Mr. Speaker, there is leadership on Miramichi Bay. It is not with the federal government, Bob Rae or the fisheries minister. It is with commercially licensed fishermen who have been so patient these past few weeks. They are the heroes of Burnt Church because they chose to exercise restraint, even though their livelihood was being put at risk and even when conservation was being thrown out the window.
These people watched as their fish stocks were poached. And then watched our government reward the poachers, and still they exercised restraint. They heard their fisheries minister tell them he would end the illegal fishery and protect their stock. And then they saw him do nothing.
These people chose to be responsible even when their minister was not. They could teach him a thing or two. They recognize that actions have consequences and the law must be obeyed. We wish the minister had their wisdom. The official opposition salutes the commercial fishermen, the real leaders on Miramichi Bay who chose to exercise restraint.