Herb Dhaliwal

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very closely to my colleague from the Reform Party.

I know my colleague from the Reform Party has just been to Atlantic Canada, but there is an old saying that a little bit of knowledge can be very dangerous. I know they feel they know Atlantic Canada, but I can assure this House that we have members who know it very well, are well informed and can advise us on the issue.

Let me first make a few statements. The member should go back to the budget, which outlined the cost initiatives. Obviously his party did not look at the budget very closely, because some of the

issues in terms of cost recovery were already indicated in the 1995 budget. They should go back to that. Obviously they did not read that part.

In the second part, in terms of the headquarters, that is where the biggest cuts are coming. Once again they should go back to the budget, because the headquarters are going to be cut by 26 per cent when the average cuts in the department are only 16 per cent.

Let me also ask the member a question in terms of his position on the licensing fee. Our main resources are a public resource. As a public resource, certain people have beneficial privileges to that resource. Should the fisherperson who catches or lands $10,000 worth of fish and pays $30 for a licence pay the same fee as those individuals who have a landing value of $1 million? Should they pay the same licence fee of $30 when they are taking out of a public resource that belongs to all Canadians? This government has said that those who take the most out of the public resource should pay a little more. This is only common sense.

The Reform Party always talks about user pay. They want to have user pay for all those people who go to the doctor. All this is saying is that if you are taking a huge amount of a public resource then you should pay based on how much you benefit from that public resource. I think all Canadians and all members from Atlantic Canada would support that view.

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I also thank him for his contribution to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

I was at that meeting and just as in any other government department if there are areas in which we can improve the way fisheries and oceans works, if we can eliminate areas of duplication and if there are areas in which we can create more efficiencies, we are open to that. The minister is very open to that. He has stated we always want to look at how we can improve things.

One of the things which was done, of which the hon. member is aware, was the merger with the coast guard. That was part of a process to create a synergy in which we can operate more efficiently and in which there is greater flexibility.

The hon. member should support the bill because it takes a much broader view of our oceans. The bill does not in any way take away from provincial rights. It will enable us to work with the provinces. It will encourage us to all work together. For those reasons I hope the hon. member will support the bill.

Part of the reason the bill came about was the National Advisory Board on Science and Technology said as a federal government we have to do a better job in managing our oceans, that we are not doing a very good job. We accepted its advice.

We will have to manage in an ecosystem and in broader terms. We have the longest shoreline in the world and we have to look at it differently. We have to look at our oceans in terms of an asset we have to treat with respect. When we exploit that asset we have to look at what the interdependence is. The bill finally brings together a strategy on how to deal with our oceans.

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

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

All hon. members know the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has taken a lead role in conservation in the international community. When I was at the recent convention in St. Petersburg, many people came up to me and said they were glad we have a Minister of Fisheries and Oceans willing to take a lead role. He has put conservation on the front lines. He has put sustainability of fisheries on the front lines. He has made people all over the world aware of how important our fisheries are and how important it is to have a sustainable fishery and how important conservations is. The minister has taken a lead role in terms of assuring we as Canadians take a lead role.

If the hon. member would look at what happened in the United Nations on the convention on straddling stocks and migratory stocks, it was Canada that took the lead role. It was the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans who took the lead role to ensure that even

beyond the 200 mile zone we have a dispute mechanism system so the international community will respect our marine resources.

The minister has admitted we can do a better job. We can improve the way we are doing things. I talked about the 40,000 Canadians who are not working because of the collapse of the groundfish. We have to work harder. We have to ensure we do have a sustainable fishery. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has put that as his number one priority. He has taken the lead not only in Canada but he is known as someone who has taken the lead in the international community in ensuring we preserve our marine resources and that we have a sustainable fishery for future generations and that we preserve our coastal communities and their economies.

The bill will ensure that we look at our oceans on an ecosystem basis, not manage on a species basis. It ensures we take into consideration coastal communities and the economy. We have to treat our oceans as an asset. We have to ensure exploitation of those resources are done in a way that we have a sustainable fishery to protect our coastal communities and to ensure they have an ongoing fishery for the long term.

I assure the member the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will take a lead. I hope the hon. member will take the opportunity to study this bill. I know he will support it because of his concern that we have an ongoing sustainable fishery.

