Fisheries Committee on May 29th, 2023

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

There you have it.

I was just acknowledging the comment about the survey having gone awry and wanting to find out from the minister what next steps will be taken in light of this general knowledge around the table now that this was the case.

My question is similar to Mr. Hardie's. I'm trying to put together recommendations to the government on next steps, so I really want to reaffirm the most vital information we should be having in these recommendations.

Mr. Williams, can you share with us the number one thing you think needs to be included in our recommendations to the government, in the hopes that we'll see some traction in the right direction?

[Richard Williams]

Implement your 2019 recommendations for a full licence policy review to develop a made-in-British Columbia fleet separation policy—it's always talked about as owner-operator, but to me the critical thing is fleet separation—with full engagement with all the interest groups and stakeholder groups involved, first nations, etc.

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

Thank you.

Ms. Collier, do you have any thoughts around the number one recommendation that we should be including on licensing policy on the west coast specific to foreign ownership?

[Melissa Collier]

I agree with Mr. Williams. I think the primary thing is fleet separation and stopping the foreign ownership, and the policy review. I honestly don't think I could have said it better than Mr. Williams did.

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

Thank you.

Finally, Mr. Bourgault-Faucher, do you have any thoughts on a number one recommendation that you feel should be coming forward?

[Gabriel Bourgault-Faucher]

It would certainly be the suggestion to explore the possibility of issuing new community fishing licences to non-indigenous communities in Canada.

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

Do I still have more time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

You have 20 seconds.

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

All right. Well, I'm going to give you back those 20 seconds. There you go.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Perfect. Thank you, Ms. Barron, for that.

That concludes our witness presentation and our questioning for today. I know Mr. Arnold has an item he'd like to raise, so we'll deal with that before we actually adjourn.

Mr. Arnold, go ahead.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think I can be quite brief here.

We had previously requested that Global Affairs Canada appear at the committee to answer questions during today's meeting. The clerk circulated the response from Global Affairs to the second request. In that response, Global Affairs did not agree to accept the committee's invitation to appear. I believe the committee needs to hear from Global Affairs Canada and have a chance to question them to inform our work on this report.

As such, I have a motion. I move:

That the committee issue a third request for Global Affairs Canada officials to appear for the committee's study of foreign ownership and corporate concentration of fishing licences and quota to provide testimony and answer questions regarding Canada's commitments related to foreign investment under the auspices of Canada's international trade and foreign investment protection agreements.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

All right. Is everyone in favour and okay with that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. That's done.

I want to say thank you to our witnesses today for appearing and sharing their knowledge with the committee as we go through this report. It was very informative and very good to listen to, as well, and to see the difference between the east coast and the west coast, and the rules.

Have a good week, everyone, and we'll see you on Thursday.

The meeting is adjourned.