Fisheries Committee on Feb. 25th, 2026

[Anna Classen]

l note that independent assessments were undertaken using a draft network plan that was subsequently revised and incorrectly assumed a full closure of 30% of the northern shelf bioregion. A final network design is significantly different from a draft design, and full implementation of the network will not result in a full closure of sites to fishing.

Where risk from fishing is not present or has been addressed through fisheries management measures, fisheries will continue, and the concerns about extensive losses would not be realized—

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Why hasn't this been clearly communicated to the harvesters who have been here and testified at this committee?

[Anna Classen]

We are actively engaging with harvesters. Since March 2024, we've undertaken workshop planning with a small group of industry representatives. We've done some in-depth analysis and workshops on data needs that estimate baseline input and on identifying later steps. That includes, between May and June, meetings on groundfish, shellfish by trap and trawl, shellfish by dive, salmon, herring and tuna. We—

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to move that we again send a request to the minister to appear on this study. What we're hearing in testimony from harvesters and department officials is very contradictory. The minister is the one who should be here to answer why we're being stonewalled and why harvesters are being stonewalled.

I'd like to move that we resend another request for the minister to appear at this committee for this study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Arnold, just so I understand you correctly, are you hoping to move a motion?

Is there agreement in the room? Does somebody want to weigh in on this?

Mr. Cormier.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, the minister has come to this committee probably four times, or maybe more. She will come again. That's my understanding.

I don't mind resending what Mr. Arnold wants to send back to invite the minister, but the minister was here many times, and she will come back. If Mr. Arnold wants the committee to send back the invitation, I think we can agree with that for sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I see Mr. Connors on the same motion.

Would you like to say something?

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

When was our last request sent? Wasn't that sent at our last meeting? Did they have time to reply to it?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

The last request was sent on Monday.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

They never had a chance to reply to it, and we're sending another request two days later.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

I'd like to interject to say that you said the minister would not respond or would not appear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I'll turn to Mr. Klassen next.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Arnold, I don't believe Mr. Weiler said that she was not going to be coming. She has not given us a definitive answer yet as to when she would be able to come. She has said that she will come back to this committee—perhaps not in the next week or two—but we haven't received a firm commitment for when she'll be here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Arnold.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Would the parliamentary secretary please clarify whether the minister indicated that she would simply come back to the committee at some point in the future or she would come back to appear on this study?

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

The minister has not committed to coming back for this study, but she has also not said that she would not come back for this study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

On the same motion, I have Mr. Small.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

I think it's very important for the minister to appear at this committee on this study, because we're looking at areas in Newfoundland and Labrador where there are going to be brand new marine protected areas. There are many proposals, including shutting down the area around the Virgin Rocks.

A CBC article yesterday talked about snow crab stocks reaching “historic lows” by 2028. There are efforts in play to shut down the Virgin Rocks, historically the most productive cod-fishing area in the world. In a few years' time, the fishermen from 3L, whom she represents, are going to want to fish cod on the Virgin Rocks. She needs to come here and answer to the committee and to stakeholders. She's had long enough to confirm whether or not she's going to come, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you, Mr. Small.

Go ahead, Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

I don't have a problem with resending, but let's call out the Conservative opposition for the antics they're playing here. I've been on this committee for years. Ministers have been here on a regular basis. Compare that to the record of the former Conservative government, when a fisheries minister rarely appeared before this committee. In fact, my understanding is that it was maybe two to three times over 10 years.

The theatrics of what's going on here today with resending this to the minister.... All ministers have been very co-operative with this committee and have appeared here numerous times on a host of issues. If it's the wish of the opposition to send a new note after two days, then so be it. The committee can choose that, and we can move on to the study we're well into.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.

It sounds like there's agreement on that.

Mr. Arnold, I saw you had your hand up, before we put this, hopefully, to bed.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

I'd like to quickly add that the first invitation was back on November 12, 2025—months ago.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

The minister has been here since then. The minister has been here since we've been back in the new year.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

The minister was here on Bill C-15, and she could not speak a word to it when she was here because she said the contract was under negotiation. She came for an hour and wasted our time saying that she couldn't speak to it because it was confidential. It was a full hour of those kinds of responses from her and the department.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I have Mr. Morrissey and Mr. Connors. It sounds like we're in agreement on the way forward, so I would like to continue with the witnesses we have here today.

Given that Mr. Connors has his hand up, I want to quickly address that. We can send an email invitation, and then we can continue with the matter at hand.