Madam Speaker, I believe these are the same as the comments and question directed at my colleague, the member for Frontenac, so my discourse will be almost the same as his as well.
The Bloc Quebecois is not against a national oceans strategy. What the Bloc Quebecois is critical of in Bill C-26 is that the minister had announced that he would take the various partners in the shipping industry and the provinces into account. Right now, what we are seeing in Bill C-26 is that he did not do this. Instead, he turned a deaf ear, as usual.
I congratulate my colleague, the opposition critic for fisheries and oceans. He did an excellent job, and tabled amendments, which once again the government has ignored.
I think that one person who truly saw the need for changes in this bill, because he comes from a region that depends on the fishery, is my colleague, the hon. member for Gaspé. He was completely ignored, as were the various stakeholders in the shipping industries and the provincial governments.
What we are criticizing is the lack of a clear policy to define the relations between the various partners. We are also criticizing the fact that, under the Constitution, it was established that navigable waters come under federal jurisdiction. Along comes Bill C-26 and in they charge once again, as my colleague, the member for Frontenac was saying, duplicating services and meddling in provincial affairs.
I was referring earlier to my riding. In my riding of Drummond, there are people who use the small Saint-François river, people who belong to organizations such as Chasse et Pêche, recreational
boaters, owners of small sailboats and so on. My mandate is to represent these people, who came to me and said that they hoped I would speak out against this completely ridiculous fee structure. That is why I have taken part in the debate on Bill C-26 today, to make known the needs of my riding and the wishes of those who elected me.
It would seem that government members have no problem. They have no representatives, no small lakes, no small rivers, and no constituents opposed to this bill.
It is revolting that they should ask my daughters, who have a pedal boat, to register it, telling them they must do so because the coast guard is supposed to be looking out for their safety. The public is not stupid. That is my comment in response to the question from my Liberal colleague.