House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2025, with 65% of the vote.
Fisheries and Oceans October 23rd, 2018
Mr. Speaker, the health of our oceans and lakes is a top priority of this government. We have faith in the enforcement mechanisms we have in place within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to address measures such as this. We will continue to monitor this situation and take the steps that are necessary to keep our oceans and waterways safe, clean and healthy.
The Environment October 2nd, 2018
Mr. Speaker, we accept the commissioner's report and recommendations, and we continue to take measures to look for more actions to protect our marine mammals, because we know that more work needs to be done.
Our government understands the importance of open and transparent consultations to develop effective recovery strategies and action plans. We continue to protect our wildlife and biodiversity, including our endangered species. This means robust species at risk recovery plans, which include identification and protection of critical habitat to support species recovery.
Science September 28th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank that upstanding member of Parliament from Prince Edward Island for that excellent question.
Some of the many highlights of budget 2018 include $210 million for the Canada research chairs program and $1.2 million for granting councils, but there is more. Recently, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the establishment of new departmental science adviser positions. These science advisers will play an important role in supporting quality scientific research within federal departments, which will help ensure that government science is fully available to the public.
Charlottetown September 28th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, imagine working on a cruise ship travelling to ports of call all over the world. Now picture pulling into port in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This, of all places, was the city that inspired our Quebec-born singer/songwriter to write a song that has hit number one on French satellite radio.
Karine Ste-Marie was on the Rotterdam cruise ship in 2016 when it visited our city. It was on a beautiful fall day where she found inner peace and the motivation to write a song called Charlottetown.
The song describes how Charlottetown helped her vanquish her demons and make peace with the past. It is a song about deciding to go back home and knowing what she had to do.
Tomorrow night, Karine will return to Charlottetown to perform at the Cool Moon cultural festival.
I take this opportunity to publicly congratulate Karine on her success, and look forward to doing that in person tomorrow.
Indigenous Affairs September 19th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, on April 19, 2018, the B.C. Supreme Court decision clarified the scope and nature of the rights of the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations.
In his statement to the press on that same day, the former minister of fisheries and oceans spoke to the concrete actions that had recently been taken, including offers of additional licences and quota for groundfish, salmon and shellfish to the five nations in 2018 and a commitment to continue to implement their fishing rights in 2019 and beyond.
The former minister indicated immediate action to review the Pacific salmon allocation policy in collaboration with indigenous groups and all stakeholders to renew and co-develop this policy.
Our government is committed to reconciliation and to advancing our relationship with the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations to accommodate their fishing rights.
Indigenous Affairs September 19th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Courtenay—Alberni for raising this issue.
The government recognizes that indigenous peoples have a deep connection to oceans and waterways and that fishing is culturally and economically significant to their communities. In this context, a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership is a top priority for our government.
As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and as a Canadian, I can assure the member that we are fully committed to advancing reconciliation, including working with the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations to exercise and implement their fishing rights.
Over the past year, the Government of Canada has been taking concrete actions in the spirit of reconciliation with the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations.
Since the spring of 2017, Canada and the five nations have been engaged, as the hon. member said, in recognition of indigenous rights and self-determination discussions. In fact, the parties signed a framework agreement in 2017 that forms the basis of ongoing negotiations. These negotiations have been instrumental in developing a common understanding of each other's perspectives in what are inherently complex matters.
In March of this year, the former minister personally met with the leaders of the five first nations to hear directly from them their priorities for implementing their fishing rights. At that time, we were pleased to offer additional licences and quota for groundfish, salmon and shellfish to the five nations.
In its April 19 decision in the Ahousaht case, the British Columbia Supreme Court clarified the nature and scope of the right of the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island as:
...a small-scale, artisanal, local, multi-species fishery, to be conducted in a nine-[nautical] mile strip from shore, using small, low-cost boats with limited technology and restricted catching power....
The court found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has taken useful steps in some fisheries to accommodate the rights of the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations.
The court also noted that some improvements need to be made. In particular, the court found that DFO's Pacific salmon allocation policy was not justified in according priority to the recreational fishery over the five nations aboriginal commercial fishery for chinook and coho.
As part of an immediate response to the decision, the former minister announced on the day the decision was released that he directed Fisheries and Oceans Canada to review the Pacific salmon allocation policy in collaboration with indigenous groups and all stakeholders to renew and co-develop this policy.
While our government and the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations review the court decision and its implications, we will continue working together to advance reconciliation. We are committed to reconciliation and to advancing our relationship with the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations through accommodation of their fishing rights. Significant steps were taken in 2018 and further steps are being planned for next year.
Court decisions help inform the broader process, which seeks to provide stability and predictability around the management of fisheries and oceans resources.
We will continue to work with the five nations through negotiations to reach agreement on the implementation of their rights and provide the foundation for a strong and enduring relationship between Canada and the five nations.
Fisheries and Oceans September 18th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, ensuring the protection of Canada's oceans and the sustainability of marine life are key priorities for our government. Our government is committed to the protection of Canada's resident killer whales and the recovery of these populations.
Our government is working in partnership with indigenous peoples, key stakeholders, international partners and the province of British Columbia on immediate actions to reduce the impact of marine shipping and assist in the recovery of southern resident killer whales.
Questions on the Order Paper June 18th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, in response to (b), the National Gallery of Canada operates as an autonomous crown corporation, and is responsible for its day-to-day operations. The Museums Act provides the gallery with the legal authority to manage its collections and make decisions on acquisitions and deaccessions.
In response to (a)(i), in processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the Privacy Act and the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. The requested information has been withheld on the grounds that it is considered third party business sensitive.
In response to (a)(ii), there may be costs associated with shipping the painting back to Canada, but such details are unknown at this time.
Questions on the Order Paper June 14th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, the “Canada 150 Rink” Twitter account is exclusively owned and entirely managed by the Ottawa International Hockey Festival. The Department of Canadian Heritage had no involvement in the creation or maintenance of the account.
Petitions June 8th, 2018
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 25 Prince Edward Islanders, who point out the record of General Jeffery Amherst in the 1700s, whose ultimate goal was to exterminate all indigenous peoples. The petitioners feel that the consultations that were taken in connection with the removal of General Amherst's name from a historic national site in Prince Edward Island were inadequate, and they are calling on the Government of Canada to remove the name Fort Amherst from the national historic site of Canada located near Rocky Point, Prince Edward Island.