Brian Tobin

[Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., June 2nd, 1994]

About three weeks ago for the members who were asleep at the switch. Apparently it is quite normal, done within the normal tendering procedure. If the member is alleging a specific wrongdoing he should make the allegation. Otherwise he should find something more useful to talk about.

[Dynamic Maintenance Ltd., June 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that a company that the parliamentary secretary formerly had an involvement with had a contract with Pearson. This has been made public. It was carried in one of the newspapers.

[Fisheries, May 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I must say again there is no intent, nor will there be a wanton decimation of Canada's fish stocks.

Indeed all parties in the British Columbia legislature, the New Democratic Party, the Reform Party, the Liberal Party and the Socred Party as well, have unanimously passed a motion supporting the position of the Government of Canada vis-à-vis the United States. There is sound and very solid support throughout the industry in British Columbia for the tough posture we are taking.

We are not going to throw away or destroy our own resource but equally we are not going to throw away or destroy our own fishermen and our own industry. Canada will fish aggressively but we remain ready, willing and able, indeed anxious at any time to sign a sensible and sound conservation based bilateral fish arrangement.

[Fisheries, May 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Delta for his question and his concern and that of the hon. member for Kamloops who spoke earlier on this subject.

I want to assure the House that Canada is not poised on the edge of a salmon war. We will not conduct a fishery as a free for all nor will we pursue a catch and kill policy. We will fish unilaterally and only because we are not able to make a bilateral arrangement with the United States.

We do not doubt the will or the intent of the U.S. administration to make an arrangement with us, but we doubt the ability of the U.S. administration to pull Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California together around one sound game plan. Our choices in those circumstances are to acquiesce and have Washington run our fishery, or to stand up and be counted in the interest of Canadian fishermen and that is what we will do.

[Fisheries, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the regulations to bring the new act into force were approved by cabinet this week and will come into effect the week of May 30.

All stateless and all flag of convenience vessels are being notified of the new legislation. We are already receiving indications as a result of boardings that have taken place over the last few days that many of these vessels will leave voluntarily. We hope that all vessels will leave voluntarily because those that do not will be seized and charged under a new Canadian law.

[Aboriginal Commercial Fishery, May 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member would want all members of the House to have all of the information available regarding this important matter. The member for Delta knows that I have met with almost every individual component part of the aboriginal fisheries strategy group.

I have met with the FCBC of British Columbia. I have met with the union. I have met and addressed the Pacific Troller's Association at its annual meeting. I have met a variety of other groups. I have probably held more meetings with groups-the member I think would acknowledge this-in British Columbia on the question of the British Columbia fishery, in particular getting ready for an aggressive campaign to try to resolve our differences with the Americans than any other minister for a heck of a long time.

When the member says I have not met with each of these component groups under something called the Survival Coalition as one group, he is right, but I have met every one of the individuals involved on numerous occasions.

Mr. Speaker, you do not get meetings with ministers by occupying the offices of federal MPs. If you want good faith, show good faith. That is my message to the people I want to work with in the province of British Columbia.

[Aboriginal Commercial Fishery, May 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the previous government did not establish an aboriginal commercial fishery. The previous government established a number of test sale projects in British Columbia with respect to the aboriginal fishery. That is what was established.

That policy has now been reviewed by the current government as was required under the cabinet directive of the day and a proposal or an announcement on the future of the aboriginal fisheries strategy will be forthcoming very soon.

[Fisheries, May 12th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely nothing so trying, nothing that tests the patience of reasoned, rational, kindhearted and gentle people more than the constant barrage, the constant complaint, the constant call for cuts to reduce the deficit most days of the week

and the occasional call for more expenditure on other days of the week.

The Reform Party really should make up its mind.

[Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, May 11th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, if I may, I simply want to thank you for the manner in which you have conducted the business of the House with respect to Bill C-29.

On behalf of the only players that do not have a voice, the fish, I deeply thank all members of the House for their expeditious passage of this important bill today.

[Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, May 11th, 1994]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the third time and passed.)