Madam Speaker, the speech I just gave was about a growing feeling on Vancouver Island and across the west coast that our communities are too often treated like an afterthought. Talking about a survey that was done four years ago, or a new survey that the Liberals are going to do eight years after the fisheries and oceans report, just says it all. The frustration could not be more clear.
Another example is what happened last year on the Fraser River. Nearly 10 million sockeye returned, one of the strongest runs in decades, yet independent fish harvesters, including indigenous commercial harvesters, were effectively shut out while families struggled to keep their boats and businesses afloat.
Nobody is arguing against conservation. Weak stocks need to be protected, and treaty obligations with the United States through the Pacific Salmon Commission must be respected, but when Canada's own commercial fleet is denied fair access during years of proven abundance, it undermines confidence in the system.
I want to know today from the parliamentary secretary what concrete changes the government will make before the 2026 Fraser sockeye season to ensure that this never happens again.