Fred Mifflin

[Coast Guard, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I may have missed the intonation of the last part of the hon. member's question but I do not think it is important to the answer.

All these aspects have been taken into consideration. Nobody wants to pay any more for anything. The regrettable part of this is we have to go forward with it. It has been passed by this very Parliament.

If the hon. member is trying to derail this issue and defer it for another time, it will cost the industry more money. I am sure he would not want to be part of something to do that.

[Coast Guard, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. He is aware we have been through this procedure since January. We have consulted with the industry. We have taken recommendations from the Marine Advisory Board.

The hon. member is involved in the final report of the fisheries committee on this very important subject. I appreciate his co-operation and the contribution he is making.

One more time, I assure the House and the hon. member that in this project as we ratchet up from $20 million, $40 million, $60 million over a period of four years, we will put together a system that is the most fair and equitable to all parts of Canada.

[Fisheries, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member and congratulate him on his first question in the House. The question is important. As everybody in the House knows, the state of the cod stocks in Atlantic Canada is dangerously low, particularly the northern cod stocks.

The purpose of this program is to have commercial fishermen who are properly trained to measure, under controlled circumstances, the inshore fishery by actually setting nets and counting fish. This is a valuable complement to the scientific surveys carried out offshore and in other community areas.

The real purpose is to measure the abundance and the migration pattern, to have real biological data which complement scientific data and to work in harmony with scientists in close consultation for the systematic betterment of-

[Maurice Lamontagne Institute, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I assure the hon. member this is not the case.

There have been similar institutes oriented in areas other than marine science. For example, we had the same program at the freshwater institute and the Great Lakes experimental stations.

It is all part of the requirement of my department to reduce our operation by 40 per cent. It applies from one coast to the other.

[Maurice Lamontagne Institute, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's question and the courtesy he has afforded me by discussing this beforehand.

The institute is a well respected one which essentially looks after research in the St. Lawrence River and the St. Lawrence estuary. It is an institute that regrettably has come under the program review and there have been program reductions.

The work continuing in the valuable research in his institute will continue despite the cuts. We will have to cut back in certain areas. However, I assure the hon. member and the House this valuable institute, so highly respected, will continue to exist.

[Fisheries, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, not to set a fine point on this, I want to make sure the hon. member knows and the House realizes that it is 500,000 people in the communities. The number of commercial fishermen, including workers in the plants, is 20,000. I am sure he would not want to leave that impression.

The parliamentary secretary met with these concerned groups yesterday. It is my intention to meet with them after question period to hear their concerns.

I also remind the hon. member there are many groups in his area that support the fishermen. I quote one British Columbia fisherman: "Fleet reduction is too important to the survival of the west coast salmon industry not to be implemented".

I will stick tough with this program and it will continue.

[Fisheries, April 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I could give a short answer but I know the hon. member is sensitive to the needs and concerns of commercial fishermen.

This program is designed to address the very sad state of the salmon fishery in British Columbia. I know he is aware of that. It is also designed in such a manner that although it is tough medicine and a bold program, it has to address in a very specific manner the reduction of the capacity, which everybody agrees is the problem in the industry.

Nobody has been told to return their licences. This is a voluntary program which has been championed by the industry. We believe the program will work. I certainly would appreciate the hon. member's support.

[Department Of Health Act, April 19th, 1996]

moved that Bill C-18, an act to establish the Department of Health and to amend and repeal certain acts, be read the third time and passed.

[Oceans Act, April 17th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I do wish to state that this bill is indeed in the same form as Bill C-98 of the first session of the 35th Parliament at the time of prorogation. I therefore request that it be reinstated as provided in the special order adopted on March 4, 1996.

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

[Oceans Act, April 17th, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-26, an act respecting the oceans of Canada.