Evidence of meeting #1 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was arnold.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to clarify my motion to have the minister appear. Do I need to move that again, now that we're in committee business, or was it deemed adopted?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
You don't need to table it again. You've already given notice, so you can move it now.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Okay. I will move that motion now, as we're in committee business.
Given that the 45th session of Parliament has begun and that Canadian fisheries are at a crucial moment, I move as follows: “That, pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee invite the Minister of Fisheries to testify before the committee for no less than two hours, and her department officials for one hour, no later than September 26, 2025.”
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Arnold.
We had a very brief discussion before, but is there anybody else who would like to weigh in on this motion?
Go ahead, Mr. Klassen.
Liberal
Ernie Klassen Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
I would like to see the date removed from that and have the minister come for one hour, which I think would be more than appropriate and more than the norm, and have the staff come for two hours.
Liberal
Liberal
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you.
I'm going to oppose that amendment. It is an invitation for the minister to appear, and we've always asked for two hours, if she's available, and for one hour for the department.
It's very important, and I think it's extremely important now, when we see potential significant changes in the department. I believe we've all seen the messages out there that the Canadian Coast Guard will possibly be moved to a different department of government and no longer be under fisheries, and we see that in the title of the fisheries minister, with it no longer being “Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard”.
I think that we, as a committee, deserve to understand what the new mandate of the minister will be, how the work of the department is going to proceed and what the priorities are going to be, and I don't think that can be covered off in one meeting. That's a very short round of questions for the many members of this committee. I'll oppose the amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Arnold.
Is there any other debate on the amendment?
I have Mr. Morrissey.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Just so we're clear, we're going to vote on the amendment to Mr. Arnold's motion. Clarify the amendment again for me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Mr. Klassen moved that the minister would appear for one hour rather than two hours and that the date would be removed.
Go ahead, Mr. Cormier.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I don't want to go above my colleague, but I'm thinking about the time of two hours. It is an invitation, Mr. Arnold, but can we at least remove the date? It's an invitation. I'm pretty sure the minister will come to this committee. It's just the date. Why not just remove the date and leave it as it is?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Are you proposing a subamendment to the amendment? That's what it would be doing.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'm sure that in three months' time, the minister will be more than prepared to come and meet with us for two hours to answer our questions, and I think that putting some kind of deadline on that is important. We want to see her as early as possible, because she will help us form our discussions as we go forward.
I think that what Mr. Arnold has proposed is more than acceptable and is more than enough of a heads-up for the minister to be prepared.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you, Mr. d'Entremont.
Next I have Mr. Klassen and then Mr. Arnold.
Liberal
Ernie Klassen Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
I was just going to ask whether it is possible to remove my amendment and substitute Mr. Cormier's amendment for my amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
I believe that in order to do that, you would need the unanimous consent of the committee.
Is there unanimous consent for Mr. Klassen to remove his amendment?
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, I'll remove my amendment also, so that we'll just go with the actual motion. Do we have unanimous consent for that?