Fisheries Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2026

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

In terms of the process, I will turn to the deputy, but I can tell you that I met with many of those harvesters myself. I also visited the FFMC in Winnipeg, so I certainly had direct consultations.

Deputy, is there anything you want to add in terms of the more formal process?

[Kaili Levesque]

Yes is the short answer. I know we're at time, but that indeed was part of the consultation: to help inform what those criteria were and what the transformation of the FFMC needs to look like for inland fishers and harvesters to participate in that market sale.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Arnold.

We're going to Mr. Connors for six minutes.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you very much.

Welcome, Minister.

The government has been taking steps to make departments more efficient and more streamlined. How is divesting the FFMC helping the government with this process?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Again, I have to be very careful around confidentiality in this process, but I will say that the intent is to modernize the FFMC and to make the processes more competitive.

I will add that I visited many of the communities this summer that are still part of the process and that were part of the original engagement, and certainly seafood is incredibly important to all of these sectors. We always need to be able to adapt processes to ensure we achieve what we need to achieve, which is ultimately about getting the product to market.

Deputy, I don't know if there's anything more you want to add.

[Kaili Levesque]

Indeed, in seeking the mandate to pursue this undertaking, open engagements were held with harvesters—those who engage with the FFMC and those who choose to no longer engage with the FFMC.

The corporation once held a monopsony in the freshwater fish inland fisheries, and the idea is that in an open market, being increasingly competitive was challenging. Looking at the business model fundamentally and those who chose to no longer sell into it, what was the rationale for that, and how could we structure a process to enable that market-based engagement?

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Many harvesters who work in the freshwater fishery in Canada are indigenous. While working through this divestiture, what are you doing to ensure that indigenous harvesters will have access to markets?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I have to fall back into the need for confidentiality in the divestiture process. I will add, before I turn to the deputy on this, that consultation, as we've said many times, is incredibly important, and that's with all involved—with indigenous as well as non-indigenous harvesters.

I don't know, Deputy, if there's anything more you're able to add.

[Kaili Levesque]

The honourable member mentioned the capacity funding provided to indigenous organizations that participate in the bidding process. In addition, priority criteria were established around the bidding process in and of itself. They include indigenous fisheries and rural, remote and inland harvesters as well, to ensure due consideration for the unique realities of those harvesters, fishers and the markets they are attempting to grow and engage in.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

When the government started to look at the divestiture of the FFMC, what challenges and benefits were related to the divestiture of the corporation? What were some of the challenges you looked at?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I'm going to turn to the deputy for that detail, but I want to stress once again that the process was about being able to modernize the FFMC and allow it to be more competitive.

I don't know, Deputy, if you're able to add anything more. The confidentiality makes it very difficult to give details, but is there anything else?

[Kaili Levesque]

The market parameters of losing market share on freshwater fish sales were one of the big motivators. The decreasing returns and the decreasing number of participants in the FFMC itself were absolutely a driver there.

We had several provinces and territories that opted to no longer participate in the structure of the FFMC, given the monopsony I mentioned it is structured on, favouring open market access to try to maximize the returns to individual harvesters and fishers. That was a big driver of looking at the idea that if the market is not bearing that, we need to transform it to make sure that opportunities are available for fishers and that the corporation is meeting market demands in export opportunities as well as domestically.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Minister, I'm going to ask you a question about the food fishery and the survey that was just done.

When are we anticipating to have some data available to the food fishery harvesters?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

As I said earlier, I'm very proud to share that over 9,500 people participated. That was really quite extraordinary. We are now looking at that information.

I don't have a date—I don't know, Deputy, if you have one—but I can tell you that we are actively reviewing the survey. Certainly, we'll share the results when that's completed.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I also want to ask a question, seeing as you're here, about the mackerel industry. I spoke to a lot of fishers in Newfoundland and Labrador who think that the fishery should be reopened. Can you give me some thoughts on that, please?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Of course.

I have spoken with both industry and harvesters; I think I shared that when I appeared before committee the last time. We certainly take seriously what the harvesters are saying. They're our eyes on the water. We have received the data from industry, and we are now reviewing it. Once it's available, we will share it.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Harvesters have expressed concern that the science doesn't match what they're seeing on the waters. They're hoping that the eyes on the water, as you said, are taken into consideration when looking at this fishery again.

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I heard that loud and clear. I firmly believe in consultation, which is why we asked for industry to share their data with us. That is now being considered. They'll be part of the conversations as we look at both and move forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Connors.

Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, everyone.

Good afternoon, Minister. It's nice to have you here and to see you again.

A major election promise was made by your leader, namely creating an Arctic fisheries fund and replenishing the Atlantic fisheries fund and the Quebec fisheries fund.

I want to talk to you about the Quebec fisheries fund to try to understand what's going on. As we go around and talk to people, we see that they are unanimously calling for the return of the Quebec fisheries fund. Unfortunately, it will expire on March 31, and not a single dollar was announced for it in the last budget.

In January, I met with people from the Association québécoise de l'industrie de la pêche. A unanimous resolution called for the return of the fisheries fund, and we see that not only the fishers' associations were demanding this, but also scientific institutes such as Merinov and industry people.

A number of projects and groups are waiting. People on the Côte‑Nord are waiting for boat launches. Lobster fishers are waiting for a project to better study the ocean floor. Fisheries are prepared to modernize, innovate and move forward, but they need the fisheries fund to do so.

Why, despite the promise that was made, is there still no money announced for the Quebec fisheries fund?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I want to share that this budget is very important for Quebec. It has funds for an airport, a naval shipyard and the shark pavilion and has support for small craft harbours in your riding. I need to note that you voted against all of this. I know that the fisheries fund is incredibly important. I'm very well aware of that.

I will also share that, obviously, as you mentioned, the funding is available until the end of March. Certainly, we'll share any other information that becomes available, but I understand that it's very important for industry.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

In your opening remarks, you said you wanted to support the fishing industry in terms of innovation. The fisheries fund is exactly the tool to do that.

Why has no money been announced yet to replenish the fisheries fund?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I will go back to the broader items in the budget that were very important for your region—things that you lobbied for that were in the budget. I need to reference again that you voted against all of them.

I will reiterate that I understand the fisheries fund is incredibly important. We have funding in place until the end of March. I will let you know if anything changes in the coming weeks.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Minister, is the election promise still valid or has it been abandoned by your government?

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

I understand that it is incredibly important. I hear that from all stakeholders. I hear it from my own colleagues and in meetings like this. I bring that forward.

We have funding in place until the end of March, and if anything changes, I will share that immediately.