Mr. Speaker, fishing in Guysborough County can be traced back to the Basque as early as 1504. Yet as we enter the next millennium this important industry has fallen upon tough times.
Today a delegation from my Nova Scotia riding became the second group from Guysborough County this month to come to Ottawa to discuss their concerns with the deputy minister of fisheries.
Two weeks ago representatives from the Canso Trawlerman's co-op and Seafreez in Canso, and today ACS Trading in the town of Mulgrave, arrived to request shrimp quota. Both groups have realistic, community based proposals to modernize the fisheries and create jobs in two of the poorest areas of Canada. Both proposals are supported by the private sector, the public, municipal leaders and the local Liberal MLA.
These proposals are consistent with the will to Canadianize the industry and to give Nova Scotia a fair share of the quotas.
On behalf of the men and women of these constituencies whose livelihoods depend on the federal government's commitment to work with them and for them, I urge the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to give both proposals his full support and approval.