Brian Tobin

[Aboriginal Fishing Strategy, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to the questions about the aboriginal fishing strategy which is administered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Let me respond by saying to the member that it is tragically easy but patently irresponsible for people to stand and suggest that one category of Canadians is responsible for all of the problems in the fishery. All of us bear responsibility from every community to the fishery. It is transparently partisan in the worst sense of the word to single out one community and blame it for the problems we have had.

There are 35 recommendations in the Fraser panel report. All 35 recommendations within an hour of being publicly launched were accepted by this government. All 35 recommendations are going to be implemented. The cost of conservation will be borne by First Nations peoples yes, and by everybody else who participates in the fishery as well.

[Pacific Salmon Fishery, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question on the Pacific salmon fishery. Indeed an important part of Canada's heritage is the tremendous resource called the Pacific salmon in the greatest river bar none in this country, the Fraser River.

I want to assure him and all the fishermen in the House that as recently as last week I met with the U.S. ambassador and the negotiators for both Canada and the United States. We are looking at the possibility of bringing in a mediator to resolve our outstanding differences in the Pacific salmon treaty.

In the interim I assure the House and the people of Canada that we will have the toughest conservation regime which has ever been put in place to ensure the preservation of the Pacific salmon stocks in 1995.

[Fisheries, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot absolutely assure the member there is no change in the structure, no change in the sharing arrangement in access on a permanent basis for those who have permanent licences in snow crab.

If the member's concern is fairness, then I ask him to listen to what I am saying. The only change this year is temporary. Literally some of the boats in the midshore made $600,000 to $700,000 per boat last year. It is to take some of that tremendous wealth and for this season with high prices and high quotas to share some of the resource.

I believe my hon. friend would want to support that kind of initiative to ensure that the fishermen of Quebec are given a fair and balanced share of the resource.

[Fisheries, May 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and for his interest in the management of the snow crab fishery in the gulf since this fishery is extremely valuable for all of the participants.

The member will know that literally thousands of inshore fishermen, small boat fisherman throughout Atlantic Canada, including fishermen in Quebec, have been asking for a share of this resource during a time when prices are at a historic high and when landings are at a historic high.

Therefore, I have taken a decision which gives many fishermen in Quebec an opportunity this year to participate in the snow crab fishery on a temporary basis when prices and landings are high. As those prices and landings turn down, the historic share between the provinces in snow crab returns exactly to normal.

If my friend is telling me, and he may want to correct himself, that he does not want anybody but those who already have access to the resource, those who already have big incomes, to share in the wealth, then perhaps he can tell me that is the position of the Bloc Quebecois, but I would be surprised.

[Fisheries, May 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for St. John's West for her question.

I am pleased to inform all members of the House, especially my friends in the Reform Party who are waiting with bated breath, no pun intended, that 35 European Union observers will be arriving in St. John's, Newfoundland today and tomorrow. The EU observers will be taken aboard EU support vessels and by Friday placed on all Spanish and Portuguese vessels fishing within the NAFO regulation zone.

[Fisheries, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has negotiated in good faith.

Canada has never approached the negotiation from any perspective other than that of achieving a conservation regime, a means of preventing further destruction of fish stocks and the rebuilding of the six species now under moratorium.

The response from around the world has been tremendous, including that of the vast majority of EU member states. Populations are generally saying this is right, this is good, this is a question that affects the common heritage of mankind.

Even where the political will may be somewhat lacking, the public expression of a commitment to preserving a resource that belongs to the planet will win out and we will have an effective regime agreed by both sides.

[Fisheries, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the government has noted before and notes again today the clear support of the Bloc Quebecois and the Leader of the Opposition for the position the government has taken.

The Leader of the Opposition gave advice to the government some time ago. He said it would take a mixture of firm resolve, firm action and diplomacy to bring about a successful conclusion to this dispute. That is precisely the manner in which the government is approaching this problem.

I would say to the Leader of the Opposition that Canada is negotiating bilaterally with the European Union. The bilateral negotiation with the European Union has shown great progress. It is not yet complete but progress is made every day. A detailed text is now on the table. Frankly it is a matter for the European Union to ensure that each of the member states complies with all the clauses contained in the draft agreement.

For the moment we still do not have the formal acceptance of the European Union of the draft agreement.

I can tell the Leader of the Opposition that the negotiators by and large have finished their work and have put forward a joint draft text. It is a text that meets the objectives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We expect the European Union to do as we shall do, embrace it with both arms.

[Fisheries, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has spoken to the president of the EU commission. Negotiators are meeting again today, and conservation of the resource is a priority. Our main objective is to obtain an agreement with teeth on conservation and enforcement.

Canada remains committed to an effective conservation regime. I can say to the Leader of the Opposition that we have negotiated in detail what we consider to be an effective enforcement and conservation regime. What we are waiting on now, as the opposition leader will know, is for the rather complex and difficult and may I say time-consuming workings and mechanics of the European Union to conclude the process at that end.

[Fisheries, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it is because Canada is negotiating with the European Union. It is a bilateral negotiation involving Canada and the European Union. Negotiations continued non-stop through the weekend. Progress was made each and every day through the weekend and continues even today. It is a matter for the European Union to deal with the views whether they be unanimous or not of each of the member states.

With respect to the negotiating table, Canada and the European Union sit at that table and progress to this point is being made.

[Fisheries, April 4th, 1995]

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

I can confirm that what has just been proposed is not correct. Negotiations as we speak are ongoing in Brussels. Good progress is being made. I understand there has been a report, which no doubt the member has seen, which in effect states that the EU has rejected the draft agreement. This is not correct. Good progress is being made and Canada hopes that in due course these negotiations will conclude successfully.

As we have always said, our first and primary interest is and remains an effective conservation regime and the means to bring about proper enforcement to protect these straddling stocks.