Thank you very much.
Both Mr. MacPherson and I will be presenting the statement. I will start and he will conclude. Thank you.
On behalf of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association, I would like to thank the chair and the fisheries committee for the opportunity to once again respond to issues that impact our fishing community.
Our organization represents over 1,250 Prince Edward Island captains on important topics that affect fisher livelihoods and futures. Today’s topic of foreign ownership and corporate concentration of fishing licences and quota is one such topic.
We all understand that industries need to change and evolve to meet customer demands, be it on the boat, at the plant, in the store or in the restaurant. We understand that as transportation and refrigeration techniques improve, our local seafood resources are enjoyed by an increasing number of people around the world. We also understand that supply chains must be efficient to meet these needs.
The traditional supply chain of local independent fish harvesters supplying plants for processing and then furtherance to national and international markets is a good model of spreading wealth, keeping coastal communities vibrant and maximizing government returns and investments. There are many checks and balances in the current system to keep this supply chain efficient and profitable.
Ownership concentration can lead to reduced competition for products, fewer or eliminated jobs in coastal communities and a potential loss of food sovereignty in Canada.
Today we would like to expand on the concept of food sovereignty and food security.
Growing up in a country of bountiful food resources, we have never had to think of our food resources being restricted or, even worse, being grown or harvested here but not under the direct control of Canadians.
Our seafood industry has many challenges in terms of declining stocks and how the stocks are managed, but this is not the focus of discussion today.
In terms of corporate concentration, we are seeing more plants owned by the same ownership groups, in addition to refrigeration assets and other parts of the supply chain.
Ownership of offshore licences by corporations is also a concern. This makes it difficult for independent operators to access supply chain resources at competitive prices. With a primary focus on shareholder value and growth, these can be elements that not only put pressure on ocean resources but also expedite the closure of many major employers in coastal communities.
It is important to note that in some cases, foreign companies have varying degrees of government ownership, which does not make for a level playing field. These companies are also driven by growth and the maximizing of shareholder return, regardless of where the shareholders reside. The majority of their profits go out of Canada.
In many of these discussions, it is lost that owner-operators are independent small businesses, many of which employ two to three crew members. These business owners have significant personal investments, pay taxes and contribute to the volunteer base in their local communities. The resources of these small businesses are contingent on a well-functioning supply chain. Fishers are looking for a fair and equitable return, not an adversarial relationship that has winners and losers.
I will turn it over to Mr. MacPherson now.