Herb Dhaliwal

[Fisheries and Oceans, October 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has been working very closely with the New Brunswick government. Just this week I met with Minister Jardine, the minister of the environment, and I was happy to announce that the Government of Canada will be spending up to $2 million to have an environmental assessment jointly with the government of New Brunswick.

This is good news for the Petitcodiac causeway and for the river. It shows the two governments how they can work together.

Now we need the provincial government to be a proponent of the project, register it so we can move forward quickly on a problem that has been there for 30 years, do a full environmental assessment and move forward to protect that river.

[Fisheries, September 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned with the European tariff of 20% which makes shrimp products less competitive. I know the Minister for International Trade has been working very hard on this as well.

We have allocated a quota on shrimp so we can continue to be competitive in the European Union. The government is doing everything it possibly can to have the European's look at that again so they can get rid of the 20% tariff that our producers have to face.

[Questions On The Order Paper, June 6th, 2001]

With regard to the causes of mortality of mature wild Atlantic salmon in the Atlantic Ocean:

(a) Canada does not have programs in place currently to research these causes. Expenditures on Atlantic salmon assessment have concentrated on monitoring of returns to freshwater and on production from freshwater. Canada did however host an international meeting of scientists last June in Halifax to outline the research program that should be undertaken to research the causes of marine mortality. Some of the potential factors affecting marine mortality are reduced smolt quality, freshwater effects; adverse estuarine conditions; increased predation in the marine environment; and changes in ocean migration patterns. A number of these factors may be linked to changes in climate and/or oceanographic conditions. A research program to address these items will be long term and expensive and it will be supported as funds permit.

(b) There are no funds available to support research into this issue at the present time.

(c) The North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, NASCO, has agreed to develop ideas for a five year, internationally co-ordinated research program to identify and explain the causes of increased salmon mortality at sea and to develop measures to counteract the problem. Canada has already played a role in this initiative by working with other countries in the sharing and dissemination of scientific information, and it will be further discussed with the other NASCO parties in June 2001 at NASCO's annual meeting.

Question No. 51—

[Fisheries, June 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the strategy which we laid out is supported by the government and supported by other parties in the House except the Alliance.

We have said right from day one that we would resolve this issue by negotiation. That was exactly what the supreme court said, that it should be resolved through negotiation.

That hon. member wants us to go to the courts and litigate. We do not want to litigate. We want to negotiate. The difference between the Alliance Party and us is that we want to build bridges through dialogue, through co-operation and through peaceful means, not divide Canadians as it wants to do.

[Fisheries, June 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, first, the documents the hon. member is reading from are on a matter before the courts. However I want to assure the hon. member and other members of the House that I listened to the wisdom of the Minister of Justice and they should listen to the Minister of Justice as well. Her advice is taken very seriously.

We have set out a long term and short term strategy which is supported by the provincial fisheries minister of P.E.I., the provincial fisheries minister of New Brunswick, the provincial fisheries minister of Quebec and the provincial minister of Nova Scotia. It is a policy that is supported by all of them except the hon. member in the Alliance Party. That is very typical of them.

[Fisheries, June 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member says is simply not the case. I think that party should know by now that we should refrain from commenting on matters that are before the courts and let the courts determine them. I am sure the leader of the Alliance Party should be able to counsel his members that we should refrain from talking about things that are before the courts.

Let me ask this of the hon. member. He has taken the time to be in Atlantic Canada and meet with the commercial fishermen. Why has he not sat down with the aboriginal first nations? Why is he refusing to meet with them and hear their side? He has a responsibility to meet with them and hear their—

[Fisheries, June 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear to members on this side what the Marshall decision meant. It is quite clear to the Progressive Conservative Party and quite clear to the NDP. The only person who is not clear on what the Marshall decision is is the hon. member. He continues to stand up and is counselling division and confrontation.

This, we believe, is peaceful. We believe in co-operation. We believe in sitting at the table. That is why we had 30 first nations sign agreements last year and we have 5 agreements already signed this year for three years. We will continue with co-operation and resolving this peacefully. That is our goal.

[Fisheries, June 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we hear the Alliance Party members say they want to help aboriginal people but when it comes to helping them with government programs, they stand in the House and say they are against it every time.

Why do you not make up your minds on whether you are interested or—

[Fisheries, June 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the government speaks with one voice. We have said it from day one that the supreme court clearly said there is a right to a commercial fishery.

I have also said it is not an absolute right but a regulated right. Yes, we are spending money to make sure that—

[Fisheries, June 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, as usual, the hon. member does not have his facts correct. I did provide an answer to his question to me. Legal advice is provided by the Ministry of Justice. I have to consult with all the members to make sure we can provide that advice.

In the Marshall decision the supreme court ruling clearly said there was a right to a commercial fishery. We are following the Marshall decision in the supreme court.

Unfortunately the hon. member and his party speak about helping aboriginal people but whenever we want to do something for the aboriginal communities, they are against it every time in the House.