44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 2, 2021 10:00AM
- Dec/2/21 2:31:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very familiar with Quebec's softwood lumber industry. I know the union representatives and the industry leaders. All Quebeckers and all Canadians should be proud of the softwood lumber industry in Canada and Quebec.
I promise all Canadians and all Quebeckers that we will continue to work hard to defend this important industry.
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- Dec/2/21 2:31:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are deeply worried about the omicron variant. They are worried about their families. They are worried about their communities. Canadians understand that it is important to take precautions for travel with appropriate safety measures, but these safety measures and precautions have to be clear and consistent. That has been the ongoing critique of the government: Canadians do not know what the rules are and when they are going to apply.
Will thePrime Minister deliver a clear plan of what the rules are so Canadians who are travelling know what to do?
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- Dec/2/21 2:32:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think we agree with the leader of the NDP and his party that the fight against COVID is the single most important health and economic policy in our country, and we sure agree that vaccination is an essential tool in that fight.
When it comes to the new measures that we are putting in place to deal with the omicron variant, I would really like to thank Canada's public health authorities for responding with such swift action. I want to say to all Canadians that this is a circuit breaker to give us time to be careful.
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- Dec/2/21 2:33:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the omicron variant is a real source of concern. People are afraid for their families and communities, but they understand the need to have health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of this variant.
However, we need clear and consistent measures. This Liberal government continues to be criticized for its lack of clarity and consistency in health restrictions, particularly those related to travel.
Is the Prime Minister prepared to lay down a clear and consistent plan to help Canadians know what to do if they decide to travel?
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- Dec/2/21 2:34:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the NDP leader for his question.
I agree with him that fighting COVID-19 remains the most important policy for the economy and, of course, for the health of Canadians.
I really want to thank all the officials at the Public Health Agency of Canada and our border services for responding so quickly to defend us all from the omicron variant.
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- Dec/2/21 2:34:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, fishermen saw their income drop drastically in 2020 due to COVID. Thousands of Canadian fishermen received special COVID benefits because they are paid a share of profits, not a weekly wage. This year the government flip-flopped and demanded money back for the benefits the government said they were entitled to.
Will fishermen who are paid a share of profits, not a wage, get the fish harvester benefit, yes or no?
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- Dec/2/21 2:35:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to start by acknowledging the very important work that is done by fishers on all of our coasts in Canada, and how much their work means to their communities and to our government.
The fish harvester benefit was made available in two tranches. There were some estimates that had to be made regarding the wage reductions, which needed to be corrected when the actual numbers came in.
We will continue working with the fishers to make sure they are supported in every way possible.
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- Dec/2/21 2:36:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister clearly does not understand that her government has sent out 5,000 clawback letters to fishermen.
Nova Scotia's winter lobster season started yesterday. Fishermen are in the frigid North Atlantic in the winter with the Atlantic Ocean crashing over them, risking their lives to catch the food we need. They should not be worried about paying back to the government the thousands of dollars in COVID benefits they were entitled to.
Will fishermen who are paid a share of profits, not a wage, be allowed to keep the fishermen's harvest benefit, yes or no?
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- Dec/2/21 2:36:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is clearly the member opposite who does not understand the situation. When this benefit was first constructed, it was an estimate of the reduction in earnings the payments were based on. The following year, when those numbers were clear, it was then clear they were not eligible for that money. This is not a clawback, it was the arrangement. It was understood from the beginning that it would be based on the actual reduction and not the projected reduction.
I want to say that I support the fishers and their communities and we will continue working to do that.
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- Dec/2/21 2:37:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last June, the government announced the Pacific salmon strategy initiative and talked about bold, transformative action. At the same time, the fisheries minister doubled down on the government's refusal to quickly mobilize proven actions needed to restore Pacific salmon. Five months have passed and the salmon populations are still in trouble.
Can the fisheries minister tell us what the five species of Pacific salmon are, and which are most at risk?
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- Dec/2/21 2:38:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the protection of wild salmon populations is a priority for our government, especially because there are complex challenges facing the species. There are runs right across our coasts that are in trouble, including all of the major salmon species. These fish are very important to British Columbians, especially our indigenous communities that depend on them for food, cultural and ceremonial uses. We are putting $647 million into a Pacific salmon—
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- Dec/2/21 2:38:55 p.m.
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The hon. member for Haldimand—Norfolk.
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- Dec/2/21 2:39:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Marshall decisions are the most important Supreme Court rulings regarding indigenous commercial fishing rights.
The former minister of fisheries admitted she had not read the decisions, and recently the new Minister of Fisheries said she was only aware of key elements.
This is the government’s most important relationship with Canada’s indigenous peoples. Has the Minister of Fisheries read the Marshall decisions in their entirety, yes or no?
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- Dec/2/21 2:39:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what I do understand is that the conservation, protection and restoration of abundance of our stocks are of primordial importance to our communities, our fishers and Canadians at large. Everything we do at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans underpins that.
First nations have a Supreme Court-affirmed—
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- Dec/2/21 2:40:16 p.m.
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I am going to interrupt the hon. minister.
An hon. member: Tell her to answer the question.
The Speaker: I am having a hard time hearing the answer. I want her to start from the top so I can hear the whole thing, and maybe the sound will come down a bit.
The hon. minister.
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- Dec/2/21 2:40:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would think that the Conservatives opposite would be interested in this answer, because it is important to all of us.
First nations have a Supreme Court-affirmed treaty right to fish, and our government has never stopped working to implement that right.
Everything we do at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is underpinned by conservation, protection and restoration of habitats and stock abundance. It is a priority to work with indigenous communities. My first trip was out to meet—
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- Dec/2/21 2:41:14 p.m.
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The hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.
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- Dec/2/21 2:41:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, understanding the Marshall decisions should be the minister's top priority given that this is the government's most important relationship.
The minister needs to know that the 1999 fisheries committee report clearly stated that the court confirmed the department's sole authority to regulate the fisheries and did not confer any right to a separate commercial fishery.
Will the minister abide by that decision when implementing any future decision regarding commercial fisheries, yes or no?
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- Dec/2/21 2:41:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
The Supreme Court of Canada recognized the right of 35 first nations in Quebec's Gaspé region and Atlantic Canada to harvest for reasonable subsistence purposes. My department is working with communities to implement that right.
I have visited the Atlantic coast, and I have talked with Mi'kmaq indigenous fishery leaders. That was good, it was important, and I will keep doing more of the same.
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- Dec/2/21 2:42:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Fisheries and Oceans Canada's proposed marine protected area east of the Scotian shelf would spell the end of commercial fishing. This plan will put an end to the economic development of halibut, crab and lobster for both indigenous and non‑indigenous fishers.
Will the minister stop hurting commercial and indigenous fishers, and will she stop hurting Atlantic Canada's economy?
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