Robert Thibault

[Fisheries, April 15th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that when I met with the owner of the Seafreez plant in Canso he specifically asked for 3-O redfish because, he said, he has one of the only markets in North America that can handle that very tiny fish.

That stock is small. It is not the same size as the stock of the rest of the Grand Banks and it does fall without the regulations of NAFO. The best way to protect our resources on the nose and the tail there is to work without NAFO because otherwise we would have nothing.

[Fisheries, April 15th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, once again I point out that we are continuing to do the investigation. There is no information to date that we have uncovered from the manifest or from the visit to show that there was anything untoward. The best way we can work to manage the resource properly and to have sustainable fishing on the nose and the tail of the Grand Banks is to work with our partners who fish there from NAFO.

I met today with the ambassador for the European Union. I will meet with the commissioner of fisheries and make sure that we all work toward the same goals.

[Fisheries, April 15th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

My officials checked the manifest. They verified with the vessel and investigations are continuing. However there were no NAFO regulations nor Canadian regulations contravened.

This matter is important in light of the requests that have been made by the member's colleague that I increase by 3,000 tonnes the redfish quota. There are no regulations on that one. We believe it should be brought under NAFO regulations and therefore we do not think it would be wise to increase that quota.

[The environment, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is not in the House today. I shall advise him of the question and he will get back to the House on it in the near future.

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is reviewing the questions of custodial management and of extending the 200 mile limit. Those are very important questions and deserve a full hearing. I look forward to the advice that the committee can provide to me.

As far as surveillance is concerned, we have increased our air surveillance. We recognize that the more surveillance we have, the better it is. We are gathering more information to work with our partners within NAFO to get proper enforcement.

[Fisheries, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working closely with the owners of the plant in Canso. We have pointed out to the owners that some resources are available that they could process at that plant, that resources are available for purchase on the open market in a private sector entrepreneurial fashion to operate that plant if that is a decision they wish to make.

It would be unreasonable and irresponsible for me to shake up the whole industry and destabilize the industry by taking from one province to give to the other and from one company to give to the other. His government did that and now we are in trouble.

[Fisheries, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the government takes this matter very seriously and has been very consistent in working to ensure that NAFO regulations are followed by all member countries. We will continue to do that.

I do not think there is any service made to the public of Canada by pretending we have a magic wand, that Canada can take over all of the oceans in the world. We are a partner country with NAFO. We will work with our member partners and we will get the regulations respected.

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to do so, but a few discussions must still be held. First, we must make sure that there is a need, that there is a market for these seals, that it is used properly and that the resources can sustain a higher take. It seems that this is the case. Discussions are under way, and I would like to be able to announce this soon.

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his excellent question. This is now being discussed with my provincial colleagues in the Atlantic region and Quebec, including Nunavut.

I have had provisional discussions with the FRCC and with members of the panel on the situation of the seal in North America, in the North Atlantic, and I will take these considerations very seriously.

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows that the allegations he is presenting are not true.

There are regulations to NAFO. There are regulations and we are going to work with the countries to make sure that they help us in enforcing the regulations. We enforce them in Canada. We do it properly. We expect the same of all our partners.