House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 36% of the vote.
Fisheries May 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the member gave us a recommendation, a letter, yesterday. We received it. We will evaluate it and officials from my office will contact the company to see what is possible.
We will look at it favourably, but we cannot make any decision without considering all of the elements, all of the other communities and the sealing industry.
Fisheries May 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is true that the federal government is responsible for taking steps to protect our resources, and it is true that it has agreed to create a short-term assistance program for these communities, when the resources collapsed. It is also true that there are agreements with the provinces related to the provision of services by HRDC. I am convinced that the Departments of Human Resources Development Canada and Economic Development Canada will do an excellent job.
Fisheries May 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, when the moratorium on the stocks was announced, a $50 million short-term assistance program for these communities was also announced, as was a desire to hold discussions on long-term economic development. The minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada is doing an excellent job here.
Question No. 169 May 7th, 2003
No Portuguese vessels were apprehended inside Canada’s 200-mile limit in 2002.
Fisheries May 7th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the member will recognize that when we announced the crab management plan, it was not for one area, not for one province, but for the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is to promote stability for the long term and to promote maintenance and stability for the midshore, the anchor of that industry. We want that to increase again. It maximizes the employment and economic benefits.
On those terms, I would be happy have discussions with them at any time.
Fisheries May 7th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, if the member had held discussions with the midshore fishery industry in his region, he would know that in order to raise the catch any higher than what we announced, it is necessary to have a co-management agreement with a good soft crab protocol in place to keep from jeopardizing the state of these stocks. He would know this, and he would also know that for several months, we have been having these discussions with the industry and we are prepared to discuss the matter further at any time.
Fisheries May 7th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the member will recognize that managing the fishery is a federal responsibility. It is our responsibility to manage it in a manner to protect the fishery for the future and to protect those stocks. We take those decisions very seriously. They are not easy decisions. They are very difficult to make. We do not take them lightly. When we take away the livelihood of people for a period of time, it is because it is in the long term interests of the stocks and, by extension, the communities that depend on them.
Fisheries May 7th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that during the Standing Order 31 statements we heard a nursery rhyme about why we should vote Alliance. Now we have the fable of going to the Atlantic, meeting with the fisheries ministers and coming out with a plan that all will support. We might as well wave a wand, turn the water into wine and we will all enjoy wine-pickled herring.
Fisheries May 6th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I know these are very difficult times in Newfoundland and Labrador and I know it is very difficult for the premier and for all his cabinet ministers.
The member will recognize that we made this decision in the best interests of the stocks and in the best interests of the communities of Newfoundland and Labrador for the long term. Fishing these resources illegally will not serve any good purpose. It will reduce the resource.
They have asked us to do increased scientific work. They would not want us to invest our resources in protection rather than conservation.
Fisheries and Oceans May 6th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we make no demands on local governments.
Where we decide that our services are no longer required, where it is the best investment of Canadian resources for public goods and services and we choose to withdraw the services for those reasons, we first offer all those assets to the community. That is what we are doing in this case.