Debates of May 30th, 2022

Department of Fisheries and Oceans—Main Estimates 2022-23

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member has to address all questions and comments through the Chair.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, under the current government, the science budget for the fisheries side of DFO, which is the side that deals with stock management, has declined by 3%, while the environmental ocean side has seen its science budget increase by 65%

Is this why 80% of stocks in the critical zone do not have a recovery plan?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, we are working on recovery plans for all stocks under the precautionary principle, and the department is committed to restoring the abundance, viability and diversity of stocks so that we can have a strong fish and seafood industry.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, 80% without a plan is not a strong performance.

Is the minister going to cut the southwest Nova Scotia herring quota by 63%?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, we have not made decisions on the stock mentioned by the member. When I have the science and we can—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, when will this announcement be made? The season is about to start.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, could the member please repeat that question?

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, when will this announcement be made, since the season is about to start?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I am not sure if we heard it correctly, because there was a problem with the sound. I am sorry; I will not dock the member that time.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, I would like to ask the minister when this decision will be made with regard to herring quota, since the season is about to start.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, the decision will be made when the science has been assessed and the decision options have come to me. I will make that decision.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, has the minister read the Supreme Court's Donald Marshall decisions I and II?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, yes, I have.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, if so, then the minister knows that as it says in the government's mandate letters, this is the most important relationship. Can the minister tell the House whether the Marshall decision applies to Canada or just to Atlantic Canada?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, the Marshall decision was respecting the Mi'kmaq community in Atlantic Canada, and it was based on a peace and friendship treaty signed—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, Marshall I states that the indigenous right to participate in the unregulated fishery of 1761 is a right to participate in the regulated fishery of today. Why, then, for at least the last three years, has the DFO allowed out-of-season lobster fishing in southwest Nova Scotia?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, I am not clear which fishery the member is referring to. The Supreme Court ruling was that the Mi'kmaq communities have a right to moderate livelihood fisheries and food, social and ceremonial fisheries.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, it was the lobster fishery in southwest Nova Scotia. They were fishing out of season in the summer. Will that happen again this summer?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, many of the indigenous people are doing FSC fisheries, which they are entitled to do.

We do have enforcement personnel for—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, former DFO and CMP officers testified at the House of Commons fisheries committee that 90% of the FSC fishery in southwest Nova Scotia is an illegal commercial fishery. Why does the minister continue to allow that to happen?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, no illegal fishing is acceptable, and we are working with the provinces and the RCMP to ensure that compliance enforcement is in place.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Chair, why did DFO instruct CMP officials during the lobster crisis, and the year after, to not go on the water and just observe if they were enforcing the law?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Madam Chair, keeping the peace is also part of our responsibilities, so it is not in anyone's interest for there to be conflict.