I assure the hon. member we will have strong enforcement. As he knows, we have increased the enforcement budget on the west coast to make sure all people comply with the Fisheries Act and we will make sure we take action when someone does not abide by the Fisheries Act.

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to speak on Bill C-98, the oceans act.

What we need is a coherent oceans policy that embodies a full range of economic environmental issues that pertain to the management of our oceans and coastal territories. Our government realizes this is the time for action in this area.

Ocean stakeholders have been calling for a coherent vision for some time now which is why soon after coming to office the Prime Minister called on the National Advisory Board on Science and Technology to study, consult and report on Canada's oceans policy. It did not give the federal government high marks.

The NABST report criticized the federal government for the neglect of its ocean responsibilities. It then suggested steps to set up our oceans policy on a more favourable course. These steps included an oceans management strategy and new legislation in the form of an oceans act.

I am proud to say that my colleague the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans did not waste any time in responding to these suggestions. Since the NABST report and the minister's 1994 release of the vision for oceans management, the minister and his officials have consulted widely with many stakeholders in the oceans sector. They have spoken with fishermen, business representatives, government officials, aboriginal groups, environmental interests and others. The result is a set of proposals for an ocean management

strategy to be developed by the federal government in partnership with other key oceans interests.

The plan as outlined by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is to create an integrated oceans management strategy that would have as its primary goal the sustainable use of our ocean resources. A second goal would be to help each coastal region bring together and co-ordinate the elements needed to build a flourishing and diverse ocean based economy.

The concept has received widespread support throughout the oceans sector. However, before the government and its partners can proceed any further with this initiative, we must establish the legislative framework within which an integrated strategy can operate. This is what we are doing now by introducing the oceans act.

It is fundamental that the oceans act is enabling legislation. It removes barriers and sets the stage for Canadians to begin a new era in their relationship with the sea.

The oceans act has three main components. There is the declaration of Canada's jurisdiction over both its exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles. Another component is the provision for the development and implementation of a national oceans management strategy based on sustainable development and integrated management of oceans coastal activities and resources and the consolidation and clarification of federal responsibilities for managing Canada's oceans. These are all essential steps if Canadians are going to work together to develop a new, integrated approach to oceans management.

First, it is absolutely vital that the Canadian government expand its jurisdiction over the ocean areas within our 200-mile limit, implementing the sovereign rights to which we know are under the law of the sea. This is essential both to protect the environmental integrity of these areas and to ensure that the oceans' precious resources are available for use by future generations of Canadians.

Second, an integrated approach to oceans management will help ocean stakeholders to consider a wide range of ocean activities all in one big picture. This includes everything from shipping, offshore oil and gas exploration, fisheries management and coastal development to the creation of special marine protected areas for fragile ecosystems. An integrated ocean strategy will help decision makers to consider environmental and developmental issues in relation to each other rather than in isolation. As was the case in the past, in this way it will enable Canadians to achieve a better balance between environmental protection and human activity than we have ever had before.

Third, it is essential that the federal government and its partners in the oceans sector work together to bring an end to the current ad hoc fragmented approach to ocean management that has worked for so long to the detriment of both the environment and many of our ocean industries.

Ocean and coastal issues cross many jurisdictions. They can be international, national, regional, provincial and local all at the same time. In the past, this has given rise to a host of problems, including conflicts over jurisdiction, duplication and inaction. Yet marine ecosystems know no artificial boundaries and neither do trade and business. It is time to work together in a new spirit of co-operation and to learn to harmonize our efforts.

All of these steps will strengthen our ability to protect the ocean environment. They will also enhance the potential of the many ocean based industries that are so important to our coastal communities. Allow me to take a few minutes to outline some of the benefits of both the oceans act and the planned oceans management strategy to industry.

First, extending our economic and environmental jurisdiction out to 200 nautical miles will provide greater stability to all of our ocean industries. It will build upon the exclusive fishing zone which we already have and will expand to include other opportunities for development. It will further cement our right to protect the environment.

Second, the clarification of federal roles and ocean responsibilities will help to simplify the relations between government and other stakeholders. Business will especially appreciate both this move and the consolidation of regulations.

Third, the commitment to build partnerships will allow other levels of government, industry and non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders to develop shared goals in oceans management. This approach should lead to better communication, greater co-operation and increasing harmonization. All these are welcome spinoffs for industry that should reduce the cost of doing business and stimulate growth.

