Fisheries Committee on May 2nd, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes.

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

Is Madame Desbiens' motion amending Ms. Barron's motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes. That's what she said.

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

We have to vote on that first, don't we?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

No, we don't.

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

Yes, we do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We'll get to a vote on the subamendment first. Okay.

All right. I'll ask the clerk to do the vote on the subamendment that's been presented by Madame Desbiens.

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

On a point of order, for clarification, do we have Madame Desbiens' subamendment? Was it circulated?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

It's been sent. It's in French only.

Can we ask Madame Desbiens to read out the amendment so that the interpreters can interpret it for everybody who doesn't speak French?

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Of course.

I'll read it slowly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. Begin when you're ready.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I move to amend Ms. Barron's amendment by adding the following subamendment:

(e) that, as part of a reopening, a crisis unit be set up beforehand made up of the various intervention units concerned—

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

There's no interpretation coming through.

I can hear it now. Thank you.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I will continue reading. Thank you.

(e) that, as part of a reopening, a crisis unit be set up beforehand made up of the various intervention units concerned, border agency, coast guard, public security agency, scientific representation and legal fishermen, to act not only in observation and surveillance but also to act in protection and intervention in the event of force majeure to promote a resumption of fishing that is adequate, egalitarian and ensuring increased safety;

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Has everybody heard the subamendment?

Shall we call the vote, Madam Clerk?

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I want to get clarification. Is she saying this is a group that gathers together? The interpreter is saying it's a crisis cell; I don't know what a crisis cell is. If we're talking about a group of people to come together, sure, I can agree with that.

I'm asking for clarification as to whether this is a group that's going to be formed, with professionals or people who are impacted by the elver fishery, to be able to provide an informed and local perspective.

Is that the intent of (e)?

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

That's how I described it.

We learned from observing elvers that if we reopen the elver fishery, we know from past experience that we will be dealing with the same issue.

If we reopen the elver fishery, we need to make sure that we have a crisis unit including all those impacted by the situation—

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

It's a crisis team.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

—who will keep an eye on things properly, keep things safe and make it possible to respond.

So we would be taking into account the circumstances that specifically affect elvers.

There will be border officers, people from the RCMP, but also legal fishers, people from the community—

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Okay.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

—a crisis unit that can step in to guide the reopening. Otherwise, there's no point in reopening. That security unit has to be there to support the reopening.

That's my position. That's why I'm moving a subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Go ahead, Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

You folks operate a bit differently here at fisheries from the other committees I sit on.

Just based on the discussion so far, I am going to ask, Mr. Chair, that you excuse the witnesses. It seems like this is going to take the remainder of the time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I think that's a good suggestion, Mr. Bachrach.

Is everybody in agreement?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.