Fabian Manning

[Mount Pearl Sport Alliance, February 11th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, I would like to congratulate each and every person associated with the Mount Pearl Sport Alliance for such a successful year. On February 1 they celebrated at their annual banquet and recognized individuals and team accomplishments. It is great to see that there are so many dedicated individuals who give their time, effort and resources to making sport a fact of life for so many people in their community.

Our government supports an active lifestyle. We were proud to introduce in the 2007 budget a physical fitness tax credit of up to $500 per child on registration fees and memberships paid for young people under 16 years of age.

Whether they are an athlete, a coach, an official, an executive member or play some other part in the Mount Pearl Sport Alliance, everyone is to be congratulated and applauded for their hard work. Volunteers put in a tremendous amount of work, and that makes a significant difference in the lives of many people.

Once again, congratulations to all of them.

[Joseph Neil Tilley, January 30th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, on January 26 our province was saddened to hear of the passing of Joseph Neil Tilley.

Neil graduated from Memorial University with a degree in anthropology. While at MUN, he served as president of the students' union. Following his graduation, he worked with the university extension services, which deployed staff in rural areas of Newfoundland to assist communities in self-improvement initiatives.

He travelled extensively throughout the province and many parts of the world to bring his expertise on self-betterment to others less fortunate. Neil also acquired a master's degree in community development and planned to get his doctorate, but became ill before this could be accomplished.

When Neil's work brought him back home to Kelligrews, he reactivated his farm operation and practised organic farming. He acquired the skills and training needed to teach these farming methods to others.

Neil was always interested in the environment and, with others, founded the Kelligrews Ecological Enhancement Program, KEEP, whose mandate in part is to conserve, preserve and enhance.

Neil was a very spiritual man, a man of faith that has never wavered. He was a good man who died too young. His years on earth were filled with accomplishments that most of us can only dream of.

Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to the study of the operation and maintenance of small craft harbours. This report calls upon the government to immediately allocate funds to ensure the adequate safety and maintenance of small craft harbour infrastructure.

It will be followed in the new year with a report that will address all aspects of the operation and development of small craft harbours, which are essential to many of our coastal and rural communities.

I would like to thank the committee members for their work on this report, and certainly our witnesses from across Canada, who provided great insight into the challenges faced by harbour authorities across the country.

Certainly this report was close to home. In my own riding of Avalon, the fishery is a major economic engine, and certainly anything to do with small craft and harbours is very vitally important to the success of that industry.

[Committees of the House, December 6th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to Bill C-32, An Act respecting the sustainable development of Canada's seacoast and inland fisheries. The committee is requesting that the government consider the advisability of sending the bill to committee prior to second reading.

[Fisheries and Oceans, November 21st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, for many years now overfishing has been a serious issue facing our country. Many communities, including several in my own province of Newfoundland and Labrador, have been devastated by the disregard by some foreign countries of international law that forbids these actions.

Today I was pleased to hear the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announce that serious overfishing citations in the NAFO zone are at an all-time low. Can the minister inform the House if the government has fulfilled its commitment to bring about custodial management beyond our 200 mile limit?

[Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, October 30th, 2007]

Mr. speaker, I am proud to rise today and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Newfoundland and Labrador members of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary was established in 1978 and is made up entirely of dedicated volunteers.

The courageous 924 men and women of Newfoundland and Labrador assist the Coast Guard in marine search and rescue operations and prevention. Through joint efforts they work together to achieve the common objective of preventing the loss of life.

Today in particular, I would like to highlight: Mr. John Roberts of Woody Point, Ford Ward of La Scie, George Durnford and George Fudge of Francois, Nelson Waterman of Fogo, and Raymond Cull of Joe Batts Arm, who have all recently received lifetime dedication and service awards.

As well, Claude Normore of L'anse au Loup, Kenneth Mesher of Happy Valley, Raymond Petten of Bareneed, and Perry and Glenn Burton of Lewisport, who have received their 25 year service awards.

Congratulations. Our many thanks and much applause for their great contributions.

[Fishing Industry, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the fishing industry remains a very important aspect of the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. The government is committed to protecting and enhancing Canadian fisheries, especially to ending foreign overfishing in international waters off the province of Newfoundland.

Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans update the House on how he has kept his promise to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and respond to the outrageous claim that NAFO reform would undermine Canada's sovereignty in our own waters?

[Address in Reply, October 16th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I find it amazing. Canada is enjoying the lowest employment rate in 33 years. We are working with manufacturers across the country. We are working with the people in agriculture, in the forest industry and in the fishing industry. It was addressed today in the throne speech and it will be addressed by the government over the next number of months. We will continue to work with Canadians to ensure jobs are created throughout Canada from coast to coast to coast. The answer is in the numbers and the answer is that we are enjoying the lowest unemployment rate in 33 years.

[Address in Reply, October 16th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the comments from the member opposite. Over the past couple of months I watched as the members for South Shore—St. Margaret's and Central Nova from Nova Scotia worked with the provincial government in trying to reach an agreement to satisfy the people of Nova Scotia.

I say here tonight that I, as the member for Avalon from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and my two colleagues are ready, willing and able to work with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador to assist in any way we can to find an agreement between the Government of Canada and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are more than willing to do so.

[Address in Reply, October 16th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we have assisted people with housing throughout Canada. I said earlier that we have put families first. The government has invested millions of dollars ensuring that families are protected, that families receive housing, and children have a clean and safe place in which to live and go to school. Those efforts will continue.