Robert Thibault

[Fisheries, April 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I first would like to thank all the people who served on that review. They did an excellent job. It has been unprecedented that we have had co-operation from all sectors in British Columbia: first nations government, environmental organizations, and commercial and recreational fishers.

I am pleased to announce that I am accepting all 14 recommendations in their report which will lead to a much better managed fishery. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

[Fisheries, April 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, whether or not there is a moratorium, I will do what must be done as the situation unfolds.

In the meantime, we are working directly with the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland to assess the future impact. The Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the minister responsible for Canada Economic Development will work to develop Canada's response. It is hoped that the Quebec government will meet its responsibilities in terms of economic development, part B on human resources and all the other provisions.

[Fisheries, March 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when the policy on core fishermen was adopted there was an appeal opportunity for all those who felt their case might not have been properly dealt with.

I have agreed that if some of them have new evidence or new information to bring forward to show that their case was not properly dealt with or that there was an error in the appeal process, I would review it.

[Fisheries, March 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for this very important and pertinent question and I would also like to thank the FRCC for the incredibly good work it did in hearing all the communities under a very difficult set of circumstances. On the FRCC's recommendations, I am studying them very carefully, as well as the all party committee, the Quebec industry committee, and look, as we always have, to implementation of the ecosystem approach, where we cannot look just at one single species but we have to study the entire ecosystem in rebuilding the stocks.

[Fisheries, March 21st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member should go back and talk to the government of his province. It would indicate to him that in discussions with the provincial government, it was agreed that we would get together federally and provincially to see what the impact of potential closures would be and to see what kind of measures we could take at the federal level and at the provincial level to assist those communities in the event of such an action.

[St. Lawrence River, March 19th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada decided some time ago that the Coast Guard would no longer be responsible for dredging, except where an international treaty exists, as in the two cases referred to by the hon. member.

With regard to the St. Lawrence, under an agreement with the shipping industry we are the main contractor, but the costs were being borne by the industry. A new agreement is currently being negotiated.

[Fisheries, March 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member as well as all other members from Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the MLAs and the people from the three parties and senators for the excellent work they have done in having a non-partisan discussion on a matter that is of great importance to Canada and to those communities. I can assure them that I will study their document very carefully and work with them in all areas where we can find agreement and hopefully it will be in the majority of the areas.

[Fisheries and Oceans, February 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and for his genuine interest in the matter of the protection of wild salmon stocks. It is a matter we are taking very seriously in light of the recent problems that have been outlined with the Broughton Archipelago.

We have a five point program to do a study to make sure that we understand fully whether the sea lice problem is increased by aquaculture in those areas and to make sure that we minimize the risk. It is our belief that we can have both an aquaculture industry and at the same time protect the wild salmon resource. It is very important that our first priority be the wild salmon resource.

[Fisheries, February 26th, 2003]

Madam Chairman, I want to thank the member for his comments. On the question of sockeye, I understand the frustration that we could have had more harvest, however that is why the review conference is going on. Does he not recognize the fact that we did increase the harvest in mid-season by over one million? I believe it was 1.6 million in that case.

Will he recognize that there is not necessarily a direct inverse relationship between the number of escapements and recruitment, that there are other factors that come into play like ocean conditions? Will he not recognize that nobody can understand why the salmon have returned in much better shape this year and why there was less mortality, and that there are conditions in the open ocean that we do not understand?

Will he not recognize that in the last year, since I have been minister, I have taken the recommendations of FRCC very seriously by using a flexible management approach on the seals, ensuring that we harvest to a level that would stop the growth and establish a plan for the next three years that would begin a reduction in the herd? Will he recognize also that we started the process for exclusion zones to see how that could work, where it would work, and where the cost effectiveness would be?

[Fisheries, February 26th, 2003]

Madam Chairman, the communities themselves have been doing a lot of work on these issues.

In Newfoundland the all party committee has been working and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers has been preparing some recommendations that it will be presenting to the FRCC. In Quebec the industry and the province are working together. They will be preparing some recommendations for the FRCC and I believe for myself also.

Looking at all aspects and depending on what decisions are taken on how that would apply, we have not made a decision. I have not made a decision on those cod stocks. I am waiting for the process to go through.

As to the question of compensation, federal and provincial, my job is the protection of the resource and the protection of future fisheries. I have made sure, working with my provincial colleagues, that we give to the relevant departments and the provinces all the information on economic effect so that the proper decisions can be taken. I will continue working with my colleagues in that way.