Fisheries Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

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

I referenced this in my opening comments. In every opportunity I have now to sit with stakeholders, I talk about this very important reality that the demographic within the industry is such that we need a succession plan now to ensure that in five years and 10 years, we still have a strong harvester population and demographic in the industry.

I sat this summer at town halls and on wharves, and if there was one young person under 35 in the room, that was a good thing. There was not half a room or half a wharf of young harvesters, and that's a worry.

We know the fisheries are an economic boost for rural, coastal communities and indigenous communities, and we have to ensure that in short order, we work together. We're only going to do this when we come together, collaborate and work in a coordinated way to ensure that young harvesters see this as an economic future. It also speaks to the importance of managing the resources so that there is the opportunity for the next generation to once again see the fishery as a career, and as a career that will support families.

I invite all members of this committee, and all those connected to the sector, to please work with us. This is quite urgent. We need a succession plan as our harvesters age out.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I'm wondering if, in support of the industry, the department will be looking at such other sectors as the agricultural industry, which has done a pretty good job of succession planning and attracting new entrants to the field. Do you have any thoughts on that?

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

I look forward to all conversations. That's what I did this summer. Actually, that's what I've done throughout my career. We work in collaboration, we put ideas on the table, we collectively find tangible solutions and we move forward. I am committed to the work. I think we need to be quite specific in terms of our timelines and what it is we need to do to ensure that five years from now we are seeing those younger harvesters, workers and plant workers throughout Atlantic Canada, certainly, for our fisheries here and also throughout the country, because it is a national problem.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I don't have very much time left, so I'll finish off by saying that I think we should look at other industries and sectors to see what's been successful in those areas to attract new entrants.

[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 very much, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, Madam Minister. Thank you for joining us.

This summer, like you, I travelled around my beautiful riding of Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj.

During my tour, I often heard people talk about the Quebec fisheries fund. This initiative will invest approximately $40 million over five years to drive innovation and advance the fishing industry in my region.

Can you confirm today that the Quebec fisheries fund will be renewed?

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

As you know, we have a budget coming November 4. I will say that the fisheries fund has been a phenomenal resource for the industry across all aspects of the industry. I was pleased this summer to speak with the harvesters who were able to benefit from having cold storage on a vessel, which allowed for greater capacity to reach their individual quotas and for innovation.

It is an important fund that really sits across the sector. On November 4 we will see.

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

We agree that this is a great initiative.

In my riding, many people are expecting the fund to be renewed, and they want to prepare their grant applications.

Today, you are telling me that you are unable to confirm that your government will renew the fisheries fund.

Is that correct?

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

Obviously, that decision sits with the finance department. I would encourage you to certainly write to the minister. The perspective is important. However, it is a budget decision, and that sits with Finance.

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

I can understand that the upcoming austerity measures could affect the fisheries fund.

Is it possible that it will not be renewed?

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

I would encourage you to write to the Minister of Finance. It is a budget decision. I can't speak to that. But I certainly can say that I saw indications across the country from the different funds...but certainly in my region, I saw indications of its success.

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

It would be very poor public policy on the part of your government not to renew it.

Wouldn’t it?

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

Please put those thoughts in writing and send them to the finance minister.

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

I will be happy to do so, Madam Minister.

However, you need our help to convince the Minister of Finance. At present, he does not seem convinced that the fisheries fund should be renewed.

Is that correct?

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

I can't answer to what's in the budget, but certainly it's always helpful to speak publicly about programs that have been successful.

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

Thank you, Minister.

I would like to address another topic.

In your presentation, you mentioned the importance of diversifying export markets. In Quebec, 85% of what we pull from the sea is exported to the United States. However, Quebec’s fishing industry does not have a specific budget to help it diversify its export markets and conduct marketing missions abroad.

There is a program that has been put in place, called AgriMarketing. However, in recent years, we have noticed that the Quebec fishing industry has been systematically excluded and has not had access to these funds.

Can you commit to a specific program for Quebec? This would allow us to diversify our markets, which is a priority for both of us.

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

Thank you.

In my opening remarks, I referenced the recent announcement of the tariff response initiative. That's $1 billion total, and I'm certainly pleased to work with you. I don't have the number for Quebec at the moment, but I will turn to the deputy in a moment to see if she does. However, I will certainly get that for you and give it to you in writing. I believe there are opportunities within that funding stream to be able to help. We have to diversify markets, and that's intended from coast to coast to coast.

I'll ask the deputy if she has the exact amount for your region.

[Annette Gibbons, Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans]

I don’t have the exact figure, but it would be Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions that would administer this fund. This initiative would help small and medium-sized businesses in Quebec diversify their markets and innovate.

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

So you are confirming that this envelope will include funds specifically earmarked to help the fishing industry carry out marketing missions?

[Annette Gibbons]

The funds are intended for businesses in general, and those involved in fish processing will certainly be eligible.

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

Madam Minister, I will now turn to Bill C‑5

This bill was passed under closure. It stipulates that if your government decides that a project is in the national interest, it does not have to undergo certain assessments.

According to the Fisheries Act, which is included in the appendix to this bill, a project in the national interest does not have to be reviewed under the Fisheries Act, for example.

Were you consulted before the Fisheries Act was included in Bill C‑5 ?

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

What I have been working on with my colleagues, and certainly at the cabinet table, are the processes that we will undertake to ensure that we are more timely in decision-making. We still need to respect species, species at risk and fishing habitats, but we can move in a much more timely manner, and that's been my focus on this. I've been working with the department to look at ways that we can streamline some processes so that we can get to conversations on offsetting and mitigating in a much more timely fashion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.

That concludes the first round of questions.

With that, we're going to start the second round, the five-minute round, starting with Mr. Arnold for five minutes or less.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here, albeit only for an hour, after this committee has repeatedly asked for a two-hour attendance by yourself.

Minister, who owns Canada's fisheries resources?

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

The people of Canada.