Debates of Nov. 24th, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates, 2020-21

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

Madam Chair, I am assuming that Mr. Surette has read the Marshall decision. I am sure he has at this point. This is extremely important as we go forward. Mr. Surette is working with the first nations communities. He is speaking to commercial harvesters. He is speaking to stakeholders. All—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Tobique—Mactaquac.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, perhaps it can be forgiven that the minister appointed a third party special representative or mediator to deal with the fishing crisis before she read the Marshall decision. Now that she has read the Marshall decision, she knows that it is her responsibility to regulate the fishery. Why has she refused to do so?

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

Madam Chair, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the first nations have a right to a moderate livelihood fishery. We are working with first nations to ensure we implement that right. This is extremely important for reconciliation. It is important to our government. It is important for first nations communities. It is a very complex issue. It takes a lot of time and effort to ensure that we get this right.

We are committed to working with those first nations communities to ensure that right is implemented.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, given that the Marshall decision clearly outlines that the minister can regulate both indigenous and non-indigenous fisheries for the purpose of conservation, is the minister willing to ensure that conservation seasons are respected by all fish harvesters?

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

Madam Chair, conservation underpins everything we do at DFO. No decision will be made that will affect the conservation of the species. We need to ensure that it is sustainable for the long term. Nobody wants to do anything that will change that, including commercial harvesters and indigenous people.

Conservation will always be the number one priority as we make these decisions going forward.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, does the minister support the establishment of a second fishing authority, yes or no?

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

Madam Chair, as I have said many times, these are difficult negotiations. We are continuing to work with first nations to ensure we implement the fishery. We are working with them now on their fishery plans. A number of them have been given to us and we are working in negotiations with them.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, is the minister currently negotiating the establishment of a second independent fishing authority, yes or no?

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

Madam Chair, I cannot prejudge what comes out of negotiations. Nor do I negotiate in public. These negotiations are ongoing at the moment. We will do everything we can to ensure that the right is implemented, but also ensure that conservation is our top priority.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, could the minister tell us, yes or no, is she in favour of the establishment of a second independent fishing authority?

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

Madam Chair, the Supreme Court was very clear that first nations have a right to a moderate livelihood fishery. We are working with first nations to ensure we will be able to implement that right. That is a priority for this government in regard to reconciliation. Conservation will always be the number one priority as we go forward.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, I will ask one more time because I really feel this is important and Canadians are wondering, from coast to coast. They want clarity around this issue. No one is questioning the indigenous people's right to fish, at all. What this comes down to, though, is this: Is the minister in favour of establishing a second, independent fishing authority?

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

Madam Chair, we have been working expeditiously to reach agreements, with conservation as a top priority in these conversations. I understand that the unknown is very difficult for people. I understand that it is a challenge when we will not negotiate in public. I know everybody wants to know what is happening, but we will not prejudge the outcomes of those negotiations. We are, right now, working with first nations to make sure that we are able to implement that right.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, we have heard testimony at committee from indigenous leaders, representatives from the commercial fishery, academics, scientists, former DFO employees and politicians, including the Liberal premier of Nova Scotia. We have even heard concerns from the minister's own caucus colleague, a former chair of the fisheries committee, the hon. member for Malpeque. The one common thread among them is that they are unsatisfied with her efforts.

Does the minister think she is doing a good job solving this crisis?

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

Madam Chair, this is a very complex issue. If there were a simple solution it would have been had 21 years ago. A number of issues within issues are involved. We are continuing to work with first nations to make sure we implement this right.

The previous government, in 10 years, did not sign one agreement with first nations. We already have two signed, and we are working diligently to make sure there are more. I will continue to do that hard work.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Chair, 11 months ago, the Prime Minister mandated the fisheries minister to make new investments to fight aquatic invasive species.

When will the fisheries minister finally make those new investments to fight invasive species?

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

Madam Chair, our government understands the importance of protecting biodiversity and the quality of Canadian waters. As such, we are focused on coordinating our efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Canada. This is so important that the Prime Minister included it in my mandate letter, as the member says. Management of aquatic invasive species is a responsibility that the federal government shares with provincial and territorial governments. We will continue to work closely with them and our U.S. counterparts to make sure that we are doing everything we can to address the threat of aquatic invasive species.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Chair, five months ago, on June 2, the fisheries minister stated that these investments were imminent and that she would have more to say “soon.”

When will the fisheries minister finally make new investments in the fight against invasive species?

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

Madam Chair, as I said, we are continuing to work with our provincial and territorial counterparts. We recognize that aquatic invasive species are a real threat to our ecosystems. More has to be done. We are working diligently to make sure that we address the concern of these aquatic invasive species. This is hard work that we are committed to. I am going to make sure that we do the work necessary in order to address the concerns.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Chair, as we have learned, a Liberal's “soon” could very well be never or too late, as is the case for Shuswap Lake, where an infestation of invasive clams was confirmed just two months ago.

When will the fisheries minister finally make investments to fight against aquatic invasive species?

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

Madam Chair, as I said, the Prime Minister has put in my mandate letter the work to fight aquatic invasive species. We are working with our provincial and territorial counterparts to make sure that we address these challenges. I know that it is a difficult situation with these aquatic invasive species in our lakes, rivers and oceans. We need to do everything possible. This government is committed to making sure that we address the problem. We are continuing to do that work.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Chair, as this latest discovery of an infestation of aquatic invasive species has shown the words of this Liberal minister, and the three other Liberal fisheries ministers who preceded her, are completely ineffective in preventing the spread of invasive species. Canadians deserve better.

For five years now, I have been pressing the government to act against the spread of aquatic invasive species and the damage that they will inflict on B.C.'s ecology and economy if not prevented. The Commissioner of the Environment has also warned this Liberal government, as did the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in a study last year. Both reports concluded that preventing the proliferation of aquatic invasive species is a fraction of the cost of trying to manage or eradicate them. This minister and government sit on their hands while permanent damage is being inflicted on the aquatic ecosystems of the communities that depend on them.

When will the fisheries minister take invasive species seriously and deliver resources for effective prevention?

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

Madam Chair, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his intervention.

I know how hard this is. I know what a difficult situation it is with aquatic invasive species. We are working with our provincial and territorial counterparts to address the concern. We know that it is significant in some areas. We have been working on a number of initiatives, and we will continue to do that.

I will commit to making sure that we do everything possible to address the concern of aquatic invasive species. We have invested $43.8 million over five years to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, but we know that more needs to be done.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Chair, Oceana has recently released its “Fishery Audit 2020”, which found that Canada's fisheries have declined under the Liberal government.

Under this government's tenure, the number of healthy fish populations decreased by almost eight percentage points from 2017 until 2020. To make matters worse, no comprehensive or meaningful rebuilding plans were released in 2020, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada only delivered on 14% of its published priorities.

Why has the fisheries minister failed to deliver on the other 86% of her priorities?