Fisheries Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2020

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is more procedural, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to check whether we can simply continue with this study for one or two more sessions, if additional witnesses are able to join us, and then go back into the west coast Pacific salmon study.

I think would be very helpful to how we function as committee members if we can get the list of witnesses who are going to be appearing before the committee a bit sooner, or further in advance, for preparation purposes. Sometimes we're getting them the same day. I know sometimes that may be because of confirmation or not hearing in time. If there is a way for us to get that in advance, so that we can prepare, be ready to go, and have time to make sure we're set to go for the committee meetings, that would be good. We could have prep time for our staff for questions and research, etc.

I just want to put that out there. I understand there are times when you just can't reach the witnesses. I get that part of the equation. If at all possible, to get notice of that sooner would help us immensely, for sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Bragdon.

To part of your comment, I do understand from the clerk that she has been exhaustively trying to line up witnesses, but was unable to reach them and it's a matter of the last second if somebody is available or not.

At times it is difficult to give the list of witnesses out, but we will try to get that resolved, and work on it a little bit harder so people can prepare for the meeting that's upcoming.

Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you, Chair.

This might sound strange, but I agree with Mr. Williamson that the committee should take another meeting or two to go through the list. I'm looking at the list that was sent by the clerk to us. I see Robert Thibault on here. It was recommended that we have him appear. When I look across the list, to me it appears as if he said yes and appeared, when in fact he didn't appear.

When you say the list is exhausted, I don't quite see how we arrived at that, Madam Clerk.

[The Clerk]

Let me see. If that is the case, it's definitely a mistake that I would have done in trying to make sure—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

I'm not saying.... It's when I'm looking across this. I'm not really sure.

[The Clerk]

Let me have a look at it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

While Nancy is having a look at that, I'm getting a message that it's time to start cluing this one up, and get it done, and move on to salmon, hopefully, before Christmas.

Perhaps I could suggest that we allocate the next meeting for any witnesses who we can come up with for that particular meeting—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Will that be a full two-hour session, Mr. Chair, for witnesses?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

It will be a full two-hour session, but if we haven't got enough witnesses, maybe partway through the meeting we can move into drafting instructions. We will see if anyone else who can't come to that meeting can in fact come to the next meeting after that, and dedicate what's left between now and December 16 beyond this to try to clue up the salmon study so we can get that one off the books.

Then we move into the new year, can start off fresh with a new study, or perhaps have two studies on the go at the same time if need be. I think if we can clue up the two of these before Christmas, we would be accomplishing what we can leading up to the Christmas break, instead of starting something completely new, and not getting anywhere with it before we break for Christmas, and then having to try to refresh our memories when we come back.

Is everybody onside with that synopsis? I don't see any dissenting votes so—

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I have one question—not a dissenting one.

When you say the “next meeting”, do you mean this coming Wednesday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Wednesday and Monday, because Wednesday has already been allocated.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Okay. Basically a week Monday would be our last meeting then.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

All right.

Through our vice-chair, could I be sure that Dr. Dadswell is at least approached. I will provide his contact information as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

If you can provide that to Nancy, Mr. Williamson, that would be great, and the contact information if possible, so she can try to line that up for you.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I will do that. I might make one or two suggestions.

Thank you very much, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. Thank you.

Nancy, I think we know where we're going between now and December 16. We'll have one or maybe two meetings at the most to clue this up and drafting instructions, and then we will try to clue up the west coast salmon study.

[The Clerk]

Thank you.

Just to clarify, the House will not be sitting on December 16. It stops on December 11.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that. I thought the drop-dead date was the 16th. I think that still gives us enough time to get those meetings in and get clued up.

That's what we will aim for. I don't know if there's anything else anybody wants to raise right now.

Madame Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I actually didn't have any more questions, Mr. Chair. I just wanted the floor. I believe I was next on the list.

Since we seem to be booked until December 16 as far as the two studies go, I would like the committee to deal with the motions I had previously put on notice.

The first pertains to sport fishing. It reads as follows:

That the committee undertake a study to examine the possibility of undertaking a reform of the rules, laws and practices surrounding federal saltwater sportfishing for the Eastern Quebec region; that this study be based on the British Columbia experience in this area, as well as on the principles of access to the resource for coastal populations and the development of scientific data; that the Committee call witnesses including scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, representatives of First Nations and interested stakeholder groups to testify before the committee; and that the committee report its conclusions and recommendations to the House of Commons.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay.

I assume that you're making that a motion right now for the committee to do that.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

Certainly, Mr. Chair, we can proceed to the vote if there is no discussion on Mrs. Gill's motion concerning sport fishing.

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

I have a point of order.

Can you read the motion, Nancy? I didn't get it all.

[The Clerk]

I can certainly read the text of the motion again.

In English, it is:

That the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans undertake a study to examine the possibility of undertaking a reform of the rules, laws and practices surrounding federal saltwater sportfishing for the Eastern Quebec region; that this study be based on the British Columbia experience in this area, as well as on the principles of access to the resource for coastal populations and the development of scientific data; that the Committee call witnesses including scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, representatives of First Nations and interested stakeholder groups to testify before the Committee; and that the Committee report its conclusions and recommendations to the House of Commons.

Are you all good, Mr. Johns?