Evidence of meeting #37 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 deschênes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Seal hunting is ingrained in the DNA, and in the traditions and culture of the people of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Right now, in Quebec, there is demand for seal products, but supply is insufficient.
There's also an interesting project in Haute-Gaspésie to develop the seal industry. We're seeing that there are regulatory issues making seal hunting more complicated than it should be. That's why I'm proposing that the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans support the following study motion.
I propose that:
(a) the committee undertake a study on the development of the seal industry in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Maritimes; (b) the study specifically address: (i) the modernization of regulations, (ii) measures to foster the emergence of a new generation of hunters, (iii) initiatives to improve social acceptability, (iv) measures to be implemented to develop the seal hunting industry; (c) the committee invite representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, seal hunters' associations, hunters, representatives of coastal and Indigenous communities, and marine biologists to appear; (d) the committee devote a minimum of three meetings to this study; (e) the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and (f) pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to its report.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Yes. It was already placed on notice on April 22.
Liberal
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I totally agree.
Moreover, my colleagues will propose an amendment aiming to widen the scope of the motion.
We could give Mr. Small the floor.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I have a few changes here. I'd like to amend the motion so that it reads as follows:
That:
(a) the committee undertake a study on the development of...pinniped industries in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Northern Regions;
(b) the study specifically address:
(i) the modernization of regulations,
(ii) measures to foster the emergence of a new generation of harvesters,
(iii) initiatives to improve social acceptability,
(iv) measures to be implemented to develop pinniped harvesting industries;
(c) the committee invite representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, pinniped harvesters’ associations, harvesters, representatives of coastal and Indigenous communities, and marine biologists to appear;
(d) the committee devote a minimum of five meetings to this study;
(e) one hour be dedicated to reviewing the progress made on the recommendations from the committee’s December 2023 Report No. 12, Ecosystem Impacts and Management of Pinniped Populations;
(f) the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and
(g) pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to its report.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I agree with my colleagues' amendments. The only thing I'd like to point out is that we could use loup-marin or phoque instead of pinnipède in the French version. It would be more accurate.
Natacha Kramski Committee Researcher
If I'm not mistaken, pinnipeds also include other marine mammals, such as sea lions. The motion would therefore be broader than if it referred only to “seals”. Other marine mammals would also be included in the definition of “pinniped”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
Mr. Deschênes and Mr. Small, do you want to use the word “pinniped”? Do you want to stick with it? What do you want to do?
Mr. Cormier.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Are we talking about Mr. Small's amendment right now? I just want to make sure.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mr. Deschênes accepted the amendment, but I think the analyst is saying that “pinniped” is a broader category than seal.
Liberal
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
It's maybe the second part, having an hour or two hours, that I do not agree with. It would take time away from the witnesses we want to hear from and it would take time away from Mr. Deschênes' witnesses as well.
It's just the part about having one or two hours to review the report that I'm not agreeing with
Liberal
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
In fairness to Mr. Cormier, how about we add another meeting to discuss what's been acted on based on the recommendations of the last pinniped study?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
The amendment did suggest, Mr. Cormier, “a minimum of five meetings”. What you're hearing is going to six meetings, possibly.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
No, Madam Chair. I want to make it clear that we do not agree to having one more meeting or hearing on another study's report. It's taking time away from what we actually want to do. I think Mr. Deschênes wants more witnesses to come to this committee to share about the problem with the seal situation.
I disagree with this part of Mr. Small's amendment.
