Business of Supply  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  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.

Fisheries and Oceans  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.

Fisheries and Oceans  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.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, the following information is for the time period of October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2020. With regard to part (a), the number of Canadian Coast Guard personnel on board both Atlantic Raven and Atlantic Eagle varies per patrol. There are between one and six CCG employees stationed on each ship for a total of 3976.5 person-days or 10.9 person-years, to date.

Questions on the Order Paper  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.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, as the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands knows, our government is committed to the protection and the recovery of the southern resident killer whales. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is leading the review of the U.S. Navy proposal. DFO is engaging with NOAA on this matter to ensure a common understanding of the proposed activities and the need to mitigate any potential impacts to whales and whale habitats.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, we know that these ongoing tensions have been very difficult for everybody involved. We are working diligently to make sure that we have a solution. We are working with first nations communities to make sure they are able to implement their moderate livelihood right.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, I believe I am scheduled to appear before the committee in November. I am happy to do that. I have been engaged in this file since day one. I have met with the commercial harvesters, as well as with indigenous communities. We know how important it is to find a peaceful resolution to this ongoing issue.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, I have been meeting with all stakeholders since the very start of this issue. I meet with commercial harvesters on a regular basis as well as with first nation communities. We know the first nations have the right to fish for a moderate livelihood. We will continue to work with them to ensure we implement this right.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, we know that we need to do a lot to protect the B.C. salmon. That is one of the reasons we have put a number of initiatives in place. This is an iconic species that means so much to the province of British Columbia. We continue to make our decisions based on the best science available.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, despite what the NDP say, our government is having nation-to-nation conversations with first nations. That is imperative because we have always said the Mi'kmaq have an affirmed treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood under the Marshall decision. When it comes to safety, everyone in Canada deserves to be protected.

Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova Scotia  Mr. Speaker, I will say we are all very much condemning the violence, intimidation and threats we have seen coming out of south-west Nova Scotia. Nobody wants to see this happening. Nobody wants to feel unsafe as they go to work. That is one of the reasons that we have agreed to increase resources to the province of Nova Scotia in order to make sure there are more resources available to the RCMP so they can bring more members from other provinces to help deal with this situation.

Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova Scotia  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her work on the fisheries committee. I will say that the Marshall decision was a decision that affirmed the treaty right of the Mi'kmaq, the Maliseet and the Peskotomuhkati. We recognize this is something that needs to be implemented.

Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova Scotia  Mr. Speaker, DFO has been actively engaged with a number of commercial harvesters and commercial harvester groups. I have met with them directly myself over the past number of weeks, actually over the past number of years since before I was the Minister of Fisheries. We recognize that the commercial harvesters have had a very challenging season this year.