Debates of Nov. 24th, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates, 2020-21

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, “vitally important” are the words she used in her maiden speech. She cannot answer how many meetings she has had, organized by her office as minister, in rural communities in Nova Scotia. I do not mean bumping into her neighbour. How many meetings has she organized in her capacity in rural Nova Scotia?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, as I have said, I have had countless meetings with commercial harvesters since I was first appointed minister and before I was minister. This is something that is important in my riding.

Commercial harvesters play an integral role in our communities and I will continue to meet with them to ensure we address the concerns that I hear from them every day of the year.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Over the same time period, Mr. Chair, how many meetings have there been with indigenous leaders in the community on the fishery?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, once again, I have been meeting with the indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada as well as indigenous people right across the country when it comes to the fishery. That is part of the role of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. They need to be consulted. They need to be heard. That is one of the things I will continue to do.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, how many proactive meetings did the minister organize with indigenous leaders in her 15 months as minister?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, I have had a number of meetings with commercial harvesters as well as with indigenous people and first nations communities. It is imperative that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans continues to have those conversations. That is something I will continue to do.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, will the minister confirm that she only reached out to Chief Mike Sack after reading his comments in the paper about the fishery dispute?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

No, Mr. Chair, I had many meetings with Chief Sack over the last number of months. I will continue to do that. It is part of the negotiation process. It is important that we continue to have conversations with the chief, with all the chiefs. That is what I have been doing and that is what I will continue to doing.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, the minister previously said that she had not read the Marshall decisions that led to the indigenous fishery and the dispute in Nova Scotia. Has she since read the two Marshall decisions?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, I have read the Marshall decision. The decision is extremely important. It affirms the Supreme Court decision on the right for first nations to fish. We will continue to work with them to ensure we implement that right.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

What does the second Marshall decision of the Supreme Court of Canada refer to, Mr. Chair?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, the second Marshall decision actually clarifies the first Marshall decision, because there were questions around that decision. The second has ensured that it is clarified so we can make sure we move forward to ensure we implement the right.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, implementing the right and providing for conservation means that Indigenous Crown-Relations and Fisheries and Oceans must meet together to get this done. How many regular meetings on a monthly basis does she have with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, our government takes a whole-of-government approach to reconciliation. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations has been extremely active in this file with me. I meet with her on a regular basis. She has met with me and first nations throughout this process. We have to continue to do that. It is important that the minister is involved, as well as a number of ministers, with regard to this issue.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, so I take from that there are no regular ongoing meetings between those two ministers to direct negotiations on this dispute.

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, I meet with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations probably on a daily basis about this issue. It is extremely important to me that we have a whole-of-government approach to reconciliation. I will continue to do that. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations has a lot of knowledge she offers to this file, and I continue to learn from her every day.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, the minister's mandate letter specifically outlines the need to resolve an indigenous-related negotiation in British Columbia. There is no mention of Atlantic Canada. Why is that?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, our government has been committed to reconciliation from day one. We know how important it is to implement the Marshall decision. We are going to continue to work toward implementing it. Reconciliation is a key priority for our government.

The previous government left reconciliation on the table. We are not going to do that. We are going to continue to work to ensure we are working with first nations communities.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, which minister is the lead on finalizing this indigenous right? Is it the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations or is it this minister?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, as I have said, we take a whole-of-government approach to reconciliation. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is actively involved with me on this file to ensure we are moving forward in a positive way in reconciliation, but recognizing that Fisheries and Oceans is actually my file. I am very involved with this as well; we both are.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, by “whole of government”, I take it that there is no lead on this file. The minister could clearly clarify that if she wanted.

The previous minister to her was able to negotiate two indigenous-led rights agreements. How many have been negotiated under her tenure as minister?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, I am very proud of the fact that we got three agreements in place in the last two years. Previous to that, when that member was part of the government for 10 years, not one agreement was signed. We have moved forward with reconciliation. We are putting in place the things we need to do to ensure we have agreements with first nations communities.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, to clarify, she expanded the time period. Would she confirm that none have been confirmed under her watch as minister?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, we are working diligently to ensure we sign more agreements. We have signed three so far since we have formed government. As I said, that member was a member of a government that did not get one agreement signed in 10 years.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, for people watching at home, the first minister was Minister Tootoo; no action. The next minister, now the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, was known for clam scam. The previous minister to her got a few agreements done. There has been nothing under her watch. Nor will she even confirm whether there is a schedule of ongoing meetings with fellow ministers.

Why has there been no action on something she considered vital to the economy of rural Nova Scotia?