Brian Tobin

[Oceans Act, June 14th, 1995]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-98, an act respecting the oceans of Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, June 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

[Fisheries, June 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member from the other side of the country, from the great province of British Columbia, finally had an opportunity to visit Newfoundland. It is regrettable that it took a large convention and a sought after position to bring him to this part of the land, but we welcome him to the island.

I met with the dockyard workers and with the management this week in a meeting arranged by my colleague, the Minister of Transport. We had a very frank and open discussion about the future of the dockyard. There is currently an ongoing negotiation between an interested party and the dockyard management on a possible purchase of the dockyard. We will have an answer on the negotiation within a matter of days. Following that negotiation we will see whether or not it is successful. Other discussions are under way with the workers.

This problem requires careful attention, careful consideration, and will not be solved by unduly raising expectations or setting out simplistic solutions. I know my colleague who wants to assume the leadership of his party would agree with those criteria.

[Overfishing, June 14th, 1995]

Just a second, please. This is very important. Mr. Landry seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth.

[Overfishing, June 14th, 1995]

Nobody would take the risk of speaking for you fellows.

We are shocked that the deputy premier of Quebec in Strasbourg condemned the Canadian government position in the

turbot dispute when it is clear all members of the House in all parties strongly support these measures to protect Canadian fishermen.

It is clear to me, and to Canadian and Quebec fishermen, that Mr. Landry's positions-

[Overfishing, June 14th, 1995]

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

On behalf of all members in the House, including I am sure members of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, we are shocked at the statement of the deputy premier.

[Fisheries, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I think I should have a talk with Quebec fishermen sometime.

The meeting in Toronto last week in conclusion changed two important things. First, the NAFO enforcement rules now cover all vessels, not just EU vessels. Second, the new rules cover all species of fish, not just Greenland halibut or turbot.

[Fisheries, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. Following the NAFO meeting, the scope of the Canada-European Union agreement was expanded in two major ways. The conservation agreement on Greenland halibut, or turbot, now includes all Northwest Atlantic groundfish catches. As well, the Canada-European Union agreement now extends to the 15 NAFO members.

[Fisheries, May 31st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question and for her interest in the NAFO meeting in Toronto next week.

At this meeting all of the NAFO member states will consider the enforcement provisions contained within the Canada-EU enforcement agreement. It is our hope, indeed our desire, that the provisions contained in the agreement will be endorsed by members of NAFO.

I spoke as recently as yesterday to the ministers of fisheries from Norway and Iceland. My officials have spoken with representatives of other countries to ensure good strong support for these measures.

The current status of the agreement is that we have 100 per cent observer coverage working quite well offshore.

[Fisheries, May 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, no objective individual who believes that it is possible for aboriginal people to make and keep agreements in good faith, and who believes it is possible for the people who represent the First Nations and the Government of Canada to sit down and come to reasonable terms on a reasonable sales agreement, would come to the conclusion that having reached agreements two months early, having met the requirements of the Fraser panel report and having negotiated in good faith, is a matter to complain about. That is a matter to celebrate.

I say to the member, let us have some faith in the people who first settled this land, the First Nations people. Let us work with them in good faith and make this agreement work.