Herb Dhaliwal

[Fisheries, May 10th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the member for Huron—Bruce. He has followed this subject very closely and worked very hard on this issue. The government recognizes how important the sea lamprey control program is for the health of the Great Lakes sports fishery and we will ensure that we continue to protect it.

From 1994 we have increased the budget for the sea lamprey control program from $3.8 million to $6 million to make sure we continue to play an important role.

[Fisheries, May 9th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that is extremely important is boat safety. This is an area we are looking at very closely.

We as a government made a huge number of commitments to reduce the capacity so that we would have a sustainable fishery. We do not want to increase the capacity. We spent large amounts of taxpayer dollars to reduce it so that we would have a sustainable fishery. Safety is an important concern. It is something I am looking at to ensure that when fishermen fish safety can be an important component.

[The Environment, May 9th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Essex as well as members of the Ontario caucus who put this issue forward to me. They made me and the government aware of the difficult situation of the low water levels.

That is why last week I announced that the federal government is prepared to make a $15 million contribution on a cost shared basis to emergency dredging of marinas most severely affected by the current low water levels in the Great Lakes basin. I think this is good news for Ontario. It could not have been done without the strong effort of Ontario members of parliament.

[Crab Fisheries, May 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly not aware of this particular situation but I will take it under advisement. As hon. members know, snow crab quotas are issued and there is a plan on a yearly basis renewed. I will certainly look into this matter and get back to the hon. member.

[Fisheries, May 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, conservation is a priority for anyone who is fishing under conservation rules to make sure that we have a sustainable fishery for the future.

[Fisheries, April 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we do not negotiate in public. It is a responsibility of the federal government to negotiate directly with the first nations.

I outlined to the fisheries committee the total number of licences we have purchased and the amount of money we have spent. At the appropriate time we will ensure that all the information gets out for all the groups to look at, but right now we want to make sure those agreements are negotiated. They are negotiated not in public but directly with the first nations bands. We will continue to do that.

[Fisheries, April 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have met with the alliance and its views were taken into consideration when we had a plan researched.

We also had an assistant federal representative who continually communicated and dealt with the industry to make sure its views were taken into consideration. When I met with alliance representatives they said that the minister should have access through a voluntary retirement program and should make sure they have the same regulations.

The access we have now is through a voluntary retirement program and every agreement we have signed so far is based on the same regulations and the same seasons. That is exactly what they wanted when I met with them last year.

[Waterways, April 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Essex. She has articulated to me, as have many members, the difficulties private marinas are facing because of the low water levels. I will certainly consider her representation and see what options exist.

I think she knows that the DFO mandate requires us not to provide dredging in the private marinas. I will consider the representation and look at what options are available for this difficult problem.

[Fisheries, April 10th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. member because he put out a press release calming matters. This is the type of co-operation we need.

I want to also tell the House that as of today we have signed up eight interim agreements. We have eight agreements in principle. We are halfway there. We are continuing the hard work. I think the co-operation of the hon. member has shown that is the way we can move forward and make sure we bring communities together and resolve this issue.

[Fisheries, April 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, that is the parochial view of this member and his party. They want to make sure that no one else can benefit.

To ease the hon. member's concerns, I can assure him that the quota acquired in Quebec will go to Quebec bands. Is he against that? If he is, he should stand and tell us.