Fourth, an increased emphasis on the co-ordination and dissemination of scientific, environmental and management information should place our ocean policies and practices on a much firmer scientific footing. In addition, improved communications between the private sector and federal scientists should stimulate innovation and technology transfer.

As a package, these benefits will help to generate new opportunities and improve the business environment for our ocean industries. An integrated oceans management strategy will place Canadians at the forefront of ocean management and the development of related technologies.

Canadians already have many of the needed tools to fill this ocean vision and to move ahead in the world economy. Both our west and east coasts have world class research facilities that make important contributions to an international climate and oceans research. Both of these regions have clusters of thriving private sector enterprise that have the know-how to design, apply and

market specialized ocean based technology to clients around the world.

Allow me to provide a few examples of how the Canadian oceans industry is selling its products and expertise to clients around the world.

A good example is New East Technologies of Newfoundland. New East started out as a ship to shore radio business but a few years ago started to design and build an improved switch system that routes radio signals to specific destinations by satellite. Now a cluster of satellite communication firms, New East companies track the progress of ocean going ships and provide radio links for some 40 airlines. In addition, it is exploring the telephone switching equipment markets of Hong Kong and China.

Another example is AGI, Ariel Geomatics of Nova Scotia. Formed in 1993, this growing company undertakes airborne environmental mapping and monitoring surveys using a compact airborne spectrographic imager, CASI for short. AGI is one of the few private sector owners of this advanced technology.

AGI has used CASI technology for ocean mapping but is also marketing its potential application in other areas such as land use and vegetation studies, urban mapping, agriculture, forestry and geological work. Already its services have been used by clients in Italy, Chile and the United Kingdom.

The future of this new industry looks bright and with the oceans act and the oceans management strategy it will look even brighter. Countries ratifying the United Nations convention on the law of the sea will have to map the 200 mile offshore exclusive economic zones. With Canada's demonstrated leadership in this field, many of these nations will turn to Canadian companies to assist them in fulfilling these and other requirements.

The oceans act and the oceans management strategy will help Canadians to make the most of our ocean expertise and resources. The benefits will be many and varied. The extension of Canadian jurisdiction and the adoption of an integrated approach of fisheries management will better enable our Pacific and Atlantic fisheries to achieve sustainable harvest levels. The more effective protection of our marine and coastal environment will make Canada a prime destination for ecotourism. The application of new technologies will make Canada a world leader in aquaculture, marine safety in shipping, resource assessment and offshore petroleum production.

I am very proud of our government's leadership in working with Canadians to draw up the oceans act and oceans management strategy. Together they are proof of the government's commitment to create prosperity and a better quality of life for all Canadians. An ocean of opportunity lies before us. With careful consultation, management and sensitivity to the environment all of our ocean industries can be encouraged to flourish and grow.

I encourage all my colleagues to join me in voting in favour of this long term oceans vision for Canadians.

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to support Bill C-98, the Canadian Oceans Act. The provisions contained in the legislation will be of tremendous benefit to all Canadians. Most especially, they will bring new opportunity to those Canadians who live and work in our coastal regions. It is this economic opportunity I wish to focus on today.

Canada is such a large country that it is easy to overlook the fact that Canada is one of the world's great maritime nations. Our shores are bordered by three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. Our coastline is the longest in the world. We have the world's largest archipelago, the world's longest inland waterway, and the world's second-largest continental shelf.

All this is about to get bigger in terms of doing a lot more out to the 200-mile limit. Under the terms of the 1992 United Nations convention on the law of the sea, which came into force in November last year, Canada can turn its 200-mile fishing zone into a 200-mile exclusive economic zone. This gives us the right to extend Canadian economic environmental jurisdiction over almost

five million square kilometres of coastal and ocean territory. The result is oceans of opportunity: opportunity to better protect our oceans' fragile resources, opportunity to strengthen our historic fisheries, and opportunity to channel creative energy towards a new ocean industry that can enhance the economic potential of our coastal communities.

This is an opportunity our government recognized as essential for our future, and it is an opportunity our government intends to act upon to secure jobs and economic growth for all Canadians.

