House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2021, with 37% of the vote.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, once again, I have been meeting with the indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada as well as indigenous people right across the country when it comes to the fishery. That is part of the role of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. They need to be consulted. They need to be heard. That is one of the things I will continue to do.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, as I have said, I have had countless meetings with commercial harvesters since I was first appointed minister and before I was minister. This is something that is important in my riding.
Commercial harvesters play an integral role in our communities and I will continue to meet with them to ensure we address the concerns that I hear from them every day of the year.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, I have met continually with harvesters from Atlantic Canada, from rural Nova Scotia, over the last year since I have become the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I will continue to do that. It is vitally important that we hear what their needs are and that we address them.
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, I continue to meet with commercial harvesters on a regular basis. I have been doing that since I was first appointed as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I will continue to do that.
I have met with harvesters from right across the country, not just in Atlantic Canada. It is an extremely vital role that I have the conversations with commercial harvesters. That is something I continue to do—
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, there have been a number of measures that we have taken to ensure we are addressing the fishery and to ensure we are sustaining it for the long term.
During COVID-19, we invested close to half a billion dollars in the fish harvester benefit and grant program, which delivered financial support to self-employed harvesters across the country, who have been facing hardships brought on by COVID-19. This special program was initiated to address the needs of harvesters who could not access federal funding. It was actually the only program that was delivered for a specific industry because it was extremely important that fish harvesters had what they needed.
We are also investing in the Atlantic fisheries fund, the Quebec fisheries fund, the B.C. SRIF fund. We are also ensuring that money is available for processors—
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, I apologize to the Leader of the Opposition. I am afraid my Internet cut out while he was asking his question and I did not hear it. Is there any way I could have him repeat it, please?
Business of Supply November 24th, 2020
Mr. Chair, when I was first elected in 2015, my maiden speech, I believe, was on how proud I was to represent my community, and that still stands today. As the member for South Shore—St. Margarets, it is extremely important to me and I will continue to do the best I can to represent my community.
Fisheries and Oceans November 19th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I have been actively meeting with both first nations leadership as well as commercial harvesters since the onset of this issue. I will continue to do that. I met with Chief Sack this morning, as a matter of fact. I will continue to have those very important conversations. We know that the only way forward, to make sure that we find a long-term solution to this issue, is through negotiations.
I will continue to have those conversations.
Fisheries and Oceans November 19th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify that.
Basically, what I was asked last night at the fisheries committee was if I had read it in its entirety. I have read the Marshall decision. I needed more context on it. I went to legal experts as well as the member for Sydney—Victoria, who is a treaty rights person, to give me more context on the decision. I have since finished reading that decision. It is an extremely important one, but what is really important is making sure we implement first nations treaty rights.
Questions on the Order Paper November 16th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), most of the salmon were removed from the pens prior to the escape event, and the rest of the farm was harvested following the fire. Mowi recovered and harvested 1,177 fish from within the predator netting at the Robertson Island site following the incident. Mowi did not recapture any escaped Atlantic salmon that left the site. It is widely believed that the escaped fish have been eaten by sea lions and other predators in the area. As per the company’s condition of licence, the reporting of the fish escape to DFO occurred within 24 of the discovery event.
With regard to (b), there have been no reports of recaptured fish. At the request of the ‘Namgis First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, DFO, issued a scientific licence for up to three gillnets to recapture escaped Atlantic salmon from December 26 to December 29, 2019. Despite these efforts, no Atlantic salmon or other fish were caught during that time. Subsequently, the ‘Namgis First Nation requested another scientific licence to continue recapture efforts. This licence was issued from December 30, 2019 to January 3, 2020. However, no fish were recaptured.
With regard to (c), it is unknown whether any of the escaped fish were infected with Piscine orthoreovirus, PRV.
With regard to (d), the federal government has not provided any funding to assist with the recapture. However, DFO regional staff have engaged Mowi and stakeholders in the area to develop a strategic coordinated plan for monitoring.
With regard to (e), the federal government has not provided any compensation to Mowi pertaining to this escape event.