House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 35% of the vote.
Fisheries May 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member asked me what I intend to do. I intend to promote the partnership among the fishermen, all crab fishermen, among the plant workers, among the communities, among all those who are interested in having a partnership with those poor innocent crabs. There are 16,100 tonnes of crabs sitting on the ocean floor just waiting to be caught and distributed for the benefit of all the communities.
Fisheries May 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have to tell the hon. member, notwithstanding the acting lessons, we really need to look at what is happening with respect to the crab resource.
The plan was devised in such a way as to break down the 16,100 tonnes between the midshore large crabbers and those many small inshore fishermen who need a part of the resource. The distribution was fair. It was done by consultation. There was 77.5 per cent given to the large midshore crabbers and 22.5 per cent was given to the inshore smaller fishermen. This was a justifiable, fair and equitable distribution.
The idea was that everybody would go fishing at the appropriate time. The time has now arrived. I would suggest that all those who are interested in the industry release the plant workers and those who are innocent in this play. Then everybody can get on with the fishing and the resource can be enjoyed by all those who are involved in the industry. In particular, the plant workers and all communities can benefit from the resource of the ocean.
Fisheries May 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have a certain sympathy for the-
Fisheries May 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has agreed with me that the commercial salmon situation and the condition of the salmon stocks in British Columbia are desperate.
The capacity to catch salmon is overheated. I understand that when a situation is overheated, a cold shower is often quite useful.
The description of the cold shower by Dr. Pearse was meant in a positive sense. I mentioned to the hon. member a couple of days ago that Dr. Pearse is very much in support of this plan. Contrary to the words of the hon. member, Dr. Pearse is confident, as are most members of the House, that the plan will work.
Fisheries May 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the allocations letter which was sent to fishermen was in response to meetings held in Vancouver two weeks ago at which we met with eight groups.
If there was any commonality among these groups it was that there should be a further indication and reaffirmation of the allocations policy for the commercial salmon fishery this year.
There has been no flip-flop. This allocations policy letter went out under my signature. My understanding from the fishermen I have heard from is that the allocations letter does what it was intended to do, which was give greater confidence to the fishermen of the allocation of commercial salmon they will have this year.
Coast Guard May 15th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, perhaps to further instruct the hon. member on the detail of these disagreements, the total volume of cargo the impact study stated as being sensitive to the fees at the $60 million level was that fees at $60 million represented 7 million tonnes, which is 2 per cent of the 309 million tonnes in Canadian water borne commerce. Even if the assumption is $60 million we are still dealing with less than 2 per cent of the total volume.
I would instruct and recommend to the hon. member that he continue to check the figures and the assumptions before we continue in this debate.
Coast Guard May 15th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, neither is true. The hon. member has to check his assumptions. I am not sure whether he is referring to the letter or the study, because some of the assumptions are different.
In the impact study the assumptions were the following. Based on 309 million tonnes, which is transshipped in Canada, there would be a fee of $60 million, with the inclusion of ice breaking services, and there would be absolutely no cap on the amount of cargo that would be charged.
The actual fee structure does not include ice breaking. It is put together at $20 million. There is a limitation on transshipment. For bulk cargoes we have a limitation of 50,000 tonnes. That is entirely different from the reference made by the author of the article who was, I believe, one of the consultants.
The assumptions are different and therefore the conclusions must be different.
Fisheries May 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, what is holding the plant workers up is the greed of those people who want 100 per cent of the quota.
If anybody is missing the point, it is the hon. member. He does not understand that there are 16,100 tonnes of crab at a time when fishermen in Atlantic Canada would die to catch something. He should pay attention to the real issue which is that there is a resource to be caught. There are fishermen who want to catch this resource and I will make sure it is caught by those who wish to catch it.
Fisheries May 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the division of the plan was for 16,100 tonnes; 77.5 per cent went to those large midshore crabbers who are behind the strike to which the hon. member refers and 22.5 per cent went to the small inshore fishermen. The difficulty is that the midshore crabbers are not happy with 77.5 per cent. They want 100 per cent.
If there are insensitivities in this plan and if there are any injustices to plant workers, it is not by this House, it is not by the plan. It is by those midshore crabbers who want 100 per cent of the quota and do not want to share with the small boat fishermen.
Taxation May 13th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member is not suggesting that he is not in favour of more marine safety. Is he suggesting that the taxpayer should pay it?
We are using a policy which has been used before by this government, and which I am sure they have used in their budget suggestions: services that are provided to the public should not be paid for by the taxpayer but by those who use the service. That is the principle at issue here.