Georges Farrah

[Fisheries, May 10th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are obviously very concerned about this. We know that it could disrupt fishing activities in Newfoundland.

As the minister has often said, we must find a way to work with the communities, so that they have access to the resource and so that people can make a decent living from it. This must be done with respect for the resource, because what is at stake is the future of the fishery.

[Fisheries, May 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the issue of overfishing outside the 200 mile zone is a very important one.

The minister has made a commitment to speak to the various international stakeholders regarding this problem.

We feel that negotiation is the route that will lead to a lasting solution for the good of the people of Newfoundland, and so that is the way we have opted to go.

[Albert Béchard, May 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we were saddened to hear of the death of Albert Béchard, notary, which occurred on Sunday, April 28.

Albert Béchard sat in this House from 1962 to 1972 as the member for Bonaventure, and from 1972 to 1979 as the member for Bonaventure and Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

He chaired several of the House standing committees and was as well chairman of the committees of the whole.

From July 1966 to April 1968, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State of Canada, and from 1970 to 1972 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

This was a great Canadian who defended the interests of his province in the Parliament of Canada. Albert loved his native Gaspé, and after his retirement spent five months of the year there at Carleton.

To his wife Lucette and his children, Carl and Pierre, I extend my most sincere personal condolences as well as those of the people of the Îles de la Madeleine and the Gaspé.

[Société Radio-Canada, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, the Liberal Party of Canada held nine regional symposiums to which were invited delegates from all ridings in Quebec. One of these was held in Matane and was attended by delegates from all the ridings of eastern Quebec.

The Matane symposium was a huge success, with more than 50 people representing four ridings taking part.

At this symposium, the following motion concerning Radio-Canada was unanimously adopted:

Members of the Liberal Party of Canada in eastern Quebec call on the Government of Canada and its ministers... to take immediate action to get Radio-Canada management to immediately terminate the lockout it has imposed and to implement mechanisms and conditions conducive to a rapid resolution of its dispute with its workers so that the people of eastern Quebec may again receive the quality news service to which they are accustomed and entitled, and the disastrous impact on our region's economy may be halted.

[Excise Act, 2001, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, everyone will agree that we could do more with more resources. This is why it is so important to us to ensure a much more concerted effort on the part of the various stakeholders in the area of salmon fishing, either at the federation, provincial or federal government level, to avoid overlap and make sure increased funding is made available for the resource as such.

In that sense, we are very aware of the problem. Action has been taken, and we are aware of the need for more to be done in the interest of my hon. colleague's community, and that of all the salmon fishing communities in Atlantic Canada. It is a very important economic activity, especially in my hon. colleague's region.

[Excise Act, 2001, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's concerns about Atlantic salmon are certainly shared by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

This concern is not a new one, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been actively working on a number of fronts to support the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon.

The closure of all commercial salmon fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec remains in effect. Some of these fisheries have been closed since the 1997 season. These closures were accompanied by the expenditure by the federal government and the province of Quebec of over $80 million in licence retirement programs.

For the recreational and first nation salmon fisheries, a precautionary approach is used to guide management decisions. In many regions of Atlantic Canada, a river classification system is in place and an adaptive management scheme is used.

Rivers are classified according to the overall health of the salmon stock, taking into account environmental factors. It is therefore wrong to suggest that nothing is being done in order to ensure river protection.

The classifications determine whether any retention of salmon will be permitted and at what level. In addition, on many rivers, conservation limits are set and are monitored in-season to allow managers to take action to conserve stocks if conservation limits are not going to be met.

This process allows a decision to be made on whether there should be a retention fishery, catch and release only, or closure of the river to any fishing.

Research on the state of wild Atlantic Canadian salmon stocks is undertaken in Atlantic Canada by federal and provincial levels of government and in local watershed areas by volunteer groups and the private sector.

Until now there has been limited communication between local groups, and more co-ordination of this work is needed. An overall review of the work being done will be undertaken to determine if it is being done in a manner that avoids duplication.

DFO has committed to co-ordinate its management and scientific resources to respond to the pressing need for additional advice on the salmon resource.

To this end, the department is working with its partners to develop an inventory of work related to salmon and its habitat, to evaluate what is being done, and to provide guidance on priorities for this work.

For 2002, the federal government has increased its commitment to monitor salmon returns to Canadian rivers. There will now be three rivers monitored in Labrador, as compared to just one in the past, to provide much-needed scientific information on stocks affected by the Greenland fishery.

As a party to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, or NASCO, Canada has also played a leadership role in the wild salmon conservation.

