Fisheries Committee on Dec. 4th, 2024

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

I can tell you that we're working hard on the issue of illegal and clandestine fishing, for the benefit of fishers. Work is being done and it will continue.

This work began with the fishers' associations. We started working with the Canada Revenue Agency—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Of the 10,000 illegal lobster traps—

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

—and we'll also be continuing our work with the Department of Finance.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

—in the Bay of Fundy in the summer, how many were seized? I'll tell you the answer. It's 259. That is not enforcement.

I'll move on. You're destroying the elver fishery. Not one person has written to your department supporting what you're doing—not the adult eel harvesters or any of the employees you want to give this to. Your agenda, according to some, is to put licence-holders out of business. Some ask, “Why are you putting my family out of work with this communist policy?”

Why is it that you believe people should make less money? What part of the Fisheries Act gives you the ability to decide what amount of money somebody should make? What part of the Fisheries Act allows you to expropriate 75% of a business?

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

In terms of the elver fishery, work has been done and stricter rules have been introduced. As a result, families and young people in the next generation can—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Have you read the Fisheries Act?

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

—earn a living. This work will carry on, because I'm committed—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Have you read the Fisheries Act, yes or no?

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

—to continuing our work in the fisheries sector.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

You have not read the Fisheries Act.

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

However, your current move to block supplementary estimates (B) is a real disgrace.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Watch yourself, Mr. Perkins.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, it was impossible for me, and probably for Ms. Koutrakis and Mr. Hardie, to hear anything that was just said.

The interpreter can't get the job done with all this noise. Mr. Chair, please call the committee to order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I'm trying.

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

I just want to reassure my colleague that the Fisheries Act states that licencing decisions fall under my purview.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I'm sorry, Madame Lebouthillier. The time is up for Mr. Perkins's questioning.

I will now go to Mike Kelloway for the last three minutes to finish this off.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Thank you.

In the summer, Minister, we saw the Canadian Coast Guard conduct the search and rescue of seven Newfoundland fishers off the coast of Newfoundland. The Coast Guard did phenomenal work, and it was because of their ability to act quickly and effectively that lives were saved and that families had hope and have their loved ones back. In fact, the entire province was mesmerized by what was accomplished by those fishers, and in particular by the Coast Guard.

With the obstruction going on in Parliament, I have a concern that the estimates are not going to go through. How would that impact safety for fishers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., New Brunswick, Quebec and elsewhere?

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

We know that fuel costs have gone up. We need much more fuel. The funding requested in supplementary estimates (B) will help get the boats out on the water.

I'll let Mr. Pelletier answer your question.

[Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard]

The funding is intended for both fuel and ships' crews.

We're getting new ships and new technology, and we need to do more training. Some of that money is going towards the Canadian Coast Guard College, and some of that money is for recruiting new people when the new ships are delivered.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Along the same line of questioning, if the supplementaries don't go through, how will that impact the small craft harbours in terms of repairs or even dredging? How will that impact small craft harbours across Canada?

[Annette Gibbons]

The supplementary estimates include money from the budget for small craft harbours. There are all the Fiona repairs we're doing in a number of different harbours. On augmenting, we have an annual budget that we receive in our regular appropriation, but we do a lot more. We need to do a lot more on small craft harbours, so we depend on that supplemental money.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

I think I have 20 seconds left, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

You have 17 seconds now.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

I have 17 seconds. Thank you very much.

What's of concern to me, beyond the party politics, is that if we don't get things done here and get money to small craft harbours, particularly for safety, I believe that people's lives will be at risk. That's very serious business. I hope we can get on with the order of getting the funding to them.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I do too. Release the documents.