Evidence of meeting #17 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 video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I don't have an update at this moment, but I'm actively engaged, and I have also been actively engaged in dialogue with the sector in British Columbia. I understand the want for clarity, and I will inform in due course.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I understand that the timelines are sensitive, and I will get back to you when I have a decision.
Conservative
Aaron Gunn Conservative North Island—Powell River, BC
Is there still no timeline now?
I'm going to be meeting with a first nations chief later today whose entire community completely depends on this industry up in Port Hardy, and it's very confusing.
Is this government still planning to pursue a policy of two different policies for two separate coasts? If so, is there something special in the waters off the Pacific that means you have to ban aquaculture on the Pacific coast but not the Atlantic?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I will say to you that I was in Port Hardy this summer and met with indigenous groups. I'm very sensitive to the challenges, and I'm sensitive to the need for clarity. I am not able to provide that at this moment, but I am actively working on this.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Gunn.
Next we're going to Mr. d'Entremont for five minutes.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister and staff, for being here today.
I want to pick up where Mr. Deschênes and Mr. Morrissey were earlier talking about rules and trying to set a real direction in the rules that we're supposed to be following and the set of seasons that we're doing.
Minister, can you, maybe with a little support, talk about the enforcement position, especially when it comes to LFAs 33 and 34 right now, through the whole season—not just the commercial season but the summer season we've been experiencing over the last number of months?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I'm going to turn it over for more specifics, because I obviously stay at arm's length from what happens on the water, but I will say that there is a need for clarity in terms of the unauthorized fishing, which is unacceptable. We need to start at that point and determine how we move forward.
It's often education as well, but I'll turn to Mr. Lambertucci to speak to that.
Harvesters have the right to feel safe when they're on the water, and certainly I take responsibility for giving the directive that we need to move forward to help ensure that that happens.
Sir, if you'd like to, please add detail on what's happening in the region.
National Chief Enforcement Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Thank you, Minister.
The seasonal enforcement is the same from season to season and is unauthorized. We take a very progressive approach to that as we are enforcing. We do have, and we often do perform, education throughout the continuum of enforcement activities, but if it's unauthorized, we do move to an enforcement position.
We have the right to protect the rights-based fisheries, and we do so. They have to have an orderly and safe season, as do all commercial harvesters. That is the very basis of our approach. When we take the enforcement continuum approach, it's evidence-based; it's based on ground truth, and we move forward based on that being intelligence-supported as we approach these enforcement initiatives. Whether it's a rights-based approach or a commercial harvest approach, unauthorized is unauthorized, and we follow that at every season, regardless of open or out-of-season fishing.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
LFAs 33 and 34 are fishing right now. I don't know about the weather today, but they got started last week. I'm already hearing of challenges within that fishery. There are some low catches, but their biggest challenge at this point is prices. They're being affected by a number of issues. Low catches are one, but the Chinese tariffs are really putting a damper on things. They are coming in at around $8 a pound.
I'm just wondering, on the total data catch here, how the fishery is doing and how the department is going to be responding to understand what the whole package looks like. What does lobster in southwest Nova Scotia actually look like, and what is that future?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
That's a very good question.
In terms of tariffs, I can certainly say that we continue to work with Chinese officials to try to work beyond the tariffs, which are creating a very real challenge for harvesters across the country. We know that the U.S. market is very challenging as well. That is something we continue to work on.
We have to look at climate change and water temperatures, and what impact that's having on lobsters. We need to be guided by science. At no time can we not be very mindful of what we are seeing from science, what we're hearing from harvesters. They are on the water, and they know what a day's catch looks like. It really speaks to the need for measured approaches. This is an important industry. It is a livelihood, so we have to balance that reality for families and harvesters with sustainability.
I don't know if the acting deputy has anything she would like to add to that, but I can certainly reassure members that, in all of the conversations, I will always add the need to ensure that the economic realities are held...and become part of the principles as we make changes going forward.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
We have five seconds left here. Maybe an answer in writing would be better.
Interim Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'm happy to provide some statistics about the value of the lobster sector, the work we're doing at the highest level, the catches themselves and the increases we've seen. We're also watching closely the health of the overall stock, sir.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you. That completes our second round.
We're going to do an abridged third round here. We'll do three-and-a-half minutes for the Conservatives and the Liberals, and then two minutes for the Bloc.
Mr. Dawson, you have the floor for three-and-a-half minutes.
Conservative
Mike Dawson Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Thank you, Chair.
Minister, is there a priority list with the small craft harbours that need the most repairs? Does the government follow that list with the harbours that are the most in need of repairs first, or are they picked in a political fashion?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I smile because, again, you voted against this.
Small craft harbours are critical to this industry. They are the backbone of the industry, and they are so important to rural, coastal and indigenous communities. What I will say to you—
Conservative
Mike Dawson Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Okay. I have three and a half minutes. I don't need any filibustering, so I'm going to get to the point.
Is there a list, yes or no?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
It is not a political process. Yes, there is a list, and it's—
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
—engagement with harvesters at the wharf. I can tell you from my own riding that the users of the wharf are actively engaged with the experts and the teams on the ground. This really happens at regional levels. I become involved only for the final decision.
Conservative
Mike Dawson Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
The reason I'm asking is that when we look at the expenditures for 2024-25, which was $29 million for the whole budget, 13 projects were announced in my neighbouring ridings, Beauséjour and Acadie—Bathurst. Meanwhile, in 2021, nine projects were made for Beauséjour and none for Miramichi—Grand Lake and none for Acadie—Bathurst. That's 100% of the projects in 2021 and 60% in 2024 that were in the riding of a senior Liberal cabinet minister.
Is it reasonable to say that these announcements were made based on politics?
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Decisions are made at the community level. They are made based on a series of criteria.
I don't know if the acting deputy would like to speak to the process.
Conservative
Mike Dawson Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
I'm not asking the deputy minister. I'm asking you.
Conservative