Evidence of meeting #3 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 rights.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
I'd like to invite Ms. Canet or Mr. Sproul to take these 30 seconds to outline what action they consider essential and urgent.
JOBEL Project Officer, Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie
It's urgent and essential to develop a fair and equitable process that gives first nations, commercial fishers and the government the chance to sit down together to find acceptable solutions for everyone.
The government's current fisheries management process is directly responsible for the tensions in southern Nova Scotia. The priority is the urgent need for an inclusive fisheries management process and a mutual understanding of the values on which this management must be based. We understand that first nations have traditional knowledge of the fisheries and that, as a result, this knowledge must also be heard by everyone. This can only be done through an inclusive process.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you.
We've gone a little over time.
I'll now go to Mr. Johns for the last question period of two and a half minutes.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Sproul, the Sipekne’katik are the second-largest Mi’kmaq community in Nova Scotia, and the largest community in mainland Nova Scotia, which I'm sure you're well aware of. Their community has been affected by centralization, oppression under the Indian Act, and intergenerational effects from residential schools. Their leadership has chosen to implement its 1760-61 treaty right, the constitutionally protected right in Supreme Court decisions. Given these colonial oppressions that have suppressed the Sipekne’katik people from entering the middle-class society of Canada, do you support the fact that the Sipekne’katik themselves must determine what a moderate livelihood is?
President, Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association
First, I'd like to be clear that I accept the presence of systemic racism within Nova Scotia and its effects on indigenous people, and also the horrors of colonialism and how it effectively dispossessed the Mi’kmaq from rights, especially rights to fish, in this case.
What I would say about defining “moderate livelihood” is that it was deliberately left vague by the court, because this is an issue that was to have been solved within the House of Commons and through negotiations with the nations. I don't think we'll ever be able to define “moderate livelihood” right. I think it's vastly different in the Lower Mainland of B.C. than it would be in coastal Newfoundland, for instance.
I think what we need to do is look at—
NDP
President, Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association
I believe in the section 35 rights of Mi’kmaq people for self-determination, but I also believe that when it comes to natural—
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Do you believe they should be able to assert their own section 35 rights to self-govern themselves, with their own rights implementation lobster fishery management plan?
President, Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association
I'm trying to finish the answer, sir.
I believe in the right of Mi’kmaq people to self-determination.
When it comes to natural resources that all people of Canada rely on, I think the Supreme Court was clear, after the chaos that ensued in 1999, that the minister needs to make management decisions. I say that with the acceptance that my members do not own the lobster resource in the Atlantic Ocean's waters. No one does. It belongs to all Canadians. That's why I think it's important that the minister, who ultimately needs to take the best decisions for all Canadians into her heart and mind, needs to be the one who makes the decisions.
I feel that it not only agrees with the Supreme Court but also agrees with the majority viewpoint of the Canadian public, which we've revealed through polling in August by Nanos Research. It showed that 79% of Canadians believe we should all be sitting at a table and having these discussions together with the minister, and that 89% of Canadians believe commercial fishing should happen only within commercial seasons, for the benefit of all our communities.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Sproul.
Thank you, Mr. Johns.
That closes our rounds of questioning.
I want to say a huge thank you to our witnesses for this portion of our committee meeting this evening. I apologize to everybody for the lateness. We've kept everyone, even though I should apologize to myself, because we are probably up the latest here. It's almost 10:30 p.m. here in Newfoundland, where I am. It's a little later than normal for committee.
I'll give a second now for the witnesses to leave. We have one piece of business that we have to look after, which should take only a moment.
Thank you again to the witnesses.
Liberal
Liberal
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I thought this was just when the pubs got rolling out there in Newfoundland.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I'm not a pubber.
It was very interesting, Mr. Morrissey, with the witnesses we had this evening.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Nancy Vohl
Mr. Chair, the witnesses are gone, if you want to continue with the budget.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Okay.
I think everybody was sent a copy of a proposed budget. I will remind everyone that it has to be approved, and it needs to be approved now. It's only a preliminary budget so the clerk can start reimbursing people for travel or for time or whatever is involved to get the witnesses to appear. Of course, that amount may increase. They'll come back to us again if that is the case.
I'll entertain a motion to approve the budget as presented here this evening.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
It's moved by Mr. Morrissey, and seconded by Mr. Cormier.
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, everyone. Thank you as well to the clerk and the analysts for being so co-operative as we ran late this evening. Once again, you're at our beck and call and we appreciate it very much.
See you all Monday evening for a regular full pull.
The meeting is now adjourned.