In recent years, DFO officials have been successful in limiting the mixed stock salmon fishery conducted by Greenland, through negotiations directly with Greenland, as well as through the NASCO forum. Also within NASCO, Canada has been instrumental in the establishment of an international co-operative research board to direct and co-ordinate NASCO parties research programs on salmon survival in the marine environment. This aspect of salmon survival has emerged as one of the major concerns of all parties with an interest in wild salmon.

For salmon, habitat is, of course, of paramount importance to the species' survival. The policy implemented by DFO for management of fish habitat has the objective of increasing the natural productive capacity, through the goals of habitat conservation, restoration and development.

A complete inventory of salmon habitat is underway. Canada has proven to be a leader at NASCO on its approach, including our policy of achieving “no net loss” of habitat.

Stakeholders and governments need to work together for the conservation of this valued resource to ensure that wild Atlantic salmon continue to return to our rivers for the enjoyment of all Canadians.

As a result of such partnerships, progress is being made in protecting and rebuilding the Atlantic salmon resources.

Thus, one cannot say that the department does nothing for—

[Noranda Workers, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the following resolution was unanimously passed at a symposium held on Saturday by Liberal supporters from eastern Quebec:

Whereas Noranda closed its smelting plant in Murdochville;

Whereas this closure will result in the loss of a $17 million payroll for the Gaspe;

Whereas the 300 workers who were laid off are now without any income;

Whereas the economic situation in the Gaspe is not only worrisome, but also extremely precarious and even dramatic;

it is resolved that a request be made to the Minister of Human Resources Development to have an exclusion order passed by the Government of Canada, so that the Murdochville workers who were laid off on April 27, 2002 can immediately qualify for employment insurance benefits, notwithstanding the sections of Employment Insurance Regulations that would defer the payment of such benefits.

It should be noted that this request would not result in any cost for the federal government. Denial of this request would only delay the payment of employment insurance benefits to the workers who were laid off in Murdochville.

[Intoxication of Migratory Birds, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address the House today in connection with the motion by the hon. member for Saint-Bruno--Saint-Hubert concerning the regulation of the use in fishing of sinkers and lures containing lead.

In this motion, it is proposed that the government should, in compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, amend its regulations to replace the use of lead fishing weights and baits by any other non toxic matter that would end the intoxication of migratory birds, including the loon, caused by the swallowing of lead.

I would like to add that, like all other members who have spoken on this matter, I too support the environmental objective of the hon. member. I believe that any decision aimed at attaining this objective must be made based on the best available knowledge and that, where information is limited, we should opt for prudence.

The government has taken the necessary precautions to limit the various routes by which lead gets into the environment, such as lead-based paints, leaded gasoline and lead shot. As for lead sinkers and lures, we are in the process of determining their effects on the environment.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to inform the members of this House on what we know about lead sinkers and lures and their effects on wildlife. I will also present other information which might be of use to people before adopting any approach, regulatory or other, aimed at limiting the production, import, sale or use of these products.

Recreational fishers use lead sinkers of various sizes and shapes to weigh down their hooks, lures or bait when engaging in their sport. Frequently waterfowl pick up lost sinkers and lures, taking them for something to eat, a seed or part of something like a snail or clam. Species that prey on fish, the loon in particular, ingest lead sinkers and lures most often by eating bait still attached to the hook and line.

Waterfowl in Great Britain, the United States and Canada have been poisoned and died as the result of ingesting lead sinkers and lures.

Sport fishing in Canada is governed for the most part by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and its provincial and territorial counterparts. In 1975, these agencies conducted a study on recreational fishing in Canada. These surveys, which were co-ordinated across the country, included estimates of the total number of sport fishers in Canada, the fishing effort in the various regions, as well as the social and economic impact of the recreational fishery in Canada. This survey is conducted every five years.

In 1981, Environment Canada also started conducting a survey described as a nature survey, together with the federal, provincial and territorial departments and ministries, to collect information on recreational activities related to wildlife and nature that interest Canadians.

Starting in 1991, Environment Canada started including questions on the recreational fishery on this survey. Together, these surveys have made it possible to collect information on the recreational fishery in Canada from 1975 to 1996. Data on the food fishery is not included in these surveys.

Overall, these surveys have revealed that approximately 5.5 million people fish in Canada, or one Canadian in five. However, these surveys also reveal that almost two thirds of the recreational fishery takes place in waters in Ontario and Quebec.

Angling pressure in Canada varies between less than one rod day to more than 47 rod days per square kilometer at the provincial and territorial level. This increases to more than 230 rod days at the regional level, in central Ontario.

This information helps us identify the geographic regions in which we must concentrate certain activities, such as communications programs, lead sinker exchange programs or possibly adopt a gradual approach if and when it is deemed necessary to adopt regulations in order to identify the issue.

