measures, including measures other than fisheries management, that could deliver increases in chinook salmon stocks while allowing for access and opportunity for harvesters and that the department give a full briefing on all public consultation that took place on the west coast with the affected fisheries; and that the committee submit its findings with recommendations in a report to the House.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Both motions have been received in both official languages.

Is there any discussion on the first motion by Mr. Arnold?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Is that on the illegal fishing? If so, I would like to add an amendment.

I would like to make it without prejudice to aboriginal and treaty rights, because while they're bringing these fisheries out, they haven't specifically stated whether that's what they have in mind. I don't think it's appropriate in terms of this kind of study to label them all together.

[The Clerk]

To make sure that I take the correct note and also so the members understand what the they are voting on, could Mr. Battiste suggest a full sentence and specify exactly where that amendment would be in the motion?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

We can put at the end of the motion, “that the motion is without prejudice to aboriginal and treaty rights, which do not fall under these categories”.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 )

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Johns, you had your hand up.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, because of time, I'm concerned about waiting for another week to discuss Mr. Battiste's motion.

I urge the committee and you, Mr. Chair, to call an emergency meeting of this committee either tomorrow afternoon or Friday, so that we can get this discussion rolling, or at least have a chance to debate Mr. Battiste's motion. I'm wondering if you can check with the committee and see if everybody is open to that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

From your statement, I assume you're making a motion.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I move, Mr. Chair, that the committee meet at its next earliest convenience.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Your motion hasn't been presented in both official languages to each member of the committee, so it's not a motion we can accept right now.

We voted unanimously in favour of the motion that everything be presented in both official languages to all committee members. You can give notice of motion, but it will be a notice. It won't be voted on.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, it's my understanding that you have the authority to also call a meeting of the committee without a motion from the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, I can call a committee meeting at any time, but dictating what will be discussed at that meeting is in the form of a motion.

I see the clerk is putting up her hand. Maybe she can better explain it.

Nancy.

[The Clerk]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Indeed it is up to the chair to convene a meeting, so if the chair wants to convene a meeting he can certainly do so.

The only thing at this time, Mr. Chair, is you have to keep in mind that the committees do not yet have a schedule. The whips are debating and negotiating for schedules for all committees, so before you convene a meeting, it would be important for you to contact your whip to see what is possible. At this time, I as a clerk don't know what is possible this week. I know many committees will be electing chairs and organizing meetings. Other than that, you would have to make sure to follow up with your whip. Members, it's a good idea to follow up with your whips, because I believe an agreement should come soon but at this time I'm not aware of the different possibilities.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I believe there's one more motion on the table that hasn't been voted on yet.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm happy to wrap things up here, Mr. Chair. My whip's office have said there is a time slot tomorrow afternoon and Friday morning.

I urge you to call an emergency meeting to discuss this, so I'll leave it with you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I will certainly discuss that with the clerk and take it under advisement.

The second motion by Mr. Arnold has not been voted on yet.

Is there any debate?

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have a question.

What would come of this? We would understand there have obviously been some social and economic impacts. Determining what those are would do what? What would be an actionable move out of a study like this?

Maybe Mr. Arnold could speak to this.

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

I believe the committee can hear from many witnesses on this as to potential solutions for the people and communities that have been impacted so significantly by this.

There are other options out there for creating more recreational and commercial opportunity on the west coast, and I certainly believe this committee could hear those options and make recommendations to the House.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm wondering if that approach could be incorporated into the motion, so that the purpose of the study would be to look at ways of mitigating the impact of the closures and examine the options that are available to mitigate the impact.

Could I recommend a friendly motion to amend to that effect?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I think you just did.

Mr. Arnold.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I believe that may be captured in this:

[that] as part of [the] study, the committee assess measures, including measures other than fisheries management, that could deliver increases in chinook salmon stocks while allowing for access and opportunity for harvesters. That the department will give a full briefing on [the] public consultations that took place on the West Coast with affected fishers.

So it's captured in the portion where it says “including measures other than fisheries management that could deliver increases in chinook salmon stock”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Is that satisfactory to you, Mr. Hardie, in maybe not needing an amendment?

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Yes, I think we can go ahead and vote on the study on its own merits.

(Motion agreed to: yeas, 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Madam Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I have another brief motion, which has already been sent to all the committee members. It concerns a completely different topic.

That the Clerk be asked to review options to allow each Committee member to be accompanied by a staff member directly on the Zoom platform; that she be asked to identify the regulatory, budgetary and technological constraints to this authorization; and that she provide the Committee with the results of her analysis prior to the next meeting.

If she can't provide the committee with these results prior to the next meeting, we can amend the motion.