Fisheries committee  We've had, with all the institutions of science that we have across the country, a good understanding of habitat and fisheries protection science. That data exists. With respect to applying the specific initiatives that we have in this legislation, and applying those at a program

Fisheries committee  The legislation, Bill C-38 and Bill C-45, we believe provides absolutely clear direction. It says that our focus is going to be protecting fisheries—commercial, recreational, and aboriginal fisheries. It provides definitions for those fisheries. It also says we're going to apply

Fisheries committee  We have 15 major science facilities in the country, ranging from the east coast to the west coast. We use them all. In terms of where this program operates, fisheries protection in particular, it is in coastal areas and in freshwater areas. We have important freshwater institutio

Fisheries committee  It's by Environment Canada. Environment Canada has both a management oversight and a technical group. The management oversight is at Environment Canada. The administration is at Environment Canada. There is a technical group of experts who are engaged, which involves people from

Fisheries committee  It is indeed in the previous act. Section 32 basically says that you can't kill fish by means other than fishing unless the minister authorizes it. That has been caught in the new section 35, where it says “activities”. Now the difference between the old section 32 and the new s

Fisheries committee  It is, and it's under development now. One option is what you just spoke to: the regulations. It's to use the regulatory process for the first two regulations, which would take a few months, but those first two regulations on what's required for an authorization request and the

Fisheries committee  There certainly will be an overall framework with respect to that. With respect to aboriginal policy and governance, in our department there is a framework; there is an overall approach. That said, aboriginal treaty rights are site and group specific. There are sometimes differ

Fisheries committee  I'd have to look at the specific cases they're talking about. I'm not sure the answer to the very specific question: are there cases where this has been done and allowed? I'd be surprised if there were, unless there was a very specific instance. I can also say that that section

Fisheries committee  I'll start with the latter. We have heard from a number of stakeholders who are concerned about the looming January 1 date. I think I was clear last time. You're right when you say “aspirational”. That's an appropriate term. The relevant sections—the transformative sections—come

Fisheries committee  First, I understand the AFN provided some testimony, and as I indicated, we have had some meetings with them. They indicated they wanted to have more, so I certainly recognize that. Part of the discussion with the AFN, and I think it needs to continue, is to clarify what the pur

Fisheries committee  We did see that. It has taken time to get documents out. When we meet with groups, the most useful document we refer to is the Fisheries Act proposed changes. There's a document that has all the changes that have been passed and are in effect, and then at the back it has the chan

Fisheries committee  If there's a right to fishing that's basically an aboriginal or a treaty right, it must be respected regardless of what's in the Fisheries Act. We're not seeking to protect aboriginal rights with this legislation; those are protected by the Constitution. We always seek to respect

Fisheries committee  Yes. When you're talking about protecting an aboriginal treaty right to fish, that would presumably include everything around the ability to fish, which I would say is fairly broad.

Fisheries committee  That's something that needs to be defined and clarified. We're actually working on it. I can tell you what the thinking is at this time, and we've talked to stakeholders about it. The overall idea with respect to the fisheries protection provisions in the Fisheries Act is to prot

Fisheries committee  I'll make just very brief remarks. I want to introduce my colleagues. France Pégeot is the senior assistant deputy minister for strategic policy. David Balfour is the senior assistant deputy minister for ecosystems and fisheries management. Geoffrey Bickert is the senior genera