Lawrence O'Brien

[Fisheries, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member's question on the issue of violence off the south coast of Newfoundland, the government does not condone violence. We do agree that there should be open dialogue and co-operation. I can tell the hon. member that we are clearly taking this under advisement. It is a subscribed fishery on the south coast in the crab fishery. It is an allocated fishery. We will make sure that if enforcement is necessary, there will be enforcement.

[Division No. 45, October 26th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to describe the measures we are taking to plan for the implementation of the Marshall decision in a manner that is sensitive to the very real concerns of fishers and fisher communities in the Atlantic provinces.

I will deviate from my text for a moment. I would like to say to the hon. member that we are taking the issue seriously. Mr. Mackenzie is in Atlantic Canada working on the issue at the moment. Mr. Mackenzie comes to us as the chief federal representative. He was born and bred in Nova Scotia. He was the chief federal land claims negotiator on the Labrador Inuit Association claims and he did work on the major fisheries component. We have also had the nickel concerns in the Voisey's Bay issue and we have come to an AIP. I am confident Mr. Mackenzie will assist in resolving this matter.

Mr. Mackenzie's immediate task is to work out arrangements for short term fisheries management. The first task is well under way. He has been holding discussions with aboriginal and commercial groups throughout the maritimes. Mr. Mackenzie is concentrating for the time being on the lobster fishery. The hon. member pointed to the other species. That is correct. There are other species to be concerned about in those areas where commercial openings are imminent, but arrangements will be necessary across the board.

By the end of April 2000, and I think this is the most important point, we will have a plan in place for—

[Division No. 5, October 19th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I thank the House for this opportunity to address an important matter in Atlantic Canada which concerns everyone in this country. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has taken decisive action on his short term plan as well as a long term plan that all parties will consider fair and reasonable.

Mr. James Mackenzie has been appointed as the chief federal representative to work out practical arrangements on access to fisheries resources that reflect the affirmed treaty right and that are sensitive to the interests of those who rely on the fishery for their livelihood. Mr. Mackenzie has an intimate knowledge of the maritimes and of the importance of the fishery, being from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and he has been the lead federal negotiator in comprehensive claim negotiations with the Inuit in my riding of Labrador. I have every confidence that Mr. Mackenzie can find common ground on which we can build long term strategies that will be enduring and successful.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans met with both commercial representatives and with aboriginal leaders in the maritimes. He met yesterday, along with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Mr. Mackenzie, with 50 aboriginal leaders. Coming out of that meeting there was agreement to address fish access immediately and there was agreement on certain elements of a process.

Many more conversations will have to take place but we are moving in the right direction. There are no easy answers but I have confidence that there is a long term solution and that constructive dialogue is the way of shaping it.

[Division No. 549, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I will vote yes.

[Newfoundland And Labrador, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today the Parliament of Canada approved the Terms of Union with Newfoundland and Labrador.

Confederation was a hotly debated issue in Newfoundland in 1949. Many felt it would mean a loss of our independence and identity. Today we celebrate the full benefits for both sides of this historic partnership.

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are proud to be members of the Canadian family. As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we invite our Canadian brothers and sisters to join us in celebrating Canada from our unique Canadian perspective.

Soiree `99 is a year-long festival of history, folklore, arts and culture. We will also reflect on the strength and diversity of Confederation at the Canada Conference.

As we celebrate this historic milestone of Confederation, I encourage all members and indeed all Canadians to join us this year in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's youngest province.

[Member For Labrador, March 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the round of applause. It is great to be back.

I rise today to thank the many people, both in this place and beyond, who were with me in spirit and prayer during my medical absence from this honourable House.

I say thanks to my many friends in Labrador, in Ottawa, across the province and indeed the whole country, and throughout North America for their kind words of encouragement. My wife Alice, my son Michael, my daughter Amanda and I draw strength from knowing we were in their thoughts and prayers.

Their cards, letters and phone calls were a source of comfort and support and have helped me to get back on the mend. I want to let them all know that I feel better than ever and I look forward to continuing to work for my riding for a long time to come.

[Petitions, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. One is from Black Tickle, Labrador having to do with the emergency state of the economy.

Five years ago Black Tickle had nearly 100 per cent employment in the fisheries. Right now it is 6 per cent and the people of Labrador and the community of Black Tickle are calling on the Government of Canada and particularly the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to do something about the allocation of quotas so the fish plant may be reopened.

The second petition I wish to present is again to the department of fisheries having to do with the adjacency issue of fisheries, signed by hundreds of people of my riding from along the coast of Labrador.

The petitioners call on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Government of Canada to consider the adjacency issue and give them a fair and decent allocation of fish.

[Ben Powell Sr., November 21st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a constituent of mine, Mr. Ben Powell Sr. Ben was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland. At the age of 15 with only a grade three education as his mainstay he decided to leave his hometown and head for Labrador where he has lived ever since.

He has developed a deep love for the land and its people and has pursued life to the fullest as a fisherman, sawmiller, merchant, trapper, fishing camp operator and writer. Uncle Ben, as he is known, has made many outstanding contributions to Labrador.

In 1950 he founded and named the community of Charlottetown, Labrador. During his lifetime Ben has worked tirelessly for Confederation. In 1979 Ben became a writer and now has 12 books about Labrador in print. Ben's desire is that the younger generation will hold fast to its heritage.

To you, Uncle Ben, I join your family and great friends-indeed I consider myself to be one of these great friends-in thanking you for your contribution to Labrador, to Newfoundland and to Canada as a whole.

[Fisheries Act, November 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am starting to feel like I am a minister now. To have a question asked of me by the minister is indeed an honour. It is a very good question.

My background is teaching. I spent nine years teaching and I am very close to youth. I go into the schools quite often to discuss the Chamber make-up et cetera.

Last week in Goose Bay during the hearings for the natural resources committee we heard quite a few views, particularly in relation to youth. The strongest point was that it is very difficult to transport people from Hopedale, Labrador, an Inuit community near Davis Inlet, and the people from Nain thousands of miles away for training.

These people have cultural ties. It is slightly different in our white society. They are asking us to identify the kinds of things they can do, to identify the areas of work in mines, parks and so on that they can do. They are asking us to do whatever we can to bring the training to them rather than them to the training. Maybe we can work together on some of that.

[Fisheries Act, November 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to answer if I may.

I thank my hon. colleague. It speaks well, which is the point I was making. We all need each other. The economy of Quebec benefits. The people of Quebec benefit with this trans-Labrador highway. Call it northern gulf route, call it what you want.

I look forward to working with all members who have a stake in this. I thank the member very much. Perhaps at a future date we can have a discussion on this. We can put our cards all in the right line so we can get on and make this a reality.