Members may not know how we estimate how much lead is in the environment. We estimate that approximately 550 tons of lead sinkers and lures are left in the environment every year. For example, we know that in 1995, Canadian fishers spent $2.5 billion, an average of $533 for each fisher, on goods and services directly related to recreational fishing. We estimate that the average annual amount spent on sinkers and lures is $3.25 per fisher, or $17.9 million for all Canadian fishers.

Based on the cost of sinkers and lures, it is estimated that approximately 559 tonnes of this metal are sold annually for this purpose in Canada. The bulk of it ends up in the environment, with almost no chance that it will be recovered or recycled.

We have observed a major increase in imports of lead fishing tackle from Europe since 1994, with one of the largest exporters being the United Kingdom, where the use of lead sinkers and lures is now banned. Approximately 100 tonnes of lead sinkers and lures are imported annually. Domestic production is much lower, holding at around 40 tonnes a year. There has been only a slight increase in the quantity of non toxic tackle available.

Imports or mass production account for only 25% of the lead weights and baits which end up in the Canadian environment every year. It is believed that the remainder of the products, some 400 tonnes, used in Canada come from lures and sinkers made in the home or by small companies and sold individually to anglers, retailers and distributors. Although we have no direct information about home production of sinkers and lures in Canada, we believe that an industry of this size must exist, because the estimated volume of annual purchases is much higher than the import and domestic production figures available from major fishing tackle manufacturers would suggest.

There are some who may find these figures hard to believe at first, but the studies and surveys done of anglers in the United States and in England have confirmed the large quantity of lead lost in this way. U.S. studies have found that each angler loses approximately one sinker or lure for every six hours of fishing, while British anglers have lost or thrown out an average of two or three of them per day of fishing. If we take the average of these figures and assume that a Canadian angler loses only one a day and if we base our estimates on the average number of fishing days in Canada, approximately 61 million of these sinkers and lures are lost annually. This does not include the number of weighted jigs or hooks.

To wrap up, while Canada is reducing the many other ways of releasing lead into the environment, by eliminating if from paint, gasoline, lead shot or smelters, for example, the percentage of lead which finds its way into the environment from lead sinkers and lures will continue to increase.

Since the early nineties, the swallowing of lead sinkers and jigs has accounted for 22% of deaths among adult common loons examined in Canada. It is the primary cause of death in breeding areas. Since Canada is responsible for over 80% of the loons' world population, any decision on the measures to be taken cannot be made lightly.

Cases of ingested lead sinkers and jigs have been reported for 10 wildlife species in Canada, including common mergansers, herring gulls, waterfowl, several other types of birds, raptors and snapping turtles.

While cases of ingestion of lead sinkers and jigs were reported for wildlife species in seven Canadian provinces, the documented cases of death from this form of ingestion are largely the result of accidental discoveries by cottage owners, fishermen, boaters and others. Therefore, the total number of loons or other species that die of poisoning following the ingestion of lead cannot be estimated with any degree of certainty.

Also, we do not know for sure if the deaths caused by the ingestion of lead have a bearing on the total population. The obstacles that have to be overcome to arrive at an accurate estimation are complex and costly. It is important to know if this information is absolutely necessary to arrive at an answer. We feel that this issue deserves to be publicly debated.

For this reason, the government will publish a scientific magazine in the fall of 2002, to promote such a debate. I am anxiously waiting for this document to be released and for the public to get involved in the debate, to identify the best way to deal with the problems created by lead sinkers and jigs.

I thank the hon. member for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert for having brought the issue of lead toxicity in our environment to the attention of the House of Commons.

[Société Radio-Canada, April 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, for over a month, Canadian taxpayers have been deprived of a service to which they are entitled, quality French language broadcasting. This interruption in service has hit regions such as the Gaspe and the Magdalen Islands particularly hard, by depriving the people there of news of their community. This service, so essential to the cohesion of our regions, must be restored immediately.

Within minutes of the start of a legal 24 hour walkout on March 22, the management of Radio-Canada ordered a lockout. This has had economic repercussions on small communities.

More than two weeks ago, the Minister of Labour asked Radio-Canada to resume the negotiations interrupted after the union demonstrated on Parliament Hill.

Radio-Canada refuses to address the problems underlying the conflict, in particular job instability, which affects half of the membership of this crown corporation's communications union.

While passing no judgment on the validity of either party's position, we are calling upon the President of CBC—Radio-Canada, Robert Rabinovitch, to immediate restore this public service and to issue a clear mandate to his negotiators: to settle honourably and in completely good faith the underlying problems behind this conflict.

[Fisheries and Oceans, March 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, obviously we are very concerned about the Atlantic salmon situation. There is a very big problem with the resource and with conservation. That is why the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is in constant communication, particularly with the Atlantic people, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, to ensure that we all work together on a joint solution to protect this species, which is very important to the economic development of this region.