Evidence of meeting #28 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was prawns.
A video is available from Parliament.
The Clerk
The committee can agree on some things, but it wouldn't be binding, because it's not one of the powers the committee has to have an indirect influence. The committee can decide all sorts of things, but, per se, it would not be binding, and it would not be anything that is procedurally formal.
So this would not be the usual way to proceed and this way would not create any obligation for the minister.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
Again, I would like the clerk to clarify this. I have sat on multiple committees. I have never seen a motion such as this where a member makes certain members of the committee undertake something with certain ministers and to report back.
I would be agreeable—I can't speak for all—if the committee chose to send a letter to the minister, an urgent request to the minister, confirming the position Mr. Beech outlined, which was stated in question period. There's no question on the legality of tubbing for this coming season. Doing this would be very helpful to everybody involved, including the fishers. That would be the most helpful aspect.
I'd be curious to hear where the committee came.... Then we would proceed with the committee, as it is scheduled, to hear how DFO officials arrived at the position they're taking. Then we would follow up to ensure that, whatever action is taken, it does not impede the long-held practice of that fishery. That would be more than official.
Again, the motion clearly does not appear to be in order. In my opinion—and I don't want to aggravate everybody—this was simply window dressing at the last minute to pretend somebody wanted to move quickly. If we want to confirm and follow through as a committee to get, clearly and unequivocally, the position of the minister and DFO with regard to tubbing, this committee could send that request for clarification to the minister by email or letter and get that clarification for the fishers on the west coast, which I assume would be very helpful to them.
Thank you, Chair.
Liberal
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This motion was put forward today after the testimony we heard today in which the witnesses repeatedly said that this regulation makes no sense. We have members right around this table who have said this makes no sense. They are continuously shaking their heads at it.
What we are trying to do here is to get the members on the committee who are able to get a direct message to the minister in an immediate way to do that. We've seen letters of response from the minister take as long as four months. These harvesters can't wait that long. They need to know whether they can purchase tubs, how they can equip their vessels, and so on.
I would just urge the members to consider following through on their words of platitude today to make sure they follow through on that.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
Mr. Morrissey, do you have your hand up again?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Yes. Just so that we're clear and the members from the west coast fishery understand what's going on, if this motion is voted on and approved, it will accomplish nothing, because it cannot bind the committee members whom it is referring to. I just want everybody to be clear; it does not bind anyone. The motion is simply directing the chair and the Liberal members of the committee to do something that they're not bound to do. I, for one, will not be following up on that, Mr. Chair.
It's important for the fishers on the west coast to understand that approving this motion is not going to accomplish anything with respect to a definitive answer. We can request, with the strength of the full committee, a definitive answer from the minister. That has already been articulated by the parliamentary secretary, Mr. Beech. The question was answered in the House that during this season, tubbing is going to be allowed. We want to get that clearly. I fully support your request and the committee getting a clear directive from the minister. I think that could be accomplished by the committee tout de suite.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I have a couple of things.
First, we did hear testimony and we're united in seeing the injustice that's happening to these fishers. Everybody on this committee has recognized the injustice. That we are united on.
This motion, you're right, is not binding. It's sending a message to the minister. I see that if we support the motion, we're asking the members of this committee on the government side to meet with the minister and get the minister to make a quick decision. Given that the whole west coast is united on this, we're asking the minister to just make a decision and to explain what she's doing by Wednesday.
I don't think this is a far-fetched motion. I think we should all support it and hope that the minister gets back to everybody quickly. Again, if she's not prepared on something like this, then we have a bigger problem. She made a decision that impacts the livelihoods of these fishers, the coastal communities in which they live, the restaurants, the whole coast and the integrated food web of even our tourism sector. I mean, if she has made a decision like this and she thinks she's going to leave it to a fisheries officer who might be having a bad day and is saying, well, they have discretion, then that's not good enough. It's not good enough for Ms. Orr and it's not good enough for Mr. Lawson.
I think she should be here, or at least send a message back to the committee on Wednesday, on why they are doing this, or have the department in front of us on Wednesday, reporting back. Why wait? This is why I called for an emergency study, with the support of Mr. MacGregor and Ms. Blaney. We wanted this study as an emergency. I know there was push-back. There were even colleagues who said it was a knee-jerk reaction. This is not a knee-jerk reaction. This is absolutely a priority.
So I support this motion. I hope we'll all support this motion. Hopefully, by Wednesday we'll get something back so that these people can get back to fishing, where they belong, instead of in front of our TV screens. They belong on their boats on the water so that they can feed their families.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I'm sorry. That's a mortal mistake.
Mr. Johns, all I'll say is that, yes, it was imperative that the committee get this particular study started right away, but as you know, at the last meeting, when we discussed the schedule, something else was booked for Wednesday, I believe, and maybe the next two or three meetings. To have anyone come Wednesday.... People are probably already lined up to come for what was previously set last week as the schedule by this committee. To change that....
Before I go to Mr. Calkins, I think the clerk was signalling that she wanted to say something.
The Clerk
No, I don't especially need to say something. We're trying to figure out how long we can stay in that room with the same services. We're working on that while you are debating.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Chair, am I the only one who doesn't have a “raise hand” function on their computer?
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
I can't raise my hand, and I think it's the same for Gord and Richard. I can't find the “raise hand” function and I've been wanting to chime in.
Is anyone else having this problem?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Yes, they are, obviously. You have to wave frantically for me to notice you. That's the easiest way to do it.
Mr. Calkins, you were up next with the hand raised, although I notice it's not up now.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Yes, I know. I'm having so much fun, because I can put my hand up and I can take my hand down whenever I want. The function works perfectly fine on my machine.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Notwithstanding that, Chair, I do think, as a matter of respect for other committees, we should perhaps resolve this sooner rather than later, but that's a question for you to decide as to when we get to the question.
I just want to make note of the simpleness of the ask of this particular motion. It asks for Liberal MPs who care enough about the fishery to go and talk to their minister to see if we can get a different result. I find it very disheartening to see one of the Liberal committee members wanting to actually win this on a technicality and not serve the interests of the people who have appeared before the committee today rather than just go ahead and do something a little bit unorthodox and get something done on behalf of Canadians.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Actually, Mr. Calkins, that technicality may either carry the day on this motion, if it passes, or turn it down. It could be challenged on that very technicality. So you can't cross both t's there.
Mr. Beech.
Liberal
Terry Beech Liberal Burnaby North—Seymour, BC
Mr. Chair, I won't be voting for this motion, but I'm happy to inform the committee that I speak to the minister quite regularly, including on this issue, and I'm happy to speak to her today.
Conservative
Richard Bragdon Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Chair, we've talked about this. We've gone around it. A motion is on the floor, so let's have the vote. We should do this for the harvesters who are represented here. I think it's an important signal to send. This is a priority for each one of us and it's a priority for the Canadian harvesters.
Let's move the motion. How particular individuals respond to it and what the government or committee members choose to do with it will obviously be up to those who will have to take action, whether they choose to or not.
The motion is on the floor. If you would, Mr. Chair, call the question.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I can't call the question, I don't think, when someone has their hand up to continue discussing it, and Mr. Morrissey has his hand up, Mr. Bragdon.
I'll go to Mr. Morrissey.