Fisheries Committee on Feb. 9th, 2026

[Aaron Heidt]

Within the northern shelf bioregion, where I work, there is a moratorium on oil and gas, so it doesn't become an issue. However, any federal tools that are used have to follow the federal protection standards, which ban oil and gas within federal protection tools. Those are the Oceans Act MPAs, national marine conservation area reserves and national marine wildlife areas.

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

Okay, but it happened. BP is conducting exploration in the northeast slope area of Newfoundland. What message does it send when the government tries to set up marine protected areas? Do you find that acceptable?

[Aaron Heidt]

It's hard to make the argument that offshore oil and gas are consistent with conservation objectives, but there are two cases within the framework where I understand that can happen. For marine refuges that don't follow the federal protection standards, it's case by case. The federal protection standards were established recently and they're not grandfathered, so if the MPA was created before the federal protection standards, that could be the rationale as to why.

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

That's why it's happening now, but do you think we should tolerate this situation or instead recommend that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans put an end to that possibility?

There's really something at odds with common sense when all fishers are banned from an area, but oil and gas exploration is allowed there. Wouldn't you agree?

[Aaron Heidt]

You'd have to assess it against the conservation objectives; however, it does seem inconsistent. It seems hard to imagine there are conservation objectives that are consistent with offshore oil and gas.

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

Is it your opinion, then, that the government should be advised to change the rules to make that impossible in every case?

[Aaron Heidt]

You're putting me in a tricky spot. My role is to represent 17 first nations, the Government of Canada and the Government of B.C. in the northern shelf bioregion, so that's where my area is focused. Those are the people I reply to and take actions from, so I'd rather not say.

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

In your area, that would not be possible. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but the time is up.

With that, we're going to start the second round of questioning with Mr. Small for five minutes.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to welcome the witnesses today, especially Mr. Skeard, who hails from the riding of Central Newfoundland.

I'll start with you Mr. Skeard.

With regard to the south coast fjords and the NMCA, you mentioned community engagement. Did you engage all the communities on the south coast that would have been affected by the implementation of the NMCA, or just one or two?

[Francis Skeard]

First, thank you for your welcoming, sir. It's nice to see you here.

The consultation process with municipalities, communities and organizations was quite extensive. To say that we as the steering committee moved forward and consulted with every community, I wouldn't necessarily be able to say that.

It was quite extensive, even to a point that as we progressed through the process, we were continually adding other groups and organizations to the consultation process.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Do you think you would have had a better chance of success in keeping the NMCA process moving on the south coast if you had gone to the joint mayors of the south coast and possibly asked them to be signatories to the MOU in the same fashion as you went to Burgeo?

[Francis Skeard]

Your suggestion is well noted, sir.

As you well know, in the beginning, the process started with Parks Canada, Qalipu, Miawpukek and Burgeo as signatories to the MOU. As the process progressed very quickly, the diversity of consultation was some of the most extensive that I've ever seen.

I can only speak for myself on this. I offered to speak to a number of unique groups. There was a continual yes to all of those opportunities and the like.

Some of these consultations were virtual, some were face to face and some were hybrid. From a consultation point of view, it was, as I've said already, quite extensive.

Your point on the joint mayors is very warranted. I can't speak to whether the joint mayors group was contacted.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

In terms of the funding that groups receive to help them move messaging forward and affect public opinion, would any funding that you received over this process have come from American trust funds and foundations, such as Pew?

[Francis Skeard]

Qalipu First Nation received funding from Parks Canada to move this agenda forward. I can't speak to what other organizations received, sir, but Qalipu received funding. We had a contribution agreement with Parks Canada to cover our expenses for participation in the process of the feasibility study.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Then, in hindsight, do you think that engaging the support of the ASF may have been counterproductive to your cause when you look back at it?

[Francis Skeard]

I would suggest that a number of things were counterproductive to the process. Engagement in a much more robust way with any and all industry groups is a piece. In saying so, we attempted to have early and robust consultation with some groups, and they were less available than I would have expected. To me, that's a missing piece where I wish we would have had much more engagement with the industry groups, sir.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

There's no doubt there will be more endeavours to create a national marine conservation area on the south coast. If that should come and should the process begin again, would you accept Ocean Winds' farms operating within a national marine conservation area, or would you want them exempted as you would oil and gas?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

We're over time, if you could just give a brief answer.

[Francis Skeard]

While it's important, sir, in this process, I represent Qalipu First Nation council. Qalipu First Nation council does not currently have a position on offshore wind farms, so I can't, with the greatest respect to your question and with greatest respect to the need....

I will say this. In previous councils, we had representation on offshore wind farms and had environmental assessment processes, regional assessments and things of this nature, so we are on the pathway to making decisions on these things. Sometimes we make the decisions, and sometimes we pause them—whatever suits the needs of our membership.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Small.

Next we're going to Mr. Connors for five minutes.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you.

Welcome to all the participants.

I want to ask a couple of questions of the Qalipu First Nation.

You said it was an extensive consultation. Was that government-led, partnership-led or industry-led?

[Francis Skeard]

The consultation was predominantly led by the steering committee. The steering committee had a couple of staff members provided by Parks Canada, so a lot of those individuals were the ones who led the consultation. A lot of those people were the ones who went into communities and things of this nature, but the entire steering committee was offered the opportunity to participate as much as we could. Most of the virtual ones I participated in, and a lot of the physical ones, were at some challenging times of the year weather-wise.

Predominantly, the consultation was led by the steering committee.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Do you know if the consultations included fishers, the commercial fishery—

[Francis Skeard]

Absolutely, yes, sir. It did.