Evidence of meeting #11 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 enforcement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
Thank you, Mr. Boudreau.
Mr. Nelson, is there a problem with the act or is there a problem with the act being carried out to its fullest potential?
As an Individual
I would agree with what people on either side of me have said. Sure, you can always improve the existing act, but enforcing it properly solves most of the problems.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
Has there been political enforcement with DFO C and P? Have their hands been tied in doing their job?
As an Individual
There are many examples of that, most recently with the elver fishery back in the east and the first nations fishery on the west coast. Often fishery officers can't go out and do their job.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you, Mr. Small.
Next we're going to Mr. Morrissey for six minutes.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Foss, for coming to the committee today and providing this testimony.
Chair, I've been on this committee for some time, as have some other members. We have heard very damaging testimony given to this committee over the years as it relates to enforcement, as it relates to this type of agreement you've referenced, and a host of other areas. Quite frankly, it appears to have fallen on deaf ears within the bureaucracy at DFO. Really, it's time for these issues to be addressed. We've had very detailed testimony given at this committee over those years.
Chair, does the committee have the ability to request the documents, all documents, that may be within DFO or within Justice as they relate to the case of Mr. Foss? You don't have to answer right now, but I want some direction to the committee on its ability.
I, for one, would like to examine the paper trail as it went through, as you articulated, because at this stage it's your word in here. I trust what you're putting before the committee, but at the same time, I would like it if this committee could follow the trail and look at the records on how we got here.
Chair, could you give some direction on that?
I'll go back to Mr. Foss.
You referenced going into an office and coming out with $3.8 million. Could you elaborate a bit more? You were bankrupt at the time you said—
Fisherman, As an Individual
I was bankrupt and I'm still in bankruptcy, actually.
Fisherman, As an Individual
Yes, I walked into Quinlan's office. Now that's a bit of a short story when I said it. We had three different banks. I came to the office in Atlantic Place. We didn't go to the bank's office. They came to Robin's office. Yes, he got the money. In his own words that I have in a text, he is good at getting money. I've got that in a text message—
Fisherman, As an Individual
It was the cost of the enterprise they put me in.
Liberal
Fisherman, As an Individual
No. It went to the bank, I guess, or it went to the owner of the boat that I took over.
Fisherman, As an Individual
How did a man in bankruptcy get a $3.8-million loan?
Liberal
Fisherman, As an Individual
DFO has everything. It has all the contracts, the paperwork. It has everything.
Fisherman, As an Individual
I'm still fishing, yes, running boats off and on, being a skipper off and on, or jumping on boats when I can. I've got nothing steady right now. Like I said, this fight has affected my career big time.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
What would that be...? How long have you been actively on a boat, fishing?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
With regard to what you've given to the committee in this testimony, are you the only case, do you think, or is this happening...?
Fisherman, As an Individual
No, I'm not the only case.
I'm one of the only ones with enough gumption to come here and talk about it, I guess, but I'm far from the only case. People have reached out to me. I'm far from the only one.
There are many instances like this, not only working through certain fishermen but.... Someone has to take a look at these native groups as well. The merchants are working through them a lot as well. They're controlling half of the quota in the industry, and then we wonder why we can't get a fair price in the spring of the year.