Debates of Nov. 24th, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates, 2020-21

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

Mr. Chair, we agree that Pacific herring fulfills a vital role in the ecosystem. Its conservation is always going to be a primary objective. We also recognize indigenous fishing rights and the important economic benefits generated from Pacific herring. We are continuing to consult with first nations, harvesters and other interested stakeholders on this shared objective. We consider their valuable input when we inform our fisheries decisions. However, we do base our decisions on science and we will continue to do that.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are glad to see the government and the House unanimously support my Motion No. 151 to tackle marine plastics. Part of that motion was to deal with ghost and derelict fishing gear.

We were glad to see the government come up with $8.6 million, but some of that went to industry. We were glad to see it go to the Ocean Legacy Foundation and the Emerald Sea Protection Society as they are good players. However, there are concerns about the funding going to the very industry that has created the pollution itself.

What we were calling for was a polluter-pay system, which would include better standards for enforcement and monitoring, traceability, banning of toxic materials and of course extended producer responsibility for those who created the plastic pollution.

Will the minister apply those principles and do it soon?

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

Mr. Chair, the retrieval of ghost gear is extremely important and a number of stakeholders are involved in that process. We have seen a significant uptake on this program. We want to ensure we are retrieving these harmful gear from our waters. There is no place for ghost gear in the ocean. We need to ensure we do everything we can to mitigate the problems that it causes not only for our whales, but also with regard to our ocean sustainability.

We have invested $8.3 million in the ghost gear fund and we will continue to ensure we address this long-term challenge we have—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member has 30 seconds left.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, we are in a wild salmon emergency right now. We are seeing a collapse of wild salmon under the minister's watch. Tonight we have not even heard her commit to more funding. As an example, where I live in Clayoquot Sound, 2,300 chum salmon returned to the Tranquil River. Normally, 15,000 to 35,000 chum return.

Will the minister triple emergency funding to help rebuild those river sheds and help save the wild salmon or will she be the minister who will be known for watching the collapse of the wild—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. minister.

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

Mr. Chair, our government is absolutely committed to ensuring we do everything we can to address the decline of wild Pacific salmon. We know there is no silver bullet to this. There are a number of ongoing issues related to things like climate change and habitat degradation. We have seen the Big Bar landslide. There have been a number of challenges with regard to salmon.

We are taking every available measure to ensure we protect the stock. We will continue to do that very hard work. I look forward to working with my colleague on that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

It being 11 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), all votes are deemed reported. The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

The House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 11:01 p.m.)