Evidence of meeting #107 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agreement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Where that leaves us right now is that we have to debate the amendment by Mr. Kelloway on the motion.
Ms. Barron.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
You can't go to a vote on the motion. There was an amendment made to the motion, so we have to—
5:10 p.m.
NDP
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Before that, can you read back the motion and the amendment—everything that was said? It was two weeks ago.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Should I read my original motion, and then Mr. Kelloway can read the amendment?
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Chair, just to clarify, I was speaking to the amendment made by MP Kelloway. I believe that's where we are currently in the debate.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
April 30th, 2024 / 5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I know that MP Barron wanted the amendment, but I think MP Cormier wanted to know both. In the interim, I can read the motion, and then MP Kelloway can read the amendment. That's what the first vote will be on.
The original motion I moved, which Mr. Kelloway wants to amend, is as follows:
That, regarding Minister Diane Lebouthillier's decision to close the legal elver harvest of 2024, the committee finds that:
(a) banning legal fishing does not stop poaching;
(b) closing the elver fishery has not decreased criminal activity and violence in Nova Scotia as evidenced by the witnesses who have come forward to the committee to detail continued violence and lawlessness in their communities, including arson, assault, and attempted murder;
(c) closing the elver fishery has resulted in 1,100 job losses, harming rural Nova Scotian communities and the fishing industry as a whole, when Canadians are struggling with a cost of living crisis created by this government; and
(d) current DFO and RCMP enforcement efforts allocated by the minister remain insufficient and have not put a halt to the violence or the poaching;
and, given these findings, the committee therefore agrees to report these findings to the House, and call on the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to immediately reopen the elver fishery.
I believe Mr. Kelloway, some way through, had an amendment to that.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mike Kelloway Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
I'll discuss the changes. Do you want me to read the whole amendment as is? Okay.
Number one is that we delete (a) and replace it with the following: “the elver fishery is a unique public safety and law enforcement environment with considerations including Indigenous treaty rights to fish that complicate attempts to stop unauthorized fishing”.
Number two is that we delete (b).
Number three is that we delete “created by this government” in (c).
Number four is that we delete (d) and replace it with the following: “the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the provincial ministers of public safety, justice, and fisheries and aquaculture, are working hard and in collaboration across jurisdiction to ensure that public safety is maintained in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this elver season”.
Number five is that we delete “call on the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to immediately reopen the elver fishery” and replace it with the following: “calls on the government to accelerate the adoption of new regulations for the elver fishery so that the 2025 season can open as scheduled”.
I'll read the full motion with the amendment:
That, regarding Minister Diane Lebouthillier's decision to close the legal elver harvest of 2024, the committee finds that:
(a) the elver fishery is a unique public safety and law enforcement environment with considerations including Indigenous treaty rights to fish that complicate attempts to stop unauthorized fishing;
(b) closing the elver fishery has resulted in 1,100 job losses, harming rural Nova Scotian communities and the fishing industry as a whole, when Canadians are struggling with a cost of living crisis; and
(c) the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the provincial ministers of public safety, justice, and fisheries and aquaculture, are working hard and in collaboration across jurisdiction to ensure that public safety is maintained in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this elver season;
and, given these findings, the committee therefore agrees to report these findings to the house, and calls on the government to accelerate the adoption of new regulations for the elver fishery so that the 2025 season can open as scheduled.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Mr. Chair, I was in the discussion when this adjourned the last time. From a layman's perspective, observing from a distance, the steps that are currently being taken by DFO and the minister—
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I'm sorry. I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
With all respect to my colleague, I believe I did call for a vote on the amendment to the motion. I believe that means we move to a vote.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
All right, we'll suspend for a moment. The clerk wants to advise me.
[The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m. See Minutes of Proceedings]