Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is quite fortunate that the Atlantic fisheries crisis is being overshadowed by the troubles in HRDC.
The fisheries crisis may be out of the limelight, but I can assure the House that a serious problem still exists. I am telling the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, no. I am warning him that violence could once again erupt if solutions are not soon found to the problems.
We are hearing through the grapevine that the government is seriously looking for some kind of buyback program where it will purchase boats, licences and gear to help integrate natives into the commercial fishery.
I would strongly suggest to the minister that any such solution must somehow involve the elimination of the food fishery; otherwise, these resources may be used during the summer months to help non-status Indians to conduct their own fishery. If this should occur, we can surely expect serious unrest.
I can only hope that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will take these concerns seriously before finalizing any agreement in this dispute.