Fisheries committee  No. We do have cross-cultural training now—I believe they have a different term for it—but no, there's not enough of that. There's not a great understanding by the average fishery officer when it comes to indigenous rights and the treaty rights and the rich culture that the indigenous people bring to this country.

Fisheries committee  It is, but it's not just that fishery. It's the commercial fishery. It's the inland fishery. It's the fishery where little kids can go out to fish with their fathers. Those are all problems. Without resources, you cannot effectively do your job, so you become ineffective. Because of that, we have seen such an expansion of illegal activity in the Saulnierville, the Meteghan and the Digby areas when it comes to this food, social and ceremonial fishery, and we have spent years getting the commercial fishery under control.

Fisheries committee  Absolutely.

Fisheries committee  I believe what Mr. Belliveau has said is correct, so I won't repeat any of that. In my experience as a law enforcement officer for the last 32 years, I have met many obstacles when it comes to enforcing the FSC fishery in St. Marys Bay. There is a belief that this is a rights-based fishery, and it's not.

Fisheries committee  Certainly. I guess the creation of another fishery seems to me to be somewhat redundant. The federal government has provided $600 million in licences to cover off the moderate livelihood. The fact sheet of the 1999 Supreme Court Donald Marshall decision clearly says that the first nations communities have been provided with “licences, vessels and gear in order to increase and diversify their participation in the commercial fisheries and to contribute to the pursuit of a moderate livelihood.”

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much; I appreciate that. I would like to finish off by saying that the term “white racist fisherman” has spread like wildfire, especially in the media and across Canada. This greatly upsets me because it is simply untrue, based on my 32 years of experience and knowledge.

Fisheries committee  Is that better? Can you hear me now?

Fisheries committee  Great. Thank you. My name is Gary Hutchins. I was a fishery officer and detachment supervisor with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans for almost 32 years. As a fishery officer, I took a sworn oath to enforce the Fisheries Act and regulations pursuant to the act. My personal experiences are many.