Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from Courtney Langille on behalf of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, FFAW-Unifor.
This important petition received 1,695 signatures, the large majority from Newfoundland and Labrador, asking the government to, first, immediately revert the 2J3KL northern cod fishery to a stewardship fishery with access exclusive to Newfoundland and Labrador inshore and indigenous harvesters; second, reaffirm its commitment to allocate the first 115,000 tonnes of quota to those harvesters; and third, ensure large offshore draggers are not permitted to fish the stock until it has rebuilt to meet the 115,000-tonne threshold committed and to withstand the increased fishing pressures.
Northern cod is a historically and culturally critical species for Newfoundland and Labrador, and the petitioners fear another devastating stock collapse if it is not managed responsibly. It is for these reasons that I am honoured to stand and present this petition today.