Fred Mifflin

[Yukon Quartz Mining Act, October 11th, 1996]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

[Canada Post, October 11th, 1996]

For those members who are laughing, a recommendation was made that the moratorium on rural post offices be continued, and that has been continued.

A recommendation was made regarding the increase in fees for postage for all Canadians. That has not been followed. I am pleased to announce again, as my hon. colleague did, that there will be no increases for mail.

There were other recommendations made in this excellent report that are still being studied.

In response to the hon. member's question, no decision will be made on that until there is financial consultation. However, I have to tell him that at this time there is no intention to get out of the courier service because it is a great service to Canadians.

[Canada Post, October 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member's question, I want to tell this House that the Radwanski report has been taken very seriously.

[An Act Respecting Fisheries, October 3rd, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-62, an act respecting fisheries.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[An Act To Implement The Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, October 3rd, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-61, an act to implement the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Canadian Coast Guard, September 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member is taking this entirely out of proportion.

What I want to tell him in respect to DFO and the budget for which I am responsible, we are in fact reducing in four years $450 million, largely at the behest of the opposition to reduce budgets, and 2,700 person years as well. It is difficult to do that without rearranging priorities. However, the priorities will be and will continue to be. That is the way it is now, that is the way it should be and that is the way it is going to be.

I want to ask the hon. member: What does he have against Canadian unity?

[Canadian Coast Guard, September 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, this government's concern is primarily with safety. Our standards are going to be maintained to the highest order. What the hon. member talks about is a required adjustment to the budget in order to contribute to deficit reduction.

I am not sure what the hon. member would do with his party and the speed with which they would go forward with deficit reduction, but we are proceeding in a responsible manner. It is in a manner that will ensure the main concern is safety for Canadians.

[Fisheries, September 23rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, to best respond to that question I can tell the House the results of the scientific and the sentinel surveys this year compared to last year. A number of things were determined.

Sentinel survey is actually done by fishermen in just over 100 sites around Newfoundland, Labrador and the gulf. There are a number of things this year compared with last year. First of all, the catch rates were better. In the sentinel survey in some cases the catch was double to 25 times greater than last year. The fish are larger and the size range is greater.

Scientists have indicated that the decline has ceased. The environment is better for the fish and the recruitment has indeed begun, although very slowly.

I have a caution. These sentinel surveys are controlled sites. They are inshore and there is no competition. We will be looking at some possible tests offshore in the near future.

The fisheries resource conservation council has done consultations in Newfoundland, Labrador and Atlantic Canada. It will be coming forward in October with a recommendation to me.

For the time being, cautious optimism.

[Fisheries, September 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have to report on a meeting that took place in St. Petersburg two weeks ago. It was a very important meeting to us because of reasons everyone in this House will be familiar with, related to the importance of the fishery to Canada.

There were three points that were achieved through careful negotiation and a lot of homework. The first is that Canada will control the total allowable catch when the fish recovers in NAFO area 2J 3KL, which is adjacent to Canada's coast. The second is that the amount of total allowable catch for a NAFO non-Canadian will be restricted to 5 per cent. The third is that a dispute settling mechanism will be allowed to look at the difficulties we have experienced in the past.

These measures and the continuation of Bill C-29 will ensure that the uncontrolled fishing that has taken place in the past will cease.

[Fisheries, September 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, this year I implemented the continuation of the sentinel fishery. This is a survey designed for fishermen and scientists to determine the rate of return of the cod stocks that were decimated. The results are optimistic. In some cases the results this year as compared to last year are from double to 25 times greater.

This is not sufficient for a commercial fishery but after consultation with every aspect of the industry, all the stakeholders, including the senior scientists, I have decided that it is prudent to allow a very limited, very closely controlled food fishery for two weekends. Essentially this will allow the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and those of the Quebec lower north shore to return to a traditional association with cod as a food in a very limited manner that they have been associated with for hundreds of years. I was very pleased to do it.