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House Hansard - 77

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 30, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 77 - May/30/22
Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:37:51 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, my role is to support and grow the fish and seafood sector. To do that we need to have abundant and vibrant fisheries. In DFO, we are thinking every day about how we can make sure we have the science, the partnerships and the discussions with all of those affected, whether it is the harvesters or the indigenous communities, so we can allocate out fisheries in a way that is supportive of the communities, the fish processing sector and our very important seafood sector, and to do it in a way that builds on the health and abundance of our fisheries even as we protect and restore the abundance of those that are challenged. There are many hard-working people in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This is the work that they get up excited to do every day on behalf of the Canadians who live in the small and rural communities and work in the fish plants, on the ships at sea and on the wharves, so I want to use this opportunity to thank not just my officials, but also those who do this very hard work out on the oceans and in the fish plants.
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Mr. Mike Kelloway
  • May/30/22 8:39:29 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I spoke of the Atlantic coast and I spoke, in the last question, of coast to coast to coast, but I would like to speak a little bit about, and the question will be on, the Great Lakes. Among my colleagues in the House and at committee, I've been reminded and actually learned a lot about the importance of the Great Lakes and, more specifically, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. As the member for Niagara Centre has reminded me, the economic, environmental and socio-cultural significance of the Great Lakes is extremely profound. The Great Lakes contain 20% of the planet's fresh surface water, and they are the basis of billions of dollars of economic activity. They are essential to the well-being of communities on both sides of the border. Ecologically, they support numerous species, providing drinking water for many and supporting thousands of jobs. The Great Lakes Fisheries Commission was established by the Great Lakes Fisheries Convention of 1954 between the United States of America and Canada, for the purpose of protecting and supporting the Great Lakes fisheries, particularly to control the invasive sea lamprey; to conduct scientific research that was needed; and to ensure the management overall of the Great Lakes fisheries. Could the minister speak to the important investments we are making in the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and how we are supporting the binational partnerships with the United States of America?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:41:00 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we are privileged, as Canadians, to live in a country that has the Great Lakes area as part of our country. We share the Great Lakes with the United States. The Great Lakes have almost 20% of all the fresh water on this planet, so this is an amazing resource. The Great Lakes are critical in so many ways, for providing fresh water to citizens, for providing recreation, whether it is boating, swimming, paddling and even hunting and fishing. The Great Lakes are also a huge source of economic value. The wine region, the Niagara wine region, is so successful because of the microclimate around the Great Lakes. One of the challenges with the Great Lakes, of course, is that there are some invasive species that do not belong there, that have proliferated and that need to be addressed. A primary one is the sea lamprey. The Great Lakes Fisheries Commission is a collaboration between the United States and Canada. We have a formal treaty between the Department of State and Global Affairs Canada to—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:42:26 p.m.
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The time is up. Continuing with debate, we have the hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ)
  • May/30/22 8:42:45 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am pleased to speak this evening. On March 30, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard closed the herring and mackerel fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence with no prior notice that would have enabled fishers to pivot and come up with a plan B. When did the department first observe a drop in the biomass of spring herring and mackerel?
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Hon. Joyce Murray (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.)
  • May/30/22 8:43:30 p.m.
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Madam Chair, unfortunately, the abundance of these stocks has been on the decline for many years. This decision was not made lightly. We gave it a lot of thought, because I understand the repercussions it has on fishers who use these stocks as bait. However, it is very important that we manage these stocks so that they can grow for fishers, their children, and their grandchildren in the future.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:44:15 p.m.
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Madam Chair, a leading scientist at the Université du Québec à Rimouski told us that he observed a significant decline in the resource more than 10 years ago, even 20 years in some places. Why did no one sound the alarm sooner to provide a bit of clarity to the fishers, who are currently feeling helpless?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:44:42 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. We reduced this stock over the past 10 years. It went down little by little, but unfortunately, it was not enough to allow them to grow. That is why I closed—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:45:06 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:45:11 p.m.
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Madam Chair, how is it that no one in the department had the foresight to assist fishermen, knowing that the resource is in decline? How is it possible that no one had the foresight to consider the people in this equation?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:45:34 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. Many fishermen harvest other healthy stocks, such as lobster. Very few of them fish only herring and mackerel. We helped them by including them in the scientific fisheries to—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:46:00 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:46:04 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to know whether the minister believes that just closing the fishery is enough to restore the stocks, since the mortality rate from fishing for this species is about 6%. I am wondering whether she believes that closing the fishery will be enough to restore the resource.
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:46:31 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her question. This fish is a food source for other very important stocks, such as cod. I realize that fishing is partially responsible for some of the pressure on this stock, but it depends on the stock. If we can increase it, and I hope we can, we will—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:46:57 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:47:00 p.m.
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Madam Chair, did the minister receive the unanimous motion tabled on April 7 by the Quebec National Assembly calling for compensation for the financial losses incurred by fishers affected by the closing of the fishery? Is the minister aware of that unanimous motion from the Quebec National Assembly?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:47:25 p.m.
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Madam Chair, yes, I am aware of that motion. We are currently reviewing it. At the same time, there are stocks all across the country that sometimes have to be reduced or increased. A decision is usually—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:47:51 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:47:56 p.m.
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Madam Chair, will the minister respond to the motion adopted by the Quebec National Assembly?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:48:07 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we will review it and will, of course, respond.
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