Madam Chair, I was talking about the threat to the Greenland halibut in the St. Lawrence.
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Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Madam Chair, I was talking about the threat to the Greenland halibut in the St. Lawrence.
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Madam Chair, I have one question I would like to ask the minister, and the remainder of the time will be split between the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, the member for St. John's South—Mount Pearl, and the member for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte.
Throughout the world, trawling is denounced by everyone concerned with the sustainability of the seabeds. It appears, however, that this government is preparing to lift the restrictions on trawlers imposed by the Liberal government 10 years ago.
Can the minister explain to us why she is going to authorize this obvious threat to the turbot fishery?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Mr. Chair, the small craft harbour program is a key initiative of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to help foster economic sustainability to small rural communities throughout Canada.
Yet your own department does not believe that the program is viable in the long term. Thus, instead of making corrections or transferring funds to other programs that are more likely to succeed, the department continues to inject more and more money, simply to conduct studies.
Does the minister believe that this is still what we need?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Mr. Chair, the idea is to retain their knowledge and wisdom regarding the fishing industry.
What kind of programs is the department offering to help communities that depend on a single industry like the fishery deal with times of crisis?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
The problem, Mr. Chair, is that the people who have left the fishery industry take away with them a large amount of knowledge and know-how.
Does your department have an action plan to guarantee that the these highly qualified individuals will return? Do they have a future in the fishing industry?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Mr. Chair, what is the department doing at this time to help the viability and sustainability of jobs in the fishing industry?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Mr. Chair, I understand it was already announced.
Although the shrimp fishery is going through a crisis, the minister thought it wise to take the rights of Quebec fishers and give them to people in Prince Edward Island, only for them to turn around and sell those rights back to Quebec fishers for a profit.
Does the minister believe that the solution to this fishery problem lies in taking the quotas that legitimately belong to Quebec fishers and give them to third parties, who then sell them back to the same fishers, thereby risking the viability of the original recipients of those quotas?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Does that mean it will be reserved exclusively for our fixed fisheries?
Business of Supply May 28th, 2009
Mr. Chair, the minister has announced a fishery plan for Greenland halibut in the St. Lawrence. At present, access is restricted to fixed gear fishers.
Can the minister assure this committee that trawlers will be permanently prohibited and that the 450 tonnes of halibut reserved for bycatches will continue to be reserved exclusively for fixed gear fishers?
Infrastructure May 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about Skylink again, a company that has come up with an innovative project to link Montreal's Old Port with the South Shore by gondola. On the face of it, this project appears very promising, both in terms of attracting tourists and transporting people.
Why is the Conservative-run Old Port of Montreal Corporation refusing to consider the project? Why is the minister responsible for Montreal not asking what is happening with the federally run corporation? How could one government official decide on her own, without any analysis, to block a $100 million project that has received so much support?