Mr. Speaker, I really do not think the member opposite can accuse the minister of inaction. He went down and visited with the native community and the commercial fishers. He said very clearly that there will be a regulated fishery or no fishery at all. What he tried to achieve through goodwill and discussion was to keep people off the water until the proper regulatory regime could be put in place. He has the authority under the Fisheries Act to act if the conservation is jeopardized. I think we will see he will take that kind of action if necessary.
In the House of Commons on October 13th, 1999. See this statement in context.