For centuries the wealth of our oceans has sustained hundreds of communities, large and small, all along our Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic coasts. In each region an entire culture and identity has been built around the exploitation of our ocean resources and maritime economy, especially around the three pillars of fishing, transportation, and tourism. However, in recent years these traditional activities have been supplemented by an increasing variety of new ocean-related industries, each with its own success story.

For instance, with our world demand for protein from fish on the rise, aquaculture has become one of the fastest growing industries in Canada. With successful operations on both our east and west coasts, aquaculture revenues reached $280 million in 1993.

At the same time, firms such as Geo-Resources, International Submarine Engineering, and others are leading the way in developing and applying high technology to oceans management and exploration. In Atlantic, Pacific, and central Canada, firms specializing in remote sensing, computerized geographic imaging, cold water technology, offshore and coastal engineering, and new sectors are creating thriving new enterprises capable of competing in the changing global marketplace.

Furthermore, we are now realizing the promise of ocean energy exploration and development. After years of patience and investment, the Cohasset oil field to the southeast of Nova Scotia came onstream in June 1992. The giant Hibernia oil field off the coast of Newfoundland is scheduled to go into commercial production in 1997. Just this year, there have been new discoveries in Newfoundland itself.

These are all positive developments. What is more, they come not a moment too soon. Canadians cannot escape the fact that our oceans are under increasing stress from such factors as overfishing, marine and land based sources of pollution, and longer term phenomena such as global warming.

The collapse of our Atlantic groundfish industry has left some 40,000 Canadians out of work. While lobster, crab, and scallop fisheries are prospering, the Pacific salmon fishery is requiring closer and more careful management than ever.

Clearly it is time to protect our marine environment and further diversify our marine economies. Our government has recognized both of these needs and we are taking action. We have acted in the international arena to strengthen the protection of straddling and highly migratory stocks. We have taken strong international action against overfishing and we are strictly enforcing fishing moratoriums on commercial fish stocks to give these resources a chance to rebuild.

These are just first steps. We need to back these up with an integrated and comprehensive approach to ocean management that emphasizes environmental conservation as its first priority. We need to accelerate and develop our ocean industry strategies so that our coastal economies will be able to diversify and prosper in the new global economy.

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

I am going to proceed to my question, Mr. Speaker.

The hon. member has noted how important the environment is. I agree with her that the fundamentals of the bill talk about sustainable environment, about protected marine areas and about managing our ecosystem. Are they not important for the environment, as she has said?

[Oceans Act, September 26th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address some of the concerns of the hon. member.

Some of the points she has made about the environment are very important. I have made these points in the past about how important the environment is, how important it is for our future generations.

I know she is concerned about the environment. I know that when she has an opportunity to really have a close look at this bill she will understand that it is very important for the environment. I know she is concerned about the duties of the Minister of the Environment. I can assure her that the Minister of the Environment would be willing to bring forward new ideas if she thought this in any way would impede upon her work as the Minister of the Environment.

This bill will in fact create more opportunities for our coastal communities. Contrary to what the hon. member says, this will have no effect on provincial rights. In fact this approach is an integrated approach. The National Advisory Board on Science and Technology recommended this. It looked at it. We have to heed some of those recommendations. As we are often told by members on the opposite side, we as the government have to listen to some of the advisory boards we have. Should we reject what the National Advisory Board on Science and Technology said when it said we need an integrated approach, we need a better approach? I know she will want to support the idea of putting in protected marine areas.

[Heritage Rivers, September 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the Fraser River has been proposed as the first candidate for protection under British Columbia's proposed heritage rivers program. This program will promote greater management of B.C.'s vital waterways and protection of B.C.'s finest salmon rivers.

A five member board will nominate approximately 20 rivers for protection under heritage status. Among the nominees are the Adams, Babine, Blackwater, Cowichan, Skagit, Similkameen and Stikine Rivers. All nominees are considered exceptional and are in need of heritage protection.

Due to its economic, historic, recreational and environmental significance the Fraser River is considered the jewel of the system.

In the U.S. 33 states have already adopted such a program. I am pleased to announce that British Columbia will be the first Canadian province that has adopted its own heritage river system.

[Corrections And Conditional Release Act, September 21st, 1995]

Vigilante.

[Fisheries, September 20th, 1995]

This is a fair fee and it is reasonable. I can assure-