Ted McWhinney

[Fisheries, May 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, at the time the hon. member raises his question the minister is in the west. He has had 24 hours of extensive discussions with stakeholders in the fishery industry on the west coast. He is meeting today with people for an exhaustive study.

I thought the member's comments on the minister were perhaps imaginative but I think we would have to read the text of what the minister said. It has very little to do with what the member suggested.

It is our expectation that as a result of the minister's discussions, the plan the government has, which stresses conservation but which recognizes conservation is the key to the survival of the industry, will be fully implemented.

[Salmon Stocks, May 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is too selective in his recourse to witnesses. We have heard many people, many strongly in support of plan, many critical. The government is open to a dialogue, to discussion, and we are considering all these matters.

As far as the industry is concerned, it has been made clear by the minister that the first priority is the conservation of the fish. But the good health of the industry is dependent on conservation. Let us get through 1996, then 1997-98 will be a more normal season.

[Salmon Stocks, May 2nd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will be aware that a parliamentary committee has been considering the plan and it does involve consideration of a long range strategy.

In fact, as a result of fruitful discussions between the minister, the parliamentary secretary and the main stakeholders in British Columbia in the salmon industry, the parliamentary committee will be hearing expert witnesses in the next week. It will be advising on the development of a strategy.

We are faced with two problems, an immediate short run, a 1996 problem that is near crisis dimensions, and a long range one. There are all these matters. For one month there has been a continuing process of discussion with the main stakeholders. Continuing input, including input from the hon. member, will all be part of the final plan.

[Fisheries, April 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to assure the hon. member that I have met with this delegation today on behalf of the minister. I believe, after a number of years of experience outside Parliament, that I am good at listening to representations.

The government is very concerned with the fate of the industry on the west coast. Urgent measures are being taken to meet the situation in 1996. The plan put into operation, about which we are still receiving advice and looking for advice, will carry us to the better times in 1997 and 1998.

[Fisheries, April 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the situations on the east coast and the west coast are not cognate. On the east coast we face the disappearance of an industry and the loss of 40,000 jobs. The situation on the west coast is one that involves a crisis in the year 1996 with the expectation that the industry will get back to better times in 1997 and 1998.

The measures taken by the government have been taken with the advice of a round table of 70 people representing all segments of the industry. We believe they are enough to carry us through this difficult time.

[The Environment, April 18th, 1996]

No one has spoken more eloquently before the House and in international arenas in support of principles of environmental protection and conservation of scarce natural resources.

The hon. member will understand that the government is committed as a top priority to reducing the deficit, to balancing the budget. Our treasurer has brought in a magnificent budget that has commanded general support. This has involved, however, in the interests of achieving that, across the board economies in all departments imposed.

Consistent with this-

[The Environment, April 18th, 1996]

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

Members of the House will know the distinction the hon. member has earned by his years of service.

[Coast Guard, April 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat more succinctly what I have just said. The question is out of order, the matter being before a parliamentary committee which is to report and the minister must properly wait on that.

However, the evidence given to the committee, I would suggest, is at variance with the facts as presented by the hon. member.

[Coast Guard, April 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the actions of the ministry are based on very careful consultation with the industry, based on the principle of user pay, user say.

I should, however, remind the House and the hon. member that this matter is now the subject of an inquiry by a parliamentary committee which is currently sitting. It will complete its very extensive hearing of witnesses from all parts of the country this afternoon and will write a report this evening.

The minister has engaged himself to read the report, to wait on it before making decisions. It would be a lack of conformity to the comity that the government owes to this House and its parliamentary committees to attempt to anticipate the report. Therefore, further statements should wait until the minister has read the report.

[Spring, March 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as the poet said:

Winter's rains and ruins are over, And all the season of snows and sins: The days dividing lover and lover, The light that loses, the night that wins: And in green underwood and cover Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

We bring spring greetings and the daffodils which some members are wearing from Vancouver where spring began some time ago. We also bring greetings from radio station CKNW, home of open line hosts Rafe Mair, Bill Good and Gary Bannerman.