Fisheries Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2024

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

When it comes to licences, our objective is to promote the seal hunt economy so that people can have access to a protein source and use the entire animal. We work with indigenous communities, both domestically and internationally. We want to make it a product that contributes to tourism development and can be offered in restaurants, for example. The idea is to enable the entire population to have access to a worthwhile product. This economy must be developed with indigenous communities and the provincial government.

I was very pleased with the announcement we made yesterday. In my office, I have already been receiving calls from people who would like to have a licence. We made the announcement for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, and we are giving Nova Scotia time to amend its regulations so that its citizens can also have access to sealing licences.

This type of activity can expand significantly, as it did in the case of the lobster fishery. For me, that's the most beautiful experience we can have. As I mentioned earlier, we have already fattened the soil of our gardens with lobster. Lobster was also served in prisons at the time.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Is this a first for provinces—for P.E.I., I believe it is—to have a personal use licence? Is this the first time the department has issued such a licence?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Yes, in Prince Edward Island.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes, I've received a lot of positive comments as well.

I believe my time is up, Madame Minister. Thank you for that.

I'm looking forward to meeting with you again when the oyster industry and the Government of P.E.I. decide what best steps forward we have to take.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.

We'll now go to Madame Desbiens for two and a half minutes or less, please.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'll go back to what I was saying about the concern expressed by fishers. We heard comments from shrimp fishers in reports on Radio-Canada. They made a heartfelt plea to be given more consideration and listened to. They want more predictability. Mackerel fishers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars three days before the mackerel fishery opened, and then they were told, three days later, that there would be no mackerel fishery. Meanwhile, we hear that offshore fishers spent millions of dollars months before the cod fishery opened to prepare. There's something troubling here. I would like to know how you see the future in this regard.

The independent scientists at DFO consult the fishers on the ground a lot. They take into account their observations, which are the most accurate observations that can be made. Your boats conduct analyses, but fishers are on the water every morning, and they are not being listened to. That creates distress. When people are not consulted and the government decides how their lives will unfold, it is difficult for them.

Do you think things will change?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Things have already changed. I've been on the ground with them for a year. I meet with them regularly.

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

In that case, why are we hearing them say the opposite and bemoan the situation on Radio-Canada?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Again, I meet with them regularly.

You are right to say that fishers have expertise, whether they are traditional fishers, people from indigenous communities or scientists.

As I mentioned, by pooling all of our expertise, we will be able to work on the fisheries of today and ensure that we have sustainable fisheries for the future and for future generations. That's how I am operating in the field.

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

I think that fishers are more inclined than all of us to protect this resource, since it is their livelihood.

Can we hope that there will be budgets to support fishers who have suffered enormous losses as a result of closures and who are seeing offshore boats rolling out their wide nets? We know that these boats destroyed the resource 30 years ago.

There's something terribly troubling here, Minister.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

You're confusing things. You can't call it an inshore fishery—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you.

Madame Desbiens, you've gone a bit over the time—

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

The inshore fishery is fundamental to Quebec.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

The inshore fishery and the offshore fishery are two completely different activities.

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

That's true, but one impacts the other.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

It's in my region—

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

I understand that it's in your region, but I could drive there. I can do it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

The question is done. The answer is done.

Cliff, go down and referee.

We'll now go to Ms. Barron for two and a half minutes or less, please.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister.

I want to bring it back, just based on the fact that you were saying that you wanted to lead with some of the technical stuff.

I want to ask very simply if you are aware of the lighthouse keepers who are being removed at Pachena Point and Carmanah Point on Vancouver Island starting this week. Is this something you're aware of?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Yes, I'm aware of that.

It must be said that it is increasingly difficult to find lighthouse keepers. There are also new technologies—

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

Thank you, Minister.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just want to clarify—

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

—that are in place to help people who are using aids to navigation.

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

Minister, I am asking a question. Thank you.

The question is if you are aware of these two lighthouses in particular, which the lighthouse keepers are being removed from. If you're not aware, I can't ask the follow-up questions.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

I'm aware of that.

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

You are familiar with it.