Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova Scotia  Mr. Speaker, I am joining the House from Mi’kma’ki, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people. Today, we are discussing very important issues: the escalating violence in Nova Scotia and the Mi'kmaq treaty rights to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. I am here not only as the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, but as a Nova Scotian and as a lifelong member of the rural coastal community.

Request for Emergency Debate  Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, I, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Indigenous Services submitted our notice of intention to request an emergency debate regarding the recent increase in violence around the fishery in Nova Scotia.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, since day one we have been focused on making sure people stay safe and making sure we lower the tensions on the water. To that end, we have been in conversation with industry representatives as well as first nations, and we are now at the negotiation table with first nations communities.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is a very complex issue. This is something that is deeply personal to many, many people. We are working with first nations communities right now to make sure we are able to implement their rights that were affirmed under the Supreme Court Marshall decision.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, since day one, the priority has been to de-escalate the tensions that we have seen on the water in southwestern Nova Scotia. I am thankful to say that this actually is happening now. Now we work with the first nations community as well as with industry as we go forward.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, since day one, our government has been focused on the safety of people in that area who are right now facing extremely challenging times. We have been working collaboratively and respectfully with both the first nations community as well as industry. We know that the path forward is to make sure that we do everything we can to implement the rights that were granted to the Mi'kmaq under the Marshall decision.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, as I have said from the beginning of this crisis in Nova Scotia, our main priority is keeping people safe. To that end, I believe the path forward is through honest, respectful and collaborative dialogue. I have met with both first nations and industry partners over the last number of weeks to find that path forward.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, we have been having good conversations with first nations communities and with industry. I firmly believe that the best path forward, to make sure we are keeping people safe and make sure we are implementing the rights of first nations people, is through respectful and collaborative dialogue.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, right now the government's number one priority is making sure people stay safe in southwest Nova Scotia, where tensions are quite high. We are working with first nations leadership as well as with industry partners in Nova Scotia. We believe that the best way forward is through respectful and collaborative dialogue.

Fisheries  Mr. Speaker, my department is absolutely committed to the conservation and protection of the wild Pacific salmon. That is why my department's policy and decision-making looks at the potential risk and heavily relies on sound peer-reviewed science in order to make our decisions. To date, the department has eight of the nine risk assessments completed.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, my number one priority right now with regard to the tensions in southwest Nova Scotia is to make sure that we are ensuring the safety of all of the people who are in the area. We know that the best path forward is through a constructive, respectful dialogue with first nations as well as with industry members from Nova Scotia.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, we do believe that the path forward is to make sure that we are having respectful and collaborative dialogue with the parties involved. My number one priority is to make sure that people are safe and to lower tensions. We have to work together toward a solution to the impasse.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters  Madam Chair, the chinook salmon are in serious decline. We are taking measures to make sure that we are going to protect the stocks. It is a critically important piece of the work that we are doing. Fisheries management issues are something that are always difficult when people are impacted, but it is something that we know we have to do, along with habitat restoration and addressing climate change.

Canadian Coast Guard  Mr. Speaker, last spring, we announced the single largest investment ever made to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, including six new icebreakers. I am thrilled to say that I was able to announce a $12-million contract to the Shelburne Ship Repair for crucial work to one of the workhorses of our fleet.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge that conservation measures, as well as COVID-19, have had significant negative impacts on our economy as well as on harvesters, including the recreational sector. We are continuing to work with our partners and stakeholders to consider actions that help minimize the impacts while achieving conservation efforts.