Business of Supply  Madam Chair, the Supreme Court was very clear that first nations have a right to a moderate livelihood fishery. We are working with first nations to ensure we will be able to implement that right. That is a priority for this government in regard to reconciliation. Conservation will always be the number one priority as we go forward.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, we have been working expeditiously to reach agreements, with conservation as a top priority in these conversations. I understand that the unknown is very difficult for people. I understand that it is a challenge when we will not negotiate in public. I know everybody wants to know what is happening, but we will not prejudge the outcomes of those negotiations.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, this is a very complex issue. If there were a simple solution it would have been had 21 years ago. A number of issues within issues are involved. We are continuing to work with first nations to make sure we implement this right. The previous government, in 10 years, did not sign one agreement with first nations.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, our government has placed significant emphasis on and made large investments in oceans over the last mandate, including the oceans protection plan. I have been mandated by the Prime Minister to lead the development of a blue economy strategy in collaboration with the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Minister of Economic Development and the Minister of Natural Resources.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, the Coast Guard is extremely important to our coastal communities, to our marine environment. We needed to ensure that the men and women of the Coast Guard had the tools they needed. That is why we are making significant investments in rebuilding our fleet and ensuring we have the ships we need.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, the Marshall decision is extremely important to ensuring we address the concerns of first nations. The Supreme Court decision was clear that they have a right to fish for a moderate livelihood. The Government of Canada is working to ensure we implement that right. I am working with first nations communities on their fisheries plans right now.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I would like to be very clear that it is not a mediator. This is a special representative for whom a number of stakeholder groups had asked. We wanted to ensure we heard from all concerned parties to bridge gaps we had seen between the commercial harvesters and indigenous communities.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I am assuming that Mr. Surette has read the Marshall decision. I am sure he has at this point. This is extremely important as we go forward. Mr. Surette is working with the first nations communities. He is speaking to commercial harvesters. He is speaking to stakeholders.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, when we were first elected in 2015, less than 1% of Canada's oceans were protected. We, as a government, made a commitment to ensure we were protecting the ocean for future generations. We wanted to ensure they were sustainable, that we could have a blue economy and grow that blue economy.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I am very proud of the work we have done at Big Bar. It has been a trigovernment approach. We have implemented a number of measures to make sure salmon are able to traverse the river. We are currently in the process of creating a natural fish passway. These are all things that have to be done, because we know how important the salmon are in the Fraser River.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, my mandate letter addresses aquatic invasive species. The European green crab can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems and can harm shellfish and aquaculture industries. DFO is collaborating with our partners, including first nations, provincial governments, stakeholders and the U.S. state and federal governments, to address the threat of this species to Canada's fisheries and ecosystems.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, our government is committed to an area-based management approach to aquaculture, and these particular farms may not be the best fit for the location or for their adjacency to first nations communities. That is why we are finalizing formal consultations with the local communities and each first nation on the Discovery Islands as to whether those licences will be renewed.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, I would like to finish my comments on the Discovery Islands. What I thought was very important was that we heard directly from first nations communities that we could not make unilateral decisions without consulting with them before we made decisions on the Discovery Islands fish farms.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, our government is committed to developing and delivering on concrete solutions to transition open-net farms. Recently, we announced the parliamentary secretary, the member for Burnaby North—Seymour, as the lead on engagements on this important initiative. This is a change that requires close relationships and collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, with indigenous people, with communities, with industries and with other stakeholders to ensure that the transition is workable.

Business of Supply  Madam Chair, first nations have a right to fish for food, social and ceremonial reasons. We recognize that. We are going to make sure they have these rights. We take this as a priority, but conservation has to take top priority over everything. Through the aboriginal fishing strategy, DFO and first nations seek to negotiate mutually acceptable FSC fisheries